On April 5 the Hotchkiss Film Society presented the panel “Hotchkiss in Hollywood,” featuring four alumni who work in the film and television industry. Panelists, who joined by Zoom to address students gathered in the faculty lounge, included: 

• Claire Brooks '07, writer, creative producer, and founder of SuperSwell  production consultancy 
• Carla Frankenbach '12, writer for TNT’s Animal Kingdom 
• Kip Kroeger '00, Ted Lasso supervising producer, and
• Taylor Materne '99, writer of the soon-to-be released film Hustle 

Margie Bowen '22 and Harry Morelli '23, served as student hosts. 

The event stemmed from a conversation last summer between David Thompson, Director of International Programs, and Kroeger regarding Ted Lasso. Kroeger and his friend Materne had been looking for opportunities to help Hotchkiss students learn more about the film industry, and the virtual panel event proposed by Thompson was the perfect opportunity. In planning the call with Ann Villano, instructor in film, the panelists suggested inviting alumni who are now in college, a number of whom attended. 

At the beginning of the event, each panelist told the story of their own start in the film industry.  

For Kroeger, the path started with a bachelor’s degree in biology, followed by a move to Los Angeles after college to figure out how to get into the industry. For Materne, who was unhappy in his first job out of college, outreach to author Jardine Libaire '91 led to collaboration on a book set in the boarding school world. It was typical “fake it til you make it” bravado, Materne recalls, but it was his start as a writer.

Meanwhile, Brooks and Frankenbach each knew early on they wanted to work in the industry. While a student at Hotchkiss, Brooks was on the board of the Hotchkiss Dramatic Association and a stage manager for several productions. “I was very committed to theater production and wrote my first plays when I was at Hotchkiss,” she shared. Brooks also held Broadway internships, the first one with Hotchkiss alum Eric Falkenstein '87. Brooks completed other internships while at NYU, including working with another Hotchkiss alum, Chris Meledandri '77 at Illumination. It was Meledandri who invested in her first short film out of NYU and offered Brooks her first job. 

Frankenbach attended the USC film program after leaving Hotchkiss and also recommends internships for industry experience: “I learned a lot about how companies operate,” she said. Frankenbach also completed an internship with Meledandri. “Shout out to Chris for supporting Hotchkiss alums!” Frankenbach enthused. 

All four panelists agreed that networking is key, not only as a way to build connections, but as a way to maintain support in an industry that can be a humbling, and often grueling experience. “I was given the advice to ‘find your class.’ Find people that are starting out at the same time and level that you are,” Kroeger said. “You have to be your biggest advocate,”  Frankenbach added. 

As to whether those starting out should live in New York or Los Angeles, panelists said it can depend. Much of the film industry is centered in Los Angeles and to “get that first PA gig, get that first mailroom job, or assistant job – they won't even interview you until you live here,'' said Kroeger. Brooks had very specific advice: “The film industry is all about opportunity and opportunistic moments. New York's film industry is smaller. Personally, I've advocated for people to spend at least a year in L.A. if they want to consider themselves serious about working in this industry. My second recommended market is Atlanta – right now the business in Atlanta is booming.”

Future Hotchkiss TV and film industry movers and shakers, take note!