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Megan Hoak

           "Graduation is rapidly approaching and no, I don’t have everything figured out, but I do have a pretty good idea of where I am going. In the four years that I have spent in college I have found career opportunities, friendship and even love all in Los Angeles no less, thanks to the resources of the school. For me, this was made possible with the help of a mentor.
            The University at Buffalo is filled with dedicated individuals that spend their time helping students find opportunities beyond graduation. But the UB community reaches far beyond the walls of the classrooms. Many UB graduates have gone on to accomplish great things in their respected professions. And sometimes, these alumni will bring their experiences back to the university to share with the students. Over the past year or so I have been so lucky to find one of those dedicated alumni who has been generous in helping me begin to find my way in the real world. 
            Rosalind Jarrett, B.A. ’69 (English & Theatre), has been a huge support to the University at Buffalo following her graduation. In June 2009, she helped organize the inaugural University at Buffalo Annual Coast to Coast Entertainment & Media Symposium (UBC2C) at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, California. The event featured many successful entertainment industry professionals who offered advice to current students, and provided insight into the industry in a weekend full of workshop events. As a fortunate recipient of a scholarship for UBC2C Hollywood, that weekend for me delivered an inspirational start to a career in the field of public relations and a chance meeting with a perfectly handsome gentleman that lead me to a life in Los Angeles.  
            Networking at University events is extremely valuable and if you play your cards right, it can often lead to internships, or even jobs. In my case, when I happened to be looking for an internship in the Los Angeles area, Ms. Jarrett offered me an interview with the Screen Actors Guild Awards® for which she is the Executive in Charge of Publicity. With a little polishing of the resume and an interview, I was hired as their summer intern.
            While the summer is considered down time from the awards season, there is still work to be done.  The nominating committee, consisting of guild members, is randomly selected in April each year and the committee is notified in May.  I worked closely with the Awards Coordinating Producer, Jon Brockett, to organize the committee members and prepare them for their participation in the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.  This included updating member information, briefing members on their duties and responsibilities, as well as assisting with nominating committee screenings and talent Q&As.  I also designed a social media strategy to promote interaction with the fans. I must have done something right because the producers and Ms. Jarrett invited me back to be the publicity production assistant for the SAG Awards ceremony held on January 30, 2011 and simulcast live on TNT and TBS.
            From August until January I kept myself up to speed by following the Screen Actors Guild Awards on social media sites and reading the press releases posted to their website, www.sagawards.org. A few days before the show, I flew out from the tundra of Buffalo, NY into sunny Los Angeles. But I didn’t really escape the cold as I spent four days in the freezing Shrine Auditorium. But it was worth it!
            In those four days, I was able to get acquainted with the production team and see first-hand how a Hollywood production operates. It was an invaluable support to everything I have learned at UB. The best part was getting involved in the process and working directly with the media personnel who were covering the event. I gained an understanding of how publicists work to organize everything and maximize coverage.
            The three days before the show were spent pairing stars like Jack McGee (The Fighter), Nolan Gould (Modern Family) and Angie Harmon (Rizzoli and Iles), with the media and photographers covering various details about the event for their publications and telecasts, including behind-the-scenes looks at the meal served during the show, the seating chart, the red carpet roll-out and the star-studded list of presenters. Surprisingly, I worked with freelance photographer, Francis Specker, who is also a UB alumnus. Following the media visits, the publicity team tracks everything that was aired or published and perpetuates that coverage through social media.
            When show day arrived, I was more than excited about my assignments. First, I would escort SAG Awards Committee Chair, JoBeth Williams (Private Practice) on the red carpet to interview with a makeover winner from TV Guide before announcing the outstanding performance by a stunt ensemble with TNT, then watching the Taittinger Champagne toast with Scott Bakula (Men of a Certain Age) and signing autographs for fans in the bleacher seats.   During the show, I watched acceptance speeches patiently while waiting for commercial breaks with my media assignment, LA Times photographer Bryan Chan. He took really cool panoramic shots of the show floor available with interactive settings online.
            I am really grateful that I had the chance to experience a night of Hollywood glamour and I’m even happier to say that I know about all the work that goes on behind the scenes. I would like to extend a big thank you to my mentor, Ms. Jarrett and invite all UB alumni to follow in her footsteps and give back to the UB community. Your knowledge and understanding bestows profound influence and camaraderie for panicked graduates entering the workforce."

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