It truly feels so surreal to even write that blog title…

My name is Melissa Atanasio and I am a rising senior studying Marketing and Human Resources Management, participating in the Pitt in LA program. I have always resonated so deeply with music, so I am looking to pair these passions together by working within entertainment. After graduation, I am seeking a digital/social media marketing role within the music industry.

Let’s start at the beginning. As I was sitting in the Pittsburgh airport at 5am before my connecting flight, I honestly started to tear up. Looking at the empty gate, I was just so excited by the thought of the journey I had before me. It has been a dream of mine to visit California since I was 13 years old, and now I was 21 and doing just that.

So far, this trip has been far more than I could have ever dreamed of. I have been surrounded by the most passionate peers, all wanting to make their mark on entertainment, whether it be through film or music. It has been so inspiring to go through this journey with them.

This first week, we dove deep into the film aspects of our curriculum, discussing the ins and outs of what makes a good script, how other have broken into the industry to find success, and roles that exist throughout the film process. We also discussed the music side of our courses. We welcomed a guest, Tom “Grover” Biery, former Executive Vice President of Warner Bros Music and current Co-Founder of Slow Down Sounds, to class to discuss his vast experience within the music industry.

It was incredible to hear Grover’s journey, along with how he was at the forefront of leveraging social media and influencer marketing in music. He discussed the journey of Megan & Liz, a pop duo of twin sisters from Michigan. They leveraged YouTube in its early stages to grow a sense of community around their work. After going viral, they ended up on the Oprah Winfrey show, meeting Taylor Swift, and even advertising with Macy’s. It was incredible to connect with him and ask about the early campaign process, since the intersection of music and social media is something I am particularly passionate about.

We also took the Warner Brother’s Studio Tour this week. It was fascinating to learn about how and where some of the most culturally significant shows and movies of our time have been created. We had the chance to see costumes, set pieces, and interactive exhibits from iconic shows such as Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and more.

I’m not even a week into my program, and I have already learned so much. I had never taken a film class before this program, so it has been so exciting to delve deeper into another area of entertainment. Our schedule is full of upcoming special guests that have experience all throughout the industry, so I could not be more excited to see what is in store for us next!