Students looking to break into Hollywood need to keep focus on attaining their dreams and build a wide range of skills, a television producer told students in a lecture Monday.
Yaniv Fituci, associate producer of “Attack of the Show” and a recent UA graduate, spoke as part of a lecture series called “The Business of Entertainment.” The series features professionals in television production and media relations, said Kevin Sandler, associate director and professor of Film and Media Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Sandler said the goal of the series is to engage current students in the entertainment field by bringing in people who have been through the challenges of breaking into the business.
“The goal is to put a face to a name and show the possibilities that people can do,” Sandler said. “We want students to understand what they are learning in the classroom is essentially the basis of what they will experience in the future.”
The Film and Media Studies program was developed several years ago, and ASU professors have made a strong impact on students striving to break into the entertainment industry by emphasizing what is important, Sandler said.
“You try to make students marketable, whether through collaborative skills or creative thinking through knowing a variety of media and by helping them intern. It’s important they learn a variety of things that get them where they want to go,” Sandler said. “I teach contemporary media business so I am actively involved in Hollywood. What I teach and what I write, I circulate back into providing internships for students.”
This emphasis on gaining knowledge through experience and more collaborative learning helped 2006 graduate Fituci gain recognition in his work environment.
Fituci writes and produces several daily video segments on topics of contemporary interests, and spearheads a television segment called “Musical Playtime,” which showcases artists and their technological innovations in music production.
“Entertainment is a really fun job, but you don’t make a lot of money. You have to have a side thing, and it’s important to incorporate it into what you are passionate about,” Fituci said. “Whether it’s art or sports, if it’s bringing you closer to what you ultimately want to do, that’s key. In this industry, it’s about spreading yourself wide and getting to know the people that you meet.”
Fituci showed several YouTube videos about how he is trying to make it in entertainment with independent music videos and featured television segments highlighting the underground music scene. Also, Fituci earned credibility in the fashion industry as his Tetris T-shirt design was featured on E! and the Style Network.
“I learned to be more adaptable in this industry. I am willing to engage myself in other interests of entertainment that furthers me into the field while aiming to fulfill my dream in music production,” Fituci said.
Saiaf Addallah, a sophomore film student, said he recognizes the importance of remaining humble but guided when chasing a dream.
“You have to keep writing, directing films and working with others on other projects. In order to break through, it is important to realize that everyone has an idea for a story,” Addallah said. “It’s about distinguishing your story idea from someone else. It’s about story telling and collaboration. Putting the pieces together makes all the difference.”
Kiera Lee, a media industry junior, said she gained respect for the film program through her professors’ challenging and engaging method of instructing.
“The program is really closed in, and the professors send out information every week keeping students aware of what’s going on. They tell us what to research to stay up on what is going on in the industry,” Lee said.
ASU’s program is helping students to grasp the different concepts of gaining recognition in such a demanding environment.
Though the entertainment field is difficult to break into, it has provided opportunities for expression in a society that is traumatized by economic disparity, said Bambi Haggins, associate professor and director of cultural studies.
“I think it’s a really empowering thing to tell your story, and that is what we are striving to do. We strive to give people the tools to do what they want to do,” Haggins said. “A part of our directive is to help form media makers that are conscious. Once consciousness is raised, it can’t be lowered.”
Reach the reporter at asjohn10@asu.edu
