College & degree: B.A. in Social, Cultural, & Intellectual History from UC Berkeley, MBA from UCLA

Internship: Paid position at Channel 10 Australia based in Sydney. Helped a group of smart people from Real Estate lose their Collective Shirts in Media. Learned that if you’re going to build it, you better have enough potential viewers to cover your costs.

First job in the entertainment industry: Handing out flyers to see free movies in Westwood for the top film research company, National Research Group. Loved talking to people about movies and trying to get them to go. Learned that you get paid more when people show up.

Big break: Getting into the Management Associates Program at NBC, reporting to NBC Chairman Brandon Tartikoff. Followed Brandon around from development to production to programming meetings. Highlights of the year included “Saved by the Bell,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” and a series of comedy specials that they ordered one-at-a-time called “Seinfeld.”

Career path: Television Executive to Television Producer… to Entrepreneur and Educator. I was in the office next to most of the great hits that were developed in the last 20 years. From aforementioned NBC to Warners, where we produced 1/3rd of all television, including “Friends” and “ER.” From there, I went to Regency Television where we developed “Malcolm In the Middle” and “Roswell,” among others. Titles of Director, V.P., to Senior V.P. don’t seem to really matter. The real titles seem to be “suit” or “creative.” An independent movie I co-produced between gigs had helped convince New Regency that I could handle starting their TV division, so don’t say no to a new experience. It might be just what you need for your next position.   

Eureka moment: Studying Eisenstein (early writer/director who created BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN) at Berkeley, then shooting five films at an NYU summer program with an Ari 16S.  Knew that I belonged in the film (or TV) business.

Worst job in the industry: Moving from development to current programming at Lorimar at 24 years old.  I thought it was the end – it was still the first inning.  The head of the studio made the “suggestion,” that I move into currents, but it took me out of the middle of the development action and over to the production side. I never did make it back into the middle of the development game, but that move set the path for later productions.     

Best day in the industry: Screening of Jamie Foxx movie “Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story” at Fox. I had found the article in the L.A. Times and wound up Executive Producing it. We won awards from the right-leaning Templeton Awards to the NAACP awards. It was the story of the co-founder of the Crips gang who was nominated for a Nobel Peace prize while he was on Death Row. It was in development for a long time, but it was the third high profile biography that I had been involved with. My fourth was “Man in the Mirror” (about Michael Jackson) for VH1. People said we couldn’t get ”Redemption” made for a network, but we did. Imagine making a movie like that for Fox. Pretty amazing. At the screening, the subject of the movie, Stan called from prison – it was special. The State of California executed him later that year. 

Best thing about your current job: Lots of flexibility – great people. Living the definition of power in Hollywood by “getting to choose who I want to work with.” I’m currently working with a lot of people on their passion projects. The position with Columbia College has put me in the position where I no longer need to do projects just for the money. 

Worst thing about your current job: When nothing happens with my pushing. Some days it’s like Sysyphus and his rock.

Brush(es) with greatness: They’re pretty rare. Mostly confirms that a lot of the industry is smoke and mirrors. Don’t fall for it. Of course, working with a talented writer breaking a story always has its own magic. And I have recently become friends with James Ellroy. He is someone who refuses all of the limiting lessons that we’ve accumulated over the years. It’s pretty remarkable spending time with him. 

Secret of your success/advice to the newbie: Keep moving forward every day. Do your best not to compare yourself to your peers. I promise there will always be people ahead of you. Keep your eye on what you want and others will recognize that you deserve it.

Next move: Continue to work in different mediums as a writer and director, as well as a producer.  Basically, begin to hire myself.

Jon Working with Students