CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Guest Speakers
The Career Development Department’s Guest Speaker Lecture Series features noted experts from various facets of the audio, film, and television industries, and provides students with unprecedented access to current industry professionals.
GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDE
JONATHAN LEVINE AND MICHAEL BRANDT
Director and screenwriter Jonathan Levine (The Wackness) and screenwriter Michael Brandt (WANTED) visited The LA Film School and screened their movies, answered questions, and signed posters for students.
Click here to read more about their visit.
JASON REITMAN AND DIABLO CODY
Director Jason Reitman and Screenwriter Diablo Cody recently visited The LA Film School to talk about their latest motion picture, the Academy Award-nominated JUNO.
Click here to read more about their visit.
THOMAS TULL
Thomas Tull, Chairman and CEO of Legendary Pictures, addressed current and prospective students at the LA Film School’s “Get Xposed” campus tour.
Click here to read more about Thomas' visit.
TAMARA JENKINS
Tamara Jenkins, who wrote and directed the recently released motion picture The Savages, made a visit to The Los Angeles Film School to screen her movie and talk to students about the film.
Click here to learn more about her visit.
JERRAM SWARTZ
Unit Production Manager on ABC’s hit television series, Samantha Who?, starring Christina Applegate. His credits as an Associate Producer, Second Assistant Director, Second Unit Director, First Assistant Director or Unit Production Manager include: E.T., Batman Forever, The Blues Brothers, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The A-Team, Beethoven, Can’t Buy Me Love, and Oprah’s and Halle Berry’s television movie debut, The Wedding.
JACK WALL
Video Game Composer and Producer: Mass Effect, Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow and Jade Empire
CHRIS DEBIEC
Producer/Line Producer: James Cameron’s Ghosts of the Abyss, Last Mysteries of the Titanic, and Expedition: Bismarck
FRANK BALKIN
Co-Head of Physical Production, Paradigm Agency. His clients’ projects include: Desperate Housewives, Lost, E.R., Big Love, Entourage, My Name is Earl and The Shield.
KASSI CREWS
Post-Production Executive, Digital Jungle. Credits include: Spiderman, Bourne Identity, Charlie’s Angels, Planet of the Apes, Kill Bill, The Daily Show, Six Feet Under, Xtreme Makeover; music videos for Snoop Dogg, Blink 182, Usher, Janet Jackson, Goo Goo Dolls
KHALIQ GLOVER (aka, Khaliq-O-Vision)
Grammy-winning Recording Engineer, Producer and Songwriter who has worked with Kenny Rogers, Jermaine Jackson, Donna Summer, Kenny Rogers, Jeffrey Osborne, Herbie Hancock, Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Santana, Sting, Annie Lennox, Smokey Robinson, Prince, John Mayer and Justin Timberlake. Participating engineer on "We Are The World,” produced by Quincy Jones, starring Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, and many more.
ERICK JOLLEY
Post-production audio professional (Sound Supervisor, Sound Editor, Engineer for ADR, Foley and Voice-Over, Sound Designer and Re-recording Mixer) whose company, N2Sound, features clients such as MGM, Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Lionsgate. Credits include: U-571, Joe Somebody, The Good Girl, Law and Order: SVU, American History “X,” Lilo & Stitch, Tomb Raider, Pearl Harbor, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Night Before Christmas, NYPD Blue, Rush Hour, American Airlines, Calvin Klein Cologne and Porsche.
JOE E. RAND
Motion Picture Music Editor: World Trade Center, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, The Perfect Storm, October Sky, Deep Impact, Titanic
JOEL SHRYACK
Motion Picture Sound Editor/Sound Effects Editor/Dialogue Editor: Nancy Drew, Friday Night Lights, Orange County, Selena, The Cable Guy, The American President, The Dukes of Hazzard, Curious George, Along Came Polly, Zoolander
NEIL MANDT
Director/Producer/Writer of indie feature Last Stop for Paul – 2007 winner of 45 international film festival awards. A partner in the L.A.-based production company, Mandt Bros. Productions, Neil has created TV series for the PAX network, Fox Sports, E! Entertainment Television, the SciFi Channel and ESPN. A contributing producer to four ESPY Awards and three X-Games, he also won a 2000 Emmy Award as a producer at the Sydney Olympics.
FRED MOLLIN
V.P. of A&R (Artists & Repertoire), Walt Disney Records (High School Musical 1 & 2)
DOROTHY KOZAK
Former Senior Story Analyst: Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, and the Buena Vista Motion Picture Group. As a freelance reader, she has covered scripts and books for companies and producers including: Kennedy/Marshall, Scott Rudin, Bedford Falls and Jerry Bruckheimer. As a writer, Dorothy recently sold her first feature to Walden Media and her first TV series to NBC/Universal for the USA network.
