Marc: Inside Entertainment INSIDE ENTERTAINMENT THE LA SEMESTER

Through the Los Angeles Semester, students connect with alumni as they learn about work and life in the show business capital By David Marc

For years, alumni occupying create SU’s Los Angeles Semester, an leading positions in the Los Angeles extraordinary educational immersion op- film, television, recording, and talent portunity for students pursuing careers management businesses have kept in the multibillion-dollar entertainment up ties with the University. They have industry. Launched last fall, the L.A. Se- hosted students aspiring to careers in the mester has benefited from alumni energy entertainment industry and welcomed that goes beyond financial generosity to recent graduates to town in “soft land- facilitating special events for the program, ing” events. Building on the popularity arranging internships at key companies, and usefulness of such annual programs and giving personal attention to students as the Hollywood Seminar during winter by participating as speakers, faculty ad- break and Aaron Sorkin Week during juncts, and mentors. SU Trustee Rob Light spring break, Southern California alumni ’78, managing partner at Creative Artists have collaborated with the University to Agency, a dominant international talent

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agency, expressed the satisfaction ner with old-school sitcom that he and fellow alumni gained in credits (That ’70s Show, building a new educational advantage Roseanne), Tochterman for Syracuse students. “This program made crossover history in allows us to give back to the SU com- 2007 as executive producer munity in a meaningful way, while of Fat Guy Stuck in Internet, the INSIDE also providing the next generation of first scripted comedy to break industry executives with a richly re- through from broadband-only warding experience,” Light said. (see to television distribution. Robin “Alumni Power at Work,” page 40) Forman G’76, who has produced An average of 30 undergraduates films for HBO Iron( participate each semester, drawn Jawed Angels, from television, radio, film majors 2004; The Chero- This program allows us to give back in the Newhouse School and from kee Kid, 1996), ENTERTAINMENT to the SU community in a meaningful the College of Visual and Perform- teaches The Busi- ing Arts’ film studies program and ness of Film & way, while also providing the next Bandier Program for Music and the Television Develop-““ generation of industry executives with THE Entertainment Industries. Although ment and Produc- a richly rewarding experience. LA SEMESTER the suggestion of sunshine in No- tion, a course that vember or February may seem like a prepares students SU Trustee Rob Light ’78, ”” natural attraction, Andrea Asimow, for the realities of managing partner, Creative Artists Agency director of the L.A. Semester, advises the second word only the career-minded to apply. in “show busi- “This is no West Coast vacation,” ness.” According says Asimow, a veteran film producer to Asimow, who teaches a weekly in L.A., may be a greater experience (Coco Chanel, 2008) who recently seminar that helps students get the than the sum of all parts. Living in an served as creative consultant to Dia- most out of their internships, invited apartment complex in Toluca Lake, monds, an internationally distributed lecturers often bring student enthu- a small community in the eye of a television mini-series. “Each student siasm to a peak. “In all of our classes, media hub that includes NBC Uni- performs a 20-hour-per week intern- we have a steady stream of extraordi- versal, Disney, Warner Brothers, and ship at a suitable company while nary guest speakers—alumni, parents many smaller suppliers and services, attending evening classes taught by of students, and others,” she says. they travel the freeways to far-flung working professionals. They take One speaker was Mark Canton, the internships and return for evening online courses from the University as father of Dorothy Canton ’11 and the classes. Weekend activities may in- well. Even many of the social activities producer of 18 feature films, including clude a screening for the group at the are tied to industry-related events.” the 2007 hit, 300. After talking about Director’s Guild of America (DGA) Many of the courses in the L.A. his work, Canton distributed copies on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood Semester are taught by distinguished of an unproduced script to students or venturing off to Silver Lake to try a alumni and all of them go right to the and returned for a second class to dis- restaurant that someone heard was heart of student concerns. In Emerg- cuss their feedback. “You could see great. “We are enhancing the educa- ing Media, David Tochterman ’80 ex- how thrilled they were to have their tions of our students while preparing amines how technological innovation comments seriously considered by a them for careers in a difficult field may cause shifts in popular entertain- working producer,” Asimow says. and for life in a fascinating, culturally ment and create new opportunities. A For many students, the whole of diverse city,” Asimow says. senior vice president at Carsey-Wer- the semester, including a taste of life

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Brittany Lahm ’11 works on a publicity assignment at RCA Music Group, SONY Music Entertainment.

