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Use Your Network: Film/TV Industry Connect


by Samantha Sartori

Networking. Who do you know? Who do they know? How can you bridge the connection? In this day and age, job hunting is all about networking.

Enter EPICS: the External Programs, Internships and Career Services in the School of Communication offers many opportunities for students to network with organizations they may want to explore for future careers. This past month, EPICS hosted the Industry Connect Night for students interested in careers in television and film. Northwestern alumni and other professionals from different organizations throughout Chicago came to campus to discuss their career paths, take questions and offer advice. (more…)

The Chicago International Film Festival: An MSLCE perspective


by Imani Davis

There are so many things in Chicago that can quench the creative thirst of MSLCE students looking to make the most of their time in the program. A hallmark of the film community in the city is the Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF), founded in 1964. There are a variety of ways for people to get involved in the festivities outside of being an attendee; attending Industry Days, Volunteering, and Interning. This year, I volunteered at the festival and had the privilege of interviewing MSLCE alum Yuki Solomon ’19, who was a programming intern reporting to artistic director, Mimi Plauche at the time of our interview and who now works as Special Events Coordinator for the festival. (more…)

Finding Just the Right Fit


A passionate writer and storyteller, Samantha Sartori ’20 loved being part of the television production program in high school. She excelled at working on stories for the educational-access channel and filming clips for district broadcasting. (more…)

Writers Theatre: An Intimate, Collaborative Experience


by Samantha Sartori

 Growing up a “theatre kid,” I love getting a behind-the-scenes look at any artistic performance space. So when the MSLCE program and EPICS offered us a site visit to the Writers Theatre in Glencoe, I knew I had to jump on the opportunity.

 Writers Theatre was founded in 1992 with the core foundation that all productions would honor the written word and nurture artists. Over the last 27 years, it has become a vital member of the Chicago theatre community and regarded as one of the top half-dozen regional theatres in the country by The Wall Street Journal.
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Finding Big Creative Opportunities in Unlikely Places

Daniel Grambow ’18 first discovered music in elementary school as he learned to play trumpet, piano, guitar, and sing. After injuring his knee in high school, he was no longer able to play sports—and he rekindled his love for the creative arts. As he spent more time in music and theater, he quickly realized that creative arts were where he belonged. (more…)

Tapping into the Five Styles of Leadership: Leadership Styles in the Media and Entertainment Industries Speaker Series


by Samantha Sartori

Take a moment to picture someone you consider to be a leader. What is it about them that makes them stand out? Is it her perseverance and how she focuses on the group’s vision? Perhaps it’s his ability to keep his team aligned and accountable. Or maybe it’s their imagination and intuition when solving difficult problems. As students in the MSLCE program, we’re learning about our own personal styles of leadership and how to most effectively tap into them. (more…)

A Los Angeles Internship Experience That Started In Evanston


By Alessandra Brown

This summer I was lucky enough to have two wonderful internships at K&L Productions and Madison Wells Media Universe.

K&L Productions is Kay Cannon (Pitch Perfect, Blockers) and Laverne McKinnon’s (Girl Boss) production company. I loved every moment of Professor McKinnon’s MSLCE class, The Power of Pitch and Persuasion, and knew that I had to work with them when I came to LA. Thankfully, the stars aligned, and I’ve been learning so much! (more…)

Summer in the City: My Internship at The Madison Square Garden Company – Part 2


By ALYSSA HOLCOMB
 

The second half of my summer internship utilized a particular skill to drive home everything I have learned so far, both at The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) and in the MSLCE program: public speaking.

Since my last article, I’ve done a lot of deck-building, speech crafting, and rehearsal-organizing. The majority of this was done during a creative assignment that the MSG team developed specifically for the Student Associate program. The group of 50+ interns were divided into teams and given three varying topics. My team, composed of three interns from varying backgrounds, chose corporate hospitality as our theme and got to work.
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Investing in Chicago’s 77 Unique Communities: A Summer Fellowship at the Arts & Business Council


By Brenna C. Cronin

“To love our city is to love every community and neighborhood that belongs to her.

We know that there is no right or perfect way to confront inequity… but we are willing

to take risks and become the accomplice Chicago’s many communities deserve.

Injustice impacts all of us… and there is too much at stake not to take action.”

—Kristin Larsen, Executive Director

My approach to finding a summer fellowship came from a lot of discernment about where my MSLCE learnings could be best amplified. As a Chicago native committed to the mentality that “Midwest is Best”, finding a fellowship in Chicago was important to me. Knowing that I was looking for something more tailored than a general internship, I sought out organizations that could provide specific experiences in Development and Nonprofit Leadership, my two focus areas. After an email to the Arts & Business Council, it appeared to be a perfect match. What I would learn about A&BC’s work would defy all expectations and provide an experience that felt meant-to-be. (more…)

MSLCE Student Gets Hands-On Experience At 2112 Chicago


By Matt Meade

As the first half of the summer has flashed by in the blink of an eye, I find myself suddenly at the last portion of the MSLCE program with graduation right around the corner. Luckily, as part of MSLCE’s experiential learning requirement, I sought out and secured a position with 2112 Chicago, a business incubator focused on the music, film, and tech industries in the city. This has put me into a vast network of creative industry professionals and has given me hands-on professional experience. (more…)