HEATHER HALE
Emmy Award-winning Writer/Producer; former Programmer for The National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE); creator of national and international seminar: “PowerNetworking: The Secret Hollywood Code.”
JOE HOGAN
Former Manager of Development, CBS Movies and Miniseries (Hallmark Hall of Fame); Editor, Program Practices (advises on content of network shows with regard to CBS Broadcast Standards).
DAVID SONNENSCHEIN
Sound designer, founder of Sonic Strategies, and author of the book Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice and Sound Effects in Cinema.
DEREK RYDALL
Former staff writer, Fox and Disney; has sold, optioned, or been hired to write over 20 scripts, a dozen hours of broadcast TV, and a dozen books for companies including: Universal, Miramax, RKO, United Artists, and Motion Picture Corporation of America. Rydall is also the author of the #1 Best-Selling screenwriting book, I Could’ve Written a Better Movie than That!, How to Make 6-Figures as a Script Consultant, and the newly released There’s No Business Like Soul Business: A Spiritual Path to Enlightened Screenwriting, Filmmaking, and Performing Arts.
Click here to read more about Dyrek's visit.
PILAR ALESSANDRA
Former Senior Story Analyst at Dreamworks, and an instructor at UCLA's Writers Program. As the owner of On The Page, she’s trained writers and story analysts at Nickelodeon, MTV, and ABC/Disney. Her clients have sold to Disney, DreamWorks and Warner Brothers, and have won prestigious contests, including the Nicholl Fellowship.
DANA SALSTON
Former Literary Agent , Endeavor Talent Agency, and International Creative Artists (ICM).
GORDY HAAB
Award-winning Composer/Orchestrator/Conductor/Arranger who has professionally scored over 45 films.
PETER BARKER
Owner and Chief Engineer of Threshold Sound and Vision Studios
JOHN ANDERSON
Former Sr. Vice President, Film & TV Music, Windswept Music Publishing (largest independent music publisher in the world); CEO of the Hunnypot Unlimited – a networking organization for the audio, film and TV industry.
SEAN BEAVAN
Record Producer: Nine Inch Nails, No Doubt, Marilyn Manson
DON GRIERSON
Former Senior V.P. of A & R (Artists & Repertoire) at Capitol Records, Epic, Sony and EMI-America. Has worked with: Kenny Rogers, Heart, Joe Cocker, Tina Turner, Duran Duran, Cyndi Lauper, Anne Murray, Bob Seger, Celine Dion, Iron Maiden, Cheap Trick, Gloria Estefan, The Beatles
MATT GRUBER
Record Engineer: Carrie Underwood, The Scorpions, Leann Rimes, Yes, Ricky Martin, Neil Diamond
SKIP SAYLOR
Record Producer/Engineer: Snoop Dogg, Pink, Eminem, Foo Fighters, DJ Quik
JOEY SCOLERI
V.P. of Alternative/Rock Promotions, Hollywood Records
JOHN HARTMANN
Agent/Manager/Producer formerly with The William Morris Agency who has worked with and helped shape the careers of superstars like Elvis, Sonny & Cher, Peter, Paul & Mary, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne, America, Ringo Starr, and The Eagles. Founder of theholodigm.com: an Internet-based artist management community dedicated to the discovery and development of the next generation of music superstars.
RICHARD WOLF
Emmy Award-winning Composer/Producer: Macy Gray, Fergie, Black-Eyed Peas
JEFFREY BRABEC (Vice President of Chrysalis Music)
TODD BRABEC (Vice President of Membership at ASCAP)
Co-authors of best-selling book: Music, Money and Success: The Insider’s Guide to Making Money in the Music Business
PENNY FRAMSTAD
Composer/Songwriter whose songs have been used in films and TV shows such as: White Chicks, 10 Things I Hate About You, Dawson’s Creek, Jag, The Real World, Everwood, Las Vegas and The Office.
RITCH ESRA
Publisher, Music Business Registries (The A&R Registry, The Publisher Registry, The Music Attorney Registry, and The Film/TV Music Guide). Former Director of West Coast A&R for Arista Records. Has co-written songs with Grammy, Academy and CMA Award-winning songwriters
JUSTIN GOLDBERG
Founder/CEO, Indie 911: a leading online media and social network providing tools and resources for thousands of musicians, filmmakers and consumers to sell, stream or share content. Expert in online music who also founded The Hoooka, the Online Music Channel and Label Services Network, and held senior leadership positions at Sony Music, Riffage, Tonos and iMesh. Author of the critically-acclaimed book: Ultimate Survival Guide to the NEW Music Industry.
DAN KIMPEL – Music journalist and author of the best-selling books: Networking in the Music Business, Networking Strategies for the New Music Business, and How They Made It: True Stories of How Music’s Biggest Stars Went from Start to Stardom .