Bit r t a NY L a HM Major: Bandier Program Hometown: Internship: Class: Junior f or M usic and the New City, New York RCA Music Group, Entertainment Industries SONY Music Entertainment, Studio City

Tell us about your internship. Did the internship benefit Were your career I feel lucky to have had that I worked for Tom Muzquiz, the your education? aspirations affected? experience and wouldn’t trade senior director of publicity, and This internship exposed me Before my L.A. semester, I it for the world. his assistant, Vanessa Fine. to real-life experiences in the knew I wanted to be part of From the day I started, they music and entertainment in- the music industry, but other Final Comment: treated me as more than an dustry. It forced me to improve than that, I had no clue as to Students wanting to work in “intern.” I had my own desk and my time-management skills, “what I want to be when I grow the entertainment industry are phone line. Tom acquainted me become more responsible, and up.” After a week of interning, I absolutely out of their minds with a lot of his daily tasks and grow as an individual. I also decided that P.R. was the field I if they don’t take advantage of got me involved in them. I put concluded that I wanted to wanted to jump into. this opportunity! In what other together press requests and set follow in the footsteps of my “study abroad” program are up interviews for a band on our boss, Tom Muzquiz, and go to How did you like life you going to get the chance to label that was on a huge arena law school. in Los Angeles? network—and party—at CAA, tour. I also helped write press Although it was hard to be one of the biggest international releases and create press kits Have your ideas about the away from my friends and talent agencies, and meet for various artists. I had the business changed? family back in New York, I can industry moguls like Akon, opportunity to go to a music I went out there with a pretty whole-heartedly say that com- Marty Bandier, and Rob Light? video shoot and coordinate good understanding of the ing to L.A. for the semester was the interviews. During this business from some past one of the best decisions I ever internship, I saw more concerts experiences and from what I’ve made. Waking up every morn- and live performances in one learned in class. I have gained ing to sunshine left me speech- semester than I had seen in the more insight into every aspect less. The people, the sights, the past two years. It really was an of the business through hands- place where we lived—every- incredible learning opportunity. on work. I think my ideas about thing was just breathtaking. I the business developed rather can truly say that I did not take than changed. one day out there for granted.

36 Syracuse University Magazine Photos by Alexis Ostrander Published by SURFACE, 2010 3 Syracuse University Magazine, Vol. 27, Iss. 1 [2010], Art. 7

A gerCHIE Pa Dual Major: Hometown: Internship: Class: Junior Psychology and Ridgefield Park, New Jersey Rigberg Entertainment Group Inc., Television, Radio, Film Los Angeles

Tell us about your internship. Did the internship benefit Were your career How did you like life Rigberg Entertainment Group, your education? aspirations affected? in Los Angeles? which was founded by Glenn My internship allowed me to I’ve made it a point to find out I loved living in Los Angeles. Rigberg [’88], is a boutique supplement textbook knowl- which jobs would allow me It’s like a perpetual daydream. talent management firm that edge with real-life experience. to be creative, but also to be You’re surrounded by celebri- manages actors, writers, There are some things that you business-minded. I’ve realized ties, expensive cars, and people and directors, and a growing can only learn on the job. I got that I would most like to be a who are committed to trying to production company. I was to see an integral part of the producer because I like the idea make it in the industry. basically an assistant, but I business. of finding a project I’m passion- was given lots of responsibili- ate about, whether it’s a book, ties—and I loved it. I covered Have your ideas about the script, or a real-life event, and the phones, greeted talent and business changed? using so many resources to get A rchie Page ’11 gets guests, submitted our clients’ I learned how much networking it made into a movie. advice from Glenn portfolios to casting directors, and building relationships are a Rigberg ’88, founder read scripts for TV pilots and part of good business. I’ve also What was your most reward- of the Rigberg feature films and did detailed realized that you need passion ing experience? Entertainment Group. coverage [evaluations], helped and determination to stay One of the most rewarding create actors’ reels and re- focused and to succeed in this experiences for me was going sumes, and whatever else was industry. to the party at Aaron Sorkin’s asked of me. One of the perks house in West Hollywood. I for me was attending an ad- realized how lucky I am to be at vanced screening of the movie a school whose alumni are so Precious at Lionsgate a month accomplished and who are so before it came out because our willing to give back to students. company represented one of the supporting characters.

