Over this past Spring Break, 17 Villanova students embarked to Los Angeles to immerse themselves in the eye of television and film in Hollywood.
“Villanova on Set” is a program designed for students interested in working in media and to help expose them to the different aspects of the industry in Los Angeles, California.
During the week, students met and learned from professionals who work in many companies and studios, including Jimmy Kimmel Live, Fulwell 73, Macro, Panavision, The Echo Society, United Talent Agency Paramount, Fox, Amazon and NBC. Many of these professionals are Villanova alumni.
“Most days, we would start at NBCU and meet with Jerry DiCanio (VSB ‘79), who graciously introduced us to many executives at NBCU who shared their wisdom and insights on the industry,” junior Daniel Kee said.
DiCanio is the Executive vice president of Operations at NBCUniversal and has been helping students through this program for many years.
“This program is impossible without Jerry DiCanio,” Kee said. “His generosity and passion to help young industry professionals like ourselves learn more in this industry has immensely changed the trajectory of our careers and our lives.”
“Jerry DiCanio would introduce us to executives, showrunners and everyone in between, giving us a thorough experience in how a TV show is developed, produced and distributed,” junior Natalie Zickel said.
Other notable alumni include Doug DeLuca (VSB ‘89) and Patrick Friend (CLAS ‘94), who are co-Executive Producers for Jimmy Kimmel Live.
The days included many activities and networking opportunities for students, including site visits, networking opportunities and meeting with alumni.
“At the end of the night, we would have reflections in the conference room of the hotel with about six to nine alumni, ranging from recent graduates to seasoned individuals covering all aspects of the film and media industry,” senior Elizabeth Bojdak said.
The students shared how much they gained through the trip and how much they learned throughout the week.
“Throughout this trip I took nearly a hundred pages of notes from talented figures in the industry and their advance on how to enter the industry, thrive under pressure and stay true to yourself through the process,” Zickel said.
Students also learned the many different avenues that exist in the industry, an industry sometimes far too simplified down to the point where entry inward seems impossible.
“One thing I was able to take away from this experience is how many different ways you can get involved with the industry,” Kee said. “Some go into production assistant work, some go to film school, some go to a talent agency. There are truly so many ways to get involved.”
Professor Hezekiah L. Lewis III, MFA, Associate Professor of Communication, accompanied the students to LA and established the program over a decade ago for students who wanted to pursue a career in this field.
“Heze has so much passion and fire to see each student succeed in this industry and this program would not exist without him,” Kee said.
The program is designed for students of all types who want a glimpse into the world of production and entertainment.
“The program is not specific to communication majors, nor do you need to know exactly what career you want to pursue…as long as you have the heart and are hungry to take advantage of these connections and wealth of knowledge,” Bojdak said.
Students were in awe of the countless resources the program provided them, and when asked if they would recommend this program to other students, they responded only positively. Bojdak, fewer than 100 days from graduating, feels like she has direction now in terms of a post-grad career.
“When I attended last year, I was so inspired and motivated by the people who I met,” Bojdak said. “The program was even more fulfilling this year and helped me to shape my future career goals.”
Kee now sees the potential possibilities that await him in the media and entertainment space and looks forward to both being more informed and knowing what can come post-grad.
“As a junior,” Kee said, “the possibilities that I would not have not known about if it was not for my experiences at ‘Villanova On Set,’ excite me and have me looking forward to the future.”
