Sixteen students in the Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts attended the May 2026 "Arts Career Trek" in Atlanta, Georgia, where they met with film and media employers and Ohio State alumni across the region's creative industries.

Site visits with Ohio State alumni included Warner Bros. Discovery tours, arranged with alumna Julie Bitton (BA , communications '95), senior director of production at Turner Classic Movies; the Coca-Cola Company, where students toured headquarters and immersive museum, "The World of Coca-Cola", then participated in a fireside chat with North America CFO and alumnus Mark Eppert (BS, accounting '88). Students also experienced studio tours and set visits at Trilith Studios and the Georgia Film Academy, where they met with Film Studies alumnus Nick DaLonzo ('17), key assistant location manager for Netflix and other professionals for an Industry Insights panel.  At CNN, they connected with alumna Allison Chinchar-Bettes (BS, geography '08), meteorologist and science writer.

Additional experiences included immersive demos at Microsoft's "Garage" innovation hub; a Q&A session with United Talent Agency's motion picture literary team; and a behind-the-scenes visit to the Alliance Theatre featuring a stage and facilities tour, rehearsal observation, and discussion with company members. The itinerary also included visits to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and an Ohio State Atlanta Alumni Mixer, offering further opportunities to network with Buckeyes working across the industry.

Together, these experiences provided students with firsthand insight into career pathways, professional networks, and the evolving landscape of film, media, and entertainment industries. This trip is sponsored by alumni endowment support and led by the university’s Career Success industry connections team.

[Photo credit Career Success]