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L uhesoREN H g Major: Hometown: Internship: Cassu l : J nIOR Television, Radio, Film Wake Forest, North Carolina Lifetime Networks, Century City

Tell us about your taping of the episode through Were your career L.A. Semester placed in our internship. a live feed connecting the New aspirations affected? laps: a private party at Aaron Lifetime Networks is a diversi- York and Los Angeles offices. I was able to identify specific Sorkin’s house, HBO pre- fied multimedia company, parts of the business I enjoy mieres, DGA screenings, and committed to offering the Did the internship benefit and other parts that I find alumni luncheons at the Four highest quality programming your education? less enjoyable. For example, Seasons in Beverly Hills. There that celebrates, entertains, This internship gave me a production coordinator was were never-ending opportu- informs, and supports women. hands-on experience and out of the office for a two- nities to network within the I interned in the programming provided me with insight week period and I was given industry. department for JoAnn Alfano, into the media industry. The the opportunity to fill in for executive vice president for experience resonates in me in him, directly reporting to the How did you like life entertainment. I was responsi- ways that no book or class- two executive vice presidents in Los Angeles? ble for reading the trades every room assignment could. More of production. Through that I love life in Los Angeles. morning and documenting specifically, I have been able experience, I realized that my articles that make reference to to pinpoint my ideal goals for a aspirations were no longer Lifetime and to competitors. career within this industry. solely confined to the pro- L oren Hughes ’11 (left) I read numerous speculative gramming department. I left visits with Colleen scripts and provided feedback Have your ideas about that experience thinking about McCormick, senior vice on each. I was involved in the the business changed? the possibility of becoming a president, production, at entire pre-production process I never realized how much the production executive. Lifetime Networks. of a current television series: business is evolving until I was receiving the first draft of an personally immersed in it. I What was your most episode script, viewing the learned, firsthand, how much rewarding experience? table read, working on script power my generation has in There were rewarding experi- revisions, and making produc- determining the progression of ences in taking advantage of tion notes. I also viewed the the media industry. every single opportunity the

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Hr a veY Major: Hometown: Internship: “Rob” Fonda Syracuse Escape Artists LLC, Culver City Cass iorl : Jun Television, Radio, Film

Tell us about your internship. How have your ideas about Escape Artists is a production the business changed? company that has a first-look deal Based on the horror stories that with SONY Pictures. That means everyone hears, I think it’s easy the company takes all its projects to view the business as a cold, to SONY first. If SONY doesn’t cutthroat place. But since going want the project, then Escape out there, I don’t see it that way Artists is free to shop the script or anymore. It’s not nearly as scary a project elsewhere. The producers place as I thought it might be. who own the company are Jason Blumenthal [’90], Todd Black, Were your career and Steve Tisch. At my internship, aspirations affected? I mostly read scripts and wrote Almost every speaker who came “coverage,” which is a short sum- to class said, “Do everything, mary of the plot, along with what because that way you’ll find out I thought about it. Put simply, I what you don’t want to do.” This was on the company’s first line of speaks volumes about the value of defense for scripts that come in. the L.A. program. Just from hear- I was responsible for telling them ing speakers who come to class to pass on the bad stuff and to and talk about their jobs, I have a How did you like life point out the scripts that had real better idea of what I want to do— in Los Angeles? potential to be movies. and don’t want to do. It’s hard to I really enjoyed life in L.A. Even pick a single experience; the whole outside of the entertainment Did the internship benefit thing was rewarding. I think the industry, there’s a ton to see in your education? networking opportunities made L.A. Semester students the city. I can definitely see myself (below, left to right) There’s nothing like the hands-on the semester worthwhile. Not going out there to live and to Jillian King ’11, Trevor experience I had in Los Angeles. only did we work great internships establish a career when I finish Kiviat ’11, Brittany Lahm As great as the teachers are at and go to events at the Director’s school. The program has been a ’11, Jeremy Garber ’11, Syracuse, there are just some Guild, but we were introduced to big part of that. Loren Hughes ’11, and things you can’t teach in a class- the extensive SU alumni network Dan Bagnall ’11 have room. There’s no substitute for the in L.A. some fun during a bus experience I had reading incoming ride to a welcome party scripts and the scripts of the mov- for the program, hosted ies in production. by writer and producer Aaron Sorkin ’83.

