Panel Captivates With Invaluable Advice

By Amy Bernstein

If you're going into the entertainment industry, prepare to work long hours with low pay. At least according to the six panelists who came to the entertainment career panel hosted by Santa Clara.

Liz Stilmman, a Santa Clara graduate and the promotions coordinator at Allied-THA, said that she'd even spent 36 hours straight in the office.

"That's why you have to really love what you do," she said

"It is a great way to get students and alumni together," said Anne Oja, assistant director and liaison to alumni and E&CP Graduate Students.

The event was put on by the Career Center, which has hosted many panels like this one, every quarter for three years.

"Relationships have been established during these events, which hopefully result in a student getting a job," said Dean Ku, assistant director and liaison to the Schools of Business and Engineering.

All of the panelists were found and contacted through LinkedIn by Oja.

"I love giving back to the community," said panelist Andrea Garcia, inside sales manager at Curse, Inc. "I knew what it was like to be in your shoes and I want to help anyway I can."

During the panel, Ku asked the panelist a series of questions about how they got into the industry and what it is like working for their organization.

"I did not know the company existed until I got the job," said another panelist Liza Stillman, publicity and promotions coordinator at Allied-THA. "This event serves a get way to get the word out."

The panel also shed light on how broad the entertainment industry can be. Director of production accounting at Lieberman Productions Sandy Bellevue was a finance major who graduated in 1987 and wanted to tell students that you do not have to be artsy or creative to be a part of the industry.

"I was the only finance person on the panel," Bellevue said. "I never thought jobs like that existed while I was in school."

The panelist gave a wide array of advice ranging from the importance of networking to finding internships and following your passion.

"I'm not quite sure what I want to do after graduation. I went to the panel to hopefully hear something that sounds intriguing and ask questions about that field," said senior Thomas Semere.

After the event, the panelists and students had an opportunity to network and mingle over refreshments.

"I'm an English major, interested in film and screenwriting. I wanted to see how people in here got to where they are at," said sophomore Jade Estrada. "It was a good panel and good experience. It was worth coming."

Contact Amy Bernstein at abernstein@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4948.