TESS TAYLOR
Founder/CEO, National Association of Record Industry Professionals; Founder, Los Angeles Music Network
CHANG WEISBERG
Founder, Guerilla Union (artist management, and hip-hop concert/festival production & promotion). Creator and Publisher, Insider Magazine (1996 – 2000). Produced: The Cypress Hill Smoke Out, Dragon Festival, Rock The Bells, Moto Music Mayhem, Holiday Havoc and the Paid Dues Festival.
GRANT NIEPORTE
The writer of the new Will Smith film, Seven Pounds, screened his film and joined students for a Q&A session.
To listen to the podcast, click here
THOMAS McCARTHY
Screened his film The Visitor, which he wrote and directed. The screening was followed by a Q&A session
To listen to the podcast, click here
ALLAN MOYLE and WALT LLOYD
Director Allan Moyle and DP Walt Lloyd screened their feature, Pump Up the Volume which was followed by a Q&A.
KAREN GOULEKAS and UELI STEIGER
FX supervisor Karen Goulekas and DP Ueli Steiger screened their film 10,000 B.C. which included a Q&A session after the film.
STEPHEN SUSCO
Susco, who wrote and directed Red, screened his film, which was followed by a Q&A session.
To listen to the podcast, click here
JENNY LUMET
The writer of Rachel Getting Married screened her feature and treated students to a Q&A session.
JAMES CHRESSANTHIS
The Director of No Subtitles Necessary visited the school to screen his film which was followed by a Q&A session.
JOE DANTE
The director screened his 1981 werewolf feature, The Howling which was followed by a Q&A session. Dante’s credits also include, Gremlins, The Twilight Zone, and Innerspace.
JAMES ELLROY
Writer of L.A. Confidential spoke to students at July 2008 graduation.
JAY WARSINSKE
Founder of Activate Entertainment, a cutting-edge music, video and content label that has produced releases featuring: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Lil Wayne, Three-6-Mafia, DJ Quik, and the Black Eyed Peas.
PAUL MASSEY
Six-time Academy Award-nominated Sound Mixer for Film whose 100+ credits include: Legends Of The Fall, Air Force One, Master and Commander, Walk The Line, Almost Famous, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Jerry Maguire and 3:10 To Yuma.
JAN WIERINGA
Producer of groundbreaking commercial campaigns such as Michael Bay’s Got Milk? and David Fincher’s Nike spots. She is the founder of ZOO Film, a full-service commercial and entertainment production company.
JULIE MARSH
Professional Story Editor and Script Consultant with an MFA in Screenwriting. As a writer, she’s worked on features, television, cartoons, video games and shorts, and Creative Screenwriting magazine produced her DVD "The Screenwriter's Guide to Horror."
CHRISTOPHER SPELLMAN
Co-founder of Spellman-Paul Entertainment,a management, personal appearance, casting, and producing company. Over the years, he has discovered, developed and worked with such talents as screenwriters Rod and Bruce Taylor, John Viener (The Family Guy), Michael Shannon (8 Mile and Bug), and many others.
NEIL MANDT
The independent filmmaker visited to share clips from his new indie feature, Last Stop for Paul, and also discuss the project during a Q & A session. During the discussion, Mandt shared his experiences on how to make movies and secure distribution and talked about his L.A.-based production company, Mandt Bros. Productions.
PAUL BEROLZHEIMER
Award-winning Sound Editor has received numerous awards and nominations for his work in film and television sound, including three Golden Reel Awards and two Prime-Time Emmy Awards: for the acclaimed HBO Miniseries John Adams (2008) and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007). As a Sound Effects Editor for film, Paul’s long list of credits include: Appaloosa, Changeling, The Last Sentinel, The Prestige, Dark Water, Gothika, The Matrix Revolutions, Mulholland Falls, Speed and The Lion King. He has also worked with musical artists such as Neil Young, Billy Talbot, Bo Diddley, Beausoliel, Gene Simmons, and many others.
TIM COX
Director of the Miss Nobody, starring Adam Goldberg (Saving Private Ryan), Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), and Vivica A. Fox (Kill Bill); Producer, Dean Devlin's documentary Who Killed the Electric Car?
JASON NINNESS
Production Executive of Phoenix Pictures. He supervised production and completion of nine feature films with Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Columbia/TriStar. Currently projects in post-production include Martin Scorsese’s upcoming thriller Shutter Island, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and The Weinstein Company’s Shanghai, also starring DiCaprio, along with Mark Ruffalo and Ben Kingsley. Previous credits as a Production Coordinator, Post Production Supervisor, and Producer include: License to Wed, Zodiac, All The King’s Men, Stealth, Pathfinder and Miss Potter.
JOHN AUGUST
Screenwriter of Charlie's Angels spoke to a graduating class in January of 2009.
