I’ve been back from L.A. for a bit now, and finally feel as though I’ve processed the whirlwind of information that was UBC2C. The weekend flew by, but the program crammed an incredible amount of information into three short days.

I spent Friday morning at Variety, getting a taste for the in’s and out’s of the entertainment industry. I found this to be particularly valuable because it had me thinking about entertainment in a way I previously had not. To be honest, when I learned we would be touring Variety in Hollywood, I assumed it was your typical celebrity gossip mag. But I found it surprisingly interesting the way they cover the business, behind-the-scenes side of entertainment. Potentially millions and millions of dollars are on the line, and it was fascinating to see the way Variety keeps up on it.

On Saturday I attended the Entertainment News Media workshop presented by Rosalind Jarrett and Jody Kleinberg Biehl. They did a really amazing job lining up speakers to give us tips about the industry and share their experiences with us. So much of Hollywood seems untouchable. It was encouraging to meet real people using their tenacity and intelligence to become successful in the business. All the speakers provided us with valuable input about the changing face of media, not just within entertainment news, but all areas we report on.

During the Sunday mentoring sessions, I had the opportunity to talk to three very helpful people– Sean Nealon, Alan Steinberg and Seth Burton. They all gave me a lot to think about and new ways to try looking at the writing process. Some of the most important advice I received could really be applied to any industry– be creative and resourceful, and work hard.

That’s the most important thing I took away from the weekend– nothing can replace hard work. You have to be willing to go that extra mile or two to succeed. All of the presenters and guest speakers had vastly different stories to tell us about how they got to where they are today, but there was one common thread– they worked like crazy to get there.

–Keeley Sheehan, Entertainment News Media

From writing workshops to red carpet events, my first trip to Los Angeles for the UB Coast to Coast Symposium turned out to be one the most rewarding and exciting experiences I have ever been a part of. Meeting with industry professionals in an intimate setting was not only a fantastic opportunity, but a complete networking extravaganza which (fingers crossed) may help my career in the near future. Alan Steinberg taught me the tricks of the trade for magazine journalism, while Carol Green got me excited about publicity and inspired me to write what I love. Their advice was priceless.

Since I am a current student, and have not graduated like many of my UBC2C peers, I see myself as one of the lucky ones. Still in school, still figuring out my life, and still looking at all my options of what I really aspire to be. Though after this symposium, I am happy to report that I may have just fallen onto the right track. I was filled with a rush of creativity on my long trip home to Buffalo, NY. Writing comments and observations down of almost everything I accomplished on my trip. It turned out to be quite an exciting story. But you may have to read my first book to find out the rest.

-Kathryn Przybyla

Buffalo may be known as “The City of Good Neighbors”, but it was the L.A. presenters, mentors, and organizers who deserve the title. These hardworking people dedicated their time and resources to providing us with a weekend jam-packed with valuable opportunities.
We had the opportunity to meet and get to know the amazing industry insiders through presentations, meals, and meetings; we had the opportunity to learn about the fields in which we aspire to succeed;

Continue reading Thank You!

Oh, after all of the requests that we blog blog blog our little hearts out, the site was left with a measly two posts from us students!  And after a weekend of discussing the power of new media and twitter and blogging, too. What a shame. I wonder if many of us (myself included) haven’t yet gotten into the blogging world and are still in that mindset of, who cares what I have to say

Continue reading Don’t let the silence fool you.