P hotos courtesy of SU in LA Spring 2010 39 https://surface.syr.edu/sumagazine/vol27/iss1/7 6 Marc: Inside Entertainment

Alumni Power at Work

Last fall, Trustee Rob Light ’78 included filmmaker Judd Apatow hosted a reception at the offices of (Funny People; Forgetting Sarah Creative Artists Agency for alumni, Marshall); veteran sitcom writer- students, faculty, and others who producer Andy Borowitz (The Fresh helped get the Los Angeles Semester Prince of Bel Air); and comedian Sarah off to a roaring start. Joining Light at Silverman, whose Sarah Silverman the celebration were L.A. Semester Program is seen on Comedy Central. founders and shapers: Brian Frons Larry Martin, associate vice G’78, president of Daytime at Disney- president for program development ABC Television; Jason Blumenthal ’90, at SU, has been escorting students producer and partner at Escape Artists, on the Newhouse School’s winter- a film production company; Marilyn break networking trips to Los Angeles Ginsburg-Klaus ’56, G’57, proprietor of since 1984. Martin found the event Grand House Management; and Sean particularly gratifying. “Many of Cary ’89, executive vice president for the alumni who are making the L.A. digital distribution at SONY Pictures Semester possible were wide-eyed Entertainment. (A complete listing students hoping to get a foot in the of the program’s founders and of door someplace when I first brought members of the University’s L.A. Task them to town,” he says. “Now, as Force is available at lasemester.syr.edu/ leaders in the entertainment industry, background.html.) they’re showing they haven’t forgotten In the spirit of the L.A. Semester, how important it is to meet people and the daylong November 12 event was learn your way around.” L.A. Semester a party—and more. Trustee Martin director Andrea Asimow agrees. “Our Bandier ’62, chairman and CEO students are overwhelmed by the of SONY/ATV Music Publishing, warmth and friendliness of the alumni moderated a discussion on “Building outreach,” she says. the Right Team” in the music industry. Featured panelists were Light, who Music industry executive Martin Bandier heads music operations at CAA, and ’62 (far right, top right photo) quizzes Rob singer-songwriters Akon and Sara Light ’78 (left) and singers Akon and Sara Bareilles. Media critic Ken Auletta G’77 (top Bareilles. A search for “The Future of left photo) laughs during a discussion with Funny” was led by New Yorker media comedian Sarah Silverman, writer Andy critic Ken Auletta G’77. The panel Borowitz (bottom left photo), and producer Judd Apatow.

40 Syracuse University Magazine Photos courtesy of SU in LA Published by SURFACE, 2010 7 Syracuse University Magazine, Vol. 27, Iss. 1 [2010], Art. 7

L.A. Semester students (from left) Jeremy Garber ’11, Emily Brandstetter ’11, Chris Aubin ’10, John Kozak ’11, and Joel Samataro ’10 enjoy the celebration hosted by Creative Artists Agency.

M iCHAEL McNeill- Martinez Major: Bandier Program Hometown: Internship: Cass iorl : Jun for Music and the Berkeley, California Cornerstone Promotion, Hollywood Entertainment Industries

Tell us about your internship. have a lot of projects throughout the Cornerstone is a lifestyle marketing entire entertainment industry. company that deals primarily with music, television, and film. I assisted Were your career and did research for creative cam- aspirations affected? paigns. I put together the necessary I believe I’ll be able to take what I’ve social media for certain projects learned and apply it almost anywhere and kept that up-to-date. I was also in the entertainment industry. The responsible for office work, such as internship opened my eyes to how organizing, filing, and mailing. many different occupations are out there, and I can search for the one Did the internship benefit that’s best for me, instead of just your education? focusing on one specific aspect of I have a better understanding of cre- the music industry. ative and synergetic promotional and marketing campaigns for different What was your most types of entertainment and a better rewarding experience? understanding of an “office environ- My internship supervisor constantly ment.” Hands-on experience, in my invited me and my classmates to spe- Final Comment: opinion, is nearly as important as the cial events, such as exclusive open- If you stay up to date and try to classroom education I’m receiving at ings, screenings, and concerts. It was relate, you’ll be fine. Syracuse. a pleasure to go to these events and have a good time with all of the SULA Have your ideas about the students. business changed? I underestimated how versatile the How did you like life in Los Angeles? company was. I always thought it The weather there was great and primarily dealt with music and brand there was so much to do. If you stay collaborations, but I found that they away from trying to rationalize the traffic, you’ll have an awesome time.

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