Reprising the success of last year’s premiere, the second installment of the American University School of Communication (AU/SOC) L.A. Intensive 2019 initiative lived up to its name, giving 14 students and recent alumni exclusive entrée to the film, television, and entertainment industry in Los Angeles.

AU/SOC students, faculty, alumni, and guests gather at "AU West."

Taking place from May 15 to 22, the group assembled at “AU West,” a mini-compound in the mountains overlooking Beverly Hills. The rented home served as their residence and focal point of activities including presentations from alumni and other speakers working at all levels and all sectors of the industry. Its central location also provided a jumping off point for site visits to venues such as Nickelodeon Animation Studio, CBS, Amblin Studios, Warner Bros. Studios, and the CW Network.

Guest speakers (see sidebar) included the heads of studios and production firms, Oscar-winning screenwriters, film directors, and TV showrunners as well as fellow AU grads who moved to Los Angeles in recent years and are working up through the ranks.

L.A. Intensive participants gather with Academy Award-winning screenwriter and SOC alumnus Charlie Wachtel (center) at "AU West."

The action got underway within hours of arriving at the house with a panel featuring recent film grads Jeff Della Serra (BA) and A.J. Berna (MFA) talking about their transitions from D.C. to L.A.

In addition to the action taking place at "AU West" and on the tours, participants had ample opportunity to mingle and exchange info with the vast network of AU Eagles and friends of the university working throughout Southern California. Among the highlights was the AU Entertainment and Media Alumni Alliance gathering at the Intercontinental Hotel in Century City.

L.A. Intensive on the set of CBS television program The Bold and the Beautiful with lead actress Katherine Kelly Lang and associate director Clyde Kaplan.

"L.A. Intensive is the type of experiential learning opportunity that I think really distinguishes SOC," said Dean Jeff Rutenbeck. "For the members of the cohort, it can open doors that otherwise might stay shut. And for the folks coming in from the industry, it gives them access to some tremendously creative and certainly highly motivated new talent."

Both L.A. Intensive 2018 and 2019 were organized by SOC Assistant Professor Sarah Menke-Fish and SOC Chief Development Officer Nada Maalouf. AU Career Center Advisor Felicia Parks was also instrumental in facilitating the event both years.