Networking and Advice for Film, Video and Television Careers
Meet professionals in the industry.
Friday, April 26th 2024
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Virtual Event
Hosted by University of Massachusetts Amherst
Organized by Lisa Blacher, Joanna Miles
About the Event
This program is open to all students considering a career in production, film, video, television and media. For the first half, professionals will share their backgrounds, career paths and work; for the second half, students will be able move between breakout rooms to connect directly with these industry experts.
For more information and to register on Handshake: https://umass.joinhandshake.com/stu/events/1520564?ref=events-search
This event is co sponsored by the BDIC, HFA and SBS Career Centers
Featured Alumni & Guests
Malika (Williams) Amandi
Malika (Williams) Amandi is a theatre, film, and television actor based in Western Massachusetts. She received her MFA in Acting from the University of Southern California and a BA in Drama from Stanford University. In addition to acting, Malika is passionate about entrepreneurship and helping people create meaningful careers. In 2017 she founded the Center for Women’s Voice where she offered leadership coaching and professional development geared towards women operating in traditionally male driven industries. Notably, she was invited to lead multiple workshops for the Women’s Committee of the Directors Guild of America. Currently Malika is the Assistant Director of Career and Professional Development in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at UMass Amherst. She’s also the co-host of Happier Ladies, a weekly podcast she developed with her sister. Malika is a proud member of Actors Equity and the Screen Actors Guild. Theater: Three Sisters, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, Vanya and Sasha and Sonia and Spike Film: Ingrid Goes West, Joss Whedon’s Muchado About Nothing, Better Half Television: Scandal (ABC), 2 Broke Girls(CBS), Shameless(showtime), I’m Dying Up Here (Showtime), Everything I did Wrong in My 20s (CleoTV), Life in Pieces (CBS), The Fosters(Freeform)
Norm Anderson Amandi
Norm Anderson Amandi is a Daytime Emmy-nominated executive producer, show creator and documentary filmmaker with credits on a wide variety of shows and networks – from Discovery’s Shark Week to shows on TLC, the CW, CNBC, and, most recently, as the creator of “Prairie Dog Manor” for National Geographic and Disney+. The recipient of an Austrian Fulbright Grant, Anderson is a graduate of Williams College and the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, where he earned an MFA in Film Production. Amandi currently serves as Video Content Director for SOSV - a venture capital firm that runs startup development programs dedicated to building a better future by empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs and scientists to solve the biggest challenges in human and planetary health. His award-winning feature documentary, "The Donut Dollies," tells the story of brave women who volunteered in the war zones of Vietnam. It screened to capacity crowds at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and won the "Best Documentary Feature" award at the GI Film Festival in San Diego.
Glenn Anderson
Glenn Anderson is an advertising veteran with over 25 years’ experience in advertising, marketing and video production. After 10 years working in media advertising sales and sales management, Glenn started Viamark in 2001. In 2004, Glenn and a partner franchised the concept and built a regional advertising agency with over 20 locations on the east coast. Glenn was involved in building Viamark from the ground up. As a co-founder of Viamark Advertising (a full-service ad agency) and Viamark Video (a video production and video marketing company), Glenn has consulted dozens of local/regional clients on their marketing and creative strategy over the past 20 years. Prior to joining Viamark in 2001, Glenn held sales and management positions with Clear Channel Radio in Raleigh, NC, and Saga Communications’ WAQY in Springfield, MA. Glenn started his career working in TV Production with Cramer Productions.
Laura Bailey
Laura Bailey is currently a Script Supervisor with credits in film and television. She received a BA in theater and English with minors in psychology and political science. After receiving a master’s degree in film, she went on to work in production in a variety of roles.
Greg Cormier
Greg Cormier is a versatile Digital Marketer and Content Creator and has worked with over 30 different clients in a variety of different industries. Greg's work has been featured on ESPN, Apple News, Entrepreneur, Inc., Gymshark and Inside Edition.
Phyllis Gordon
While a Theater major at UMass Amherst, Phyllis Gordon performed on stage in Pericles, Women of Trachis and Rimers of Eldritch. After graduating, she became a professional actor. Favorite theater credits include Mad Forest (Berkshire Theater Festival, Dir. John Rando), The Hollow (Best Actress Nomination, Broadway World), and Flanagan’s Wake (Off Broadway). Her One Woman Show, em-PATHETIC, won Best Solo Show at Marsh International Solo Festival. Film: You Hurt My Feelings (opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus), How to Train Your Husband (Hallmark), Nance (Emerson College), Bloody Donny’s Fingers (Emerson College MFA Thesis), Trouble in Law (Sittin’ Pretty Productions). TV: East New York, Ziwe (Showtime), I’d Kill for You (NBC Peacock). She wrote, directed and starred in the Web Series Who Does That (ITVFest). Voiceover: FRONTLINE (PBS), Audible, Library of Congress. Trained in the Meisner Technique at William Esper Studio and Michael Chekhov Actors Studio,she also studied the Method at Lee Strasberg Studio Boston. A comedian, she performed Improvisation at Upright Citizens Brigade and Standup Comedy at clubs in NYC and Boston.
Myranda Nasworthy
A former associate producer of New England Public Medias Emmy nominated quiz show, “As Schools Match Wits,” Myranda Nasworthy interviewed celebrities including Keith Lockhart, Conductor of the Boston Pops, and Red Sox players Rob Refsnyder and Christian Arroyo. Myranda works on two fronts at GCA. She is actively engaged in media relations and creating content for PR campaigns and producing high-impact videos for direct-to-audience digital dissemination. One of her initial productions combined all her skills as she shot and edited videos for a media company that would be later shown at a corporate awards event.
Zach Schläppi
Zach Schläppi is a veteran art director who has lent his talents to acclaimed video game franchises like Age of Empires, Just Cause, Medal of Honor, and Far Cry. Before games, he worked on animated films like Ice Age after earning his MFA from the School of Visual Arts. Schläppi has also consulted on independent and mobile games, including the Apple "Best of App Store" winner Super Senso in 2016. His multifaceted career has spanned AAA studios like Electronic Arts and Avalanche as well as experience in advertising and visual effects. Zach is currently the Studio Art Director at Demiurge Studios, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.
Eric Stange
Eric Stange is an award-winning independent documentary director and producer of films about political and cultural history, science and medicine, social justice, health and equity, and social activism. Broadcast venues for his films include PBS, the New York Times, the BBC, and The Discovery Channel. Among his recent films: PONY BOYS -- a N.Y. Times Op-Doc; EDGAR ALLAN POE: BURIED ALIVE for American Masters (PBS); ACTIVIZED – a profile of first-time pollical activists; JAMES BAKER: THE MAN WHO MADE WASHINGTON WORK for PBS; THE WALL and AFTER THE WALL– a two-part series about modern Germany for PBS; and MURDER AT HARVARD, a historical who-dunnit, for American Experience. He lives and works near Boston, and can be reached at ekstange [at] gmail [dot] com (ekstange[at]gmail[dot]com)
Pete Yagmin
Pete Yagmin is a dynamic and accomplished Filmmaker and Video Production Specialist, celebrated for a decade of expertise in the world of visual storytelling and content creation. .Pete specializes in creating visually compelling and authentic content, bringing a decade of technical proficiency and strategic thinking to every project. His unique approach combines hands-on experience with a keen understanding of the power of visual storytelling.