By Lauren Vernea
Genre television shows, which encompass horror, period, fantasy, and sci-fi, are in demand now more than ever in Hollywood. And writing duo Eric Carmelo and Nicole Snyder are at the forefront of this movement.
“To be a showrunner today, all you need is a successful pilot,” said Carmelo. “In TV, writer is king.” The two spoke at Northwestern as part of an EPICS Connections Speaker Series event on Oct. 4. (more…)
By Jacob Nelson
Joe Giovannetti has known he wanted to pursue a career in theater since high school. Not as a student, but as a teacher. Giovannetti was the director of choral activities at Arlington Heights High School.
“I taught choir and theater at the high school level, and so what interested me is that I found what I loved about the job is the creation of concerts and musicals,” Giovannetti said. “So I wanted to do that at a higher level and make a career out of it.” (more…)
By Jacob Nelson
The podcast market has changed rapidly over the last few years, and Adam Sachs has been on the ground floor of that evolution.
“A few years ago, when we wanted to make a new podcast we’d find one or two people to chit chat and banter and hopefully it’d be entertaining,” he said last Thursday at Northwestern. “Because the barrier today for creating a podcast is so low, there is really a saturation of podcasts… It has become a lot more difficult to create a podcast that stands out.” (more…)
By Miya Williams
Avielle Suria is not sure if she wants to work for a nonprofit or a software company, but she is certain of one thing: she wants to “think creatively in whatever career path [she ends] up pursuing.”
Suria currently works part-time as an administrative coordinator for the Center for Independent Futures, which helps adults with disabilities live independently. She values the impact that volunteers and donors have on people and she enjoys cultivating relationships. Recently, however, she learned about the role of a project manager and is now interested in putting her soft skills to good use as well. (more…)
By Miya Williams
Gaoyuan Huang wants to make his drawing “more spectacular.”
The Fudan University, Shanghai grad has been drawing since his youth, in part due to the influence from his mother who is an art teacher. Now, he wants to take his skills to the next level by learning how to do special effects for videos.
The Chinese Language and Literature major was part of his school’s Campus Culture Studio during his junior year. Students who have talent in art are chosen to design merchandise—such as bookmarks, cups, shoes, and bags—for the school and also other companies. This experience sparked his desire to one day own his own studio. (more…)
By Joe Giovannetti
Just one day after orientation, 35 eager students arrived on campus for their first full-day professional seminar. None expected the diverse challenges that the day would bring.
On Oct. 2, Gail Berger, Assistant Professor of Instruction from the McCormick School of Engineering, led the MSLCE cohort in a Professional Teamwork Seminar. The workshop was designed to build the students’ collaboration skills through a set of unique puzzles and activities. (more…)
By Jacob Nelson
Luis Perez is interested in nonfiction, but he’s open to the format.
“I really want to start a company or work for a company that focuses on nonfiction work in multiple mediums,” he said.
The MSLCE student has learned from experience that nonfiction storytelling can take many forms. He’s worked for WBEZ, Chicago’s public radio station. He’s taught workshops for how to make radio to community members. He’s acted, and he’s helped run live storytelling events. As he puts it, Perez has done “a little bit of everything.” (more…)
By Miya WIlliams
Samara Desrochers was born into a musical family.
The Canadian native has a lot of kin who play instruments, including her grandfather who played the trumpet. Desrochers started playing trumpet herself when she was only eight years old, but now she is interested in what happens off stage.
“I spent a lot of time doing concerts and recitals growing up,” she said. “As much fun as that was, I enjoy more behind-the-scenes aspects.” (more…)
Growth and change mark the start of the third year in the life of the MSLCE program.
The new cohort of students is the most diverse yet. They come from 8 different countries, and from 8 states within the US. Their college majors, interests, and professional trajectories could not be more diverse. We introduce you to six of them in this newsletter, and we will continue doing so in future issues during the academic year.
The new year also brings with it the addition of new faculty and staff. Agnes Horvat, a physicist who applies computational techniques to study the success of creative goods like movies and music, and Larissa Buchholz, a sociologist who specializes in the fine arts market, are new assistant professors the School of Communication who will teach in the MSLCE program. Jonah Zeiger and Mandi Glowen have joined the staff of the School and will support the MSLCE students in career development matters. (more…)
By Jacob Nelson
Ashwathi Iyer takes theatre seriously, but when it comes to her pursuit of a theatre career, she’s more than willing to let loose a joke or two.
Asked who would play her in the movie about her life, she responded, “I’d play me!” The reason? “I can tell my parents how spending 6 years of my life in theatre has finally paid off!”
What would the movie be called? “Please Don’t Sleep Through This.”
Iyer may have a self-deprecating sense of humor, but she’s also got big dreams and the ambition to accomplish them. In her brief professional career, the Bangalore native has conducted and directed a six week theatre boot camp for amateur actors that culminated in a stage performance. She has also volunteered for an NGO called Make A Difference that provides tutors for underprivileged children. (more…)
