Behind the Scenes in Hollywood

Seventy guests enjoyed an in-depth look into the world of Thacher alums who work in the film industry.
On a rainy Thursday evening in January, 70 alums, parents, and grandparents attended our Link & Learn event, Thacher in Hollywood. The networking event was hosted by the Thacher Alumni Council in conjunction with Annica and James Newton Howard CdeP 1969 and was held at his music studio. James is a composer, conductor, and music producer who has scored more than 100 films and is the recipient of a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, and eight Academy Award nominations. The evening included a studio tour, a panel discussion with industry professionals, and an opportunity to network with others. Director of alumni relations, Carolyn Reed Kirkpatrick CdeP 1986, commented that “this was a great opportunity, particularly for our young alums, to network within the Thacher community.”

Alums from CdeP 1967 to 2017 heard from a panel of industry experts: Thomas Beatty CdeP 1999, writer, producer, and currently the head of the creative strategy and research team at Universal Pictures; Jennifer Crittenden CdeP 1988, an award-winning writer for many of our favorite television programs including HBO’s VEEP; and Noah Wyle CdeP 1989, an Emmy and Golden Globe nominee for his work on the NBC drama ER. Dawn Porter, mother of Eli Graff '19 and Will Graff '22 moderated the panel and created an informative and fun discussion, using her well honed skills as a critically acclaimed documentary filmmaker to dive into the panelists' life experiences from their time at Thacher to the present. Jennifer, Noah, and Thomas were funny and entertaining, while at the same time opening up and sharing with the audience the challenges in their professions.

The Alumni Council is looking forward to hosting future events that will allow the Thacher community to gather and learn from the many talented alums in our midst.
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