Pitt in Hollywood S2, Podcast #1 - Kenny Niernberg | Pitt '06 | Steadicam Operator
Kenny Niernberg is a freelance steadicam operator who has carved his own path in the industry on projects such as The Drop Out, Insecure, Hawaii Five-O, among dozens of other projects. As the owner and operator of a steadi-cam, a niche specialization in the world of camerawork, Kenny has certainly made a name for himself in the entertainment business. He joins us on the podcast to discuss the importance of below-the-line jobs and how working behind the camera has still allowed him to explore his own creativity. Stream the podcast here: Kenny Niernberg Podcast.
Interviewer(s): Aden McGlynn and Ally Fuller
Guest: Kenny Niernberg
Editor: Aden McGlynn
Pitt in Hollywood S2, Podcast #2 - Adam Fasullo | Pitt ‘11 | President of Anomaly Pictures
Adam Fasullo is the President of Anomaly Pictures– a company formed with his producing partner Michael Waldron (Loki, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness). From his days at Pitt where he interned with casting director Nancy Mosser to working in the mailroom at William Morris Endeavor, Adam became an executive at Paramount TV which led to him becoming Vice President of Mike Flanagan’s Intrepid Pictures where he oversaw the Haunting of Hill House. In this podcast, Adam shares his insight on stepping outside of your comfort zone, the importance of “trying on many hats”, and staying curious throughout your career. Stream the podcast here: Adam Fasullo Podcast.
Interviewer(s): Ally Fuller, Aden McGlynn, and Gigi Butkewitsch
Guest: Adam Fasullo
Edited: Ally Fuller
Pitt in Hollywood S2, Podcast #3 - Jarrod Burris | Pitt ‘03 | Screenwriter
Jarrod Burris, staying true to his dream, moved out to LA to become a screenwriter, and just recently returned to western Pennsylvania to film his first horror feature film, Pig Hill, in the spring of 2023. Jarrod has loved horror ever since watching Day of the Dead as a young boy. He found an outlet for this passion when he went to Pitt, where he learned more about the history of horror in Pittsburgh. Jarrod was even a part of arranging a special Halloween screening of Night of the Living Dead with many of the surviving cast and crew members of the film. In this episode, Jarrod talks about writing for the horror genre and gives us an inside look at the making of Pig Hill! Stream the podcast here: Jarrod Burris Podcast.
Interviewer(s): Ben Pisano and Abby Lucas
Guest: Jarrod Burris
Edited: Ben Pisano
Pitt in Hollywood S2, Podcast #4 - Darcy Prevost | Pitt ‘05 | Production Designer
Darcy Prevost is a renowned production designer for many projects including Muppets Haunted Mansion, for which she won an Emmy. At Pitt, she studied architecture and worked in theater where she met her mentor and former Pitt professor Julie Ray. Julie suggested that she apply to graduate school in production design which led her to a long career as an art director working on projects as varied as the reboot of Gilmore Girls, Mindhunter, Hacks, and The Fabelmans. In this podcast, Darcy gives advice on how to take advantage of opportunities to build a career you are passionate about. Stream the podcast here: Darcy Prevost Podcast.
Interviewer(s): Maddy Bartusiak and Gigi Butkewitsch
Guest: Darcy Prevost
Edited: Julia Orff
Pitt in Hollywood S2, Podcast #5 - Eugene Cross | Pitt ‘03, ‘06 | Executive Story Editor
Eugene Cross, who is known for being the writer of Santa Clauses, Indebted, and Punky Brewster, speaks about his unique journey from college professor to screenwriter. As an undergraduate, Eugene studied with Lewis “Buddy” Nordan and screenwriter Carl Kurlander before becoming a college professor for English and Creative Writing and writing a book of short stories before going for his true passion- writing for television. In this podcast, Eugene talks about how his big break came with an ABC Development program for writers and through being a writer’s assistant on Pittsburgh’s own Downward Dog. He discusses how he has learned to navigate writer’s rooms and why he enjoys collaborating with other writers. Stream the podcast here: Eugene Cross Podcast.
Interviewer(s): Anna Ehlers and Gigi Butkewitsch
Guest: Eugene Cross
Edited: Aden McGlynn
Pitt in Hollywood S2, Podcast #6 – Lee Hollin | Pitt ’01 | Lionsgate Executive Vice President and Head of Current Programming
Lee Hollin is the Executive Vice President and Head of Current Programming at Lionsgate. During his time at Pitt, Lee was a theater major who pursued a variety of jobs after graduation including working as a private detective and data analyst before ultimately joining CMU’s Masters of Entertainment Industry Management Program (MEIM) to pursue his love of storytelling. Starting as a junior executive at Fox where he was an early champion of Glee, Lee moved to CBS where he worked as the director of Drama Development and then became the Vice President of current programming. This led to his current role at Lionsgate!Stream the podcast here: Lee Hollin Podcast.
Interviewer(s): Anna Ehlers and Ben Pisano
Guest: Lee Hollin
Edited: Ben Pisano
Pitt in Hollywood S2, Podcast #7 – Iolando Neto | Pitt ‘19 | Coordinator, Sports Production and Development, Skydance.
Iolonda Neto began her journey as a Philosophy of Science Major and got her break into the industry while on the Pitt in LA program. She was hired to intern for producer Bernie Goldmann, producer of 300, who was working on a documentary on the soccer superstar Ronaldhino. She used her lifelong passion for sports to get a position working at Skydance where she is now a coordinator in their Sports Production and Development division. In this episode, Iolonda details her journey after Pitt and gives tips for other recent graduates on what it takes to get a job once you are out of school. Stream the podcast here: Iolando Neto Podcast.
Interviewer(s): Maddy Bartusiak and Gigi Butkewitsch
Guest: Iolanda Neto
Edited: Aden McGlynn