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Steppenwolf Producer and Jellyvision Manager Advise MSLCE Students on Internships

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By Joe Giovannetti
On Monday, the MSLCE cohort entered their regular Professional Development class, taught by Mandi Glowen and Jonah Zeiger. However, rather than the usual lecture-format class, Glowen and Zeiger prepared an exciting panel with various guests in Chicago’s creative industries: Rebecca Adelsheim, a producer and dramaturg at Steppenwolf Theater Company, and Pat Niday, an implementation manager at  Jellyvision.

The MSLCE cohort is nearing the end of the spring quarter, which means that the students are working toward securing a summer internship in the creative industries. Every student must complete a summer internship or thesis in order to complete the rigorous Master’s program, and for the students that began in the Fall of 2016, the internship marks their final experience prior to graduation. Naturally, the cohort was excited to gain insight about internships from two Chicago leaders that oversee the internship programs at their respective companies.
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Jim Bland, Constance Bowen Discuss ‘the Language of Business’ in MSLCE Finance Class

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By John Hounihan

Accounting and finance have long been defined as “the language of business.” No matter the sector, accounting, finance, and investing are sure to come up in the operation of organizations.

During the winter quarter in the MSLCE core class Introduction to Creative Enterprise, guest speaker Jim Bland elaborated on this adage, stating that accounting is also the science of business, and finance is the art. Bland, a West Point graduate from the world of private equity along with fellow panelist Constance Bowen of Northern Trust, visited class to speak on the everyday trials and tribulations of budgeting, buy ins, and speaking the language of business. (more…)

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Susan Carver Leads Cultural Intelligence Seminar

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By Joe Giovannetti

Caring, Confidentiality, Candor, Commitment, and Compassion.

These are the 5 C’s that Susan Carver established during the MSLCE cohort’s first day-long seminar of the spring quarter: Cultural Intelligence and Managing Inclusion. Throughout the day, Carver would help move the students through activities that focused on the topics of assumptions, oppression, privilege, and taking action. (more…)

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The Film Arcade Co-Founder Discusses Production and Distribution Company’s First Big Hit, ‘Don’t Think Twice’

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By Jacob Nelson

Don’t Think Twice, which Andy Bohn executive produced, is an obvious success story: it performed well at the box office, garnered a 99% “fresh” rating from the review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, and came in on budget.

And it’s now the biggest hit to come out of The Film Arcade, an independent film distribution company that Bohn co-founded and oversees as a partner.

It’s also a movie that had a highly unconventional release that included improv classes, special screenings, and a public radio icon. (more…)

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Emmy-Nominated Writer and Producer Speaks at Northwestern

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By Lauren Vernea

During a recent EPICS Speaker Series, Northwestern alum Gregg Mettler visited campus to speak to students about his career and experiences in the entertainment industry.

Mettler is an Emmy-nominated comedy writer and producer based in LA. After graduating from Northwestern in 1994, he broke into the business as a staff writer on NBC’s 3rd Rock From The Sun. Some of his credits include: That 70’s Show, How to Live with Your Parents (For The Rest Of Your Life), and The Muppets. Currently, he is a co-executive Producer and showrunner on Man With A Plan starring Matt Leblanc. (more…)

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MSLCE Students Meet with Tony-Winning Broadway Producers on NY Trek

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By Joe Giovannetti

After a rousing first two days in the Big Apple, the students of the MSLCE cohort woke up energized and ready to see what the second half of the NYC immersion trek would bring. They didn’t have to go far, as three interesting guests would visit them in the hotel that morning.

The students were finishing up their breakfast when Barbara Whitman and Tom Casserly arrived. Whitman and Tom shared their insight into the theatre industry through their experience as Broadway producers. The Tony-Award winning (Fun Home) powerhouses behind “Barbara Whitman Productions” described what it’s like to select a play, raise money, and bring it all the way to the Broadway stage. Afterwards, Emily Gerson Saines of Brookside Artist Management provided some insight into the life of a talent agent in New York, and how she used her connections to accomplish major philanthropic efforts for the Autism community. (more…)

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Faculty Spotlight: Cory Sandrock on the Financial Side of the Creative Sector

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Cory Sandrock, who teaches the Business of the Creative Sector, knows a lot about both finance and the arts.

He is a Theatre graduate from Northwestern’s School of Communication and holds an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He has extensive experience in capital markets, strategic planning, financial analyses, commercial real estate, and investment management, with a career that has moved from theatre and film production to investment banking and private equity.  Sandrock currently serves as the Managing Director of Pareto & Company, a private investment company targeting the real estate, dental, and finance industries. He has also written and directed numerous theatre productions.

Below are his answers to our faculty spotlight questions.

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Sabrina Wang’s Dream Job Combines Museums and Marketing

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By Jacob Nelson

Sabrina Wang has a very specific goal while enrolled as a student in the MSLCE program: she wants to bring her love of museums and marketing together for her dream job.

While studying communications and east Asian studies at the University of Southern California, Wang interned at both the campus’ Fisher Museum of Art as as well as at Los Angeles Magazine, where she focused on marketing. She also did event planning for the USC Pacific Asia Museum, amongst her other responsibilities like writing scripts for tours and engaging with the museum’s audience as a docent. (more…)

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Mary Sherman Talks Arts Nonprofit Management at Northwestern

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By Jacob Nelson

In November 2015, Mary Sherman was working on a presentation that explored the importance of art. Specifically, it was about the importance of her art nonprofit, TransCultural Exchange, an annual conference that brings together artists from across the globe. She originally planned to argue its importance based on the significance of its financials, drawing on the millions of dollars it’s raised over the years. She decided to take a break and went to a museum.

And then the texts started rolling in. The Paris terrorist attack had just occurred. Sherman, who was in Boston but has friends in Paris, was rattled. But she didn’t want to move.

“I didn’t want to leave the museum,” Sherman said. “I was surrounded by literally the best that humanity has to offer.”

When Sherman returned home, she changed her talk: “This is why art is important,” she said, “At times like this we need to be surrounded by human excellence.” (more…)

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MSLCE Students Explore the Los Angeles Film and TV Industry

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By Lauren Vernea

During spring break, the MSLCE cohort made the journey to Hollywood.

While in Los Angeles, students met with Northwestern alumni and Hollywood executives who are currently working at companies such as Disney Motion Pictures, FOX Searchlight, FX Networks, Universal Pictures/Secret Hideout, HBO, MACRO Ventures, Scott Free Productions, Partizan Entertainment, Film Independent, and more. (more…)

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