Princeton name falls short in Hollywood

Usually the magical term "Princeton University" prominently displayed at the top of your resume will get you a head start in the corporate world.

But not in Hollywood.

"A Princeton degree won't get you far in Hollywood," said Will Staples '00, who held an internship last summer at Film Finances Incorporated, a company that sells completion bonds, or movie insurance. "It all depends on who you know, not what you know," Staples said.

Jane Han '02, who will be vice-president of the Princeton Film Foundation next year, is organizing a Hollywood alumni connections network for students interested in entering the entertainment industry. "We like to talk about a 'Harvard Mafia' because there are so many people in Hollywood from Harvard, but what it really means is that they have a tight alumni connection," she said.

Han noted, however, that Princeton has no close network to bring alumni and students together. "What we are hoping to create," Han said, "is a 'Princeton Mafia.' This is where an alumni helps a student get an internship by making a follow-up call saying, 'Hey, give this person a shot.' That is really all it takes in Hollywood."

Marc Rosen '98, who is now a development executive at Paramount Pictures, agreed that most Hollywood jobs come by "luck." Rosen, who produced the "Crucible" for his senior thesis, said, "I don't think the GPA matters as much. It's a combination of things such as intelligence and personality, and you just have to be at the right place at the right time."

"Everyone starts from a level playing ground," Rosen added.

Han, who won the Martin Dale scholarship to make a documentary about slam poets in 'the village,' said the most difficult part about creating an alumni connection is establishing credibility.

"I know that alumni are very willing to help, but not if they're bombarded by insincere people who just want to get a taste of Hollywood," Han said.

Rosen agreed that it is important for Princeton alumni in Hollywood to take notice of a growing interest in Hollywood internships and future careers. "I think the interest of alumni may be evolving," he said.

Other factors also contribute to the difficulty of procuring an internship in Hollywood, such as the harsh working conditions for students just entering the industry. "In the beginning," Staples said, "you'll find yourself fetching coffee and scrubbing floors."

Also, some interns have difficulty reading and analyzing scripts at first. "Scripts are a totally new form of literature to most people, because it's written so differently," Rosen said. "Then, you have to think about how it translates into a movie, and if it will be successful or not."

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On the other hand, the Hollywood experience can also bring its fair share of excitement and satisfaction.

During his internship, Staples found out an hour before his plane was due to leave that he was going to Paris to hand-deliver film as part of a $3-million contract.

And for Han, the love of film making stems simply from faith. "You have a vision and idea," she said, "and then you carry it out because you have the faith its going to work."