MEIM Newsletter Fall 2024

Alumni Highlight: 10 Questions with MEIM ’15 Michael Brown

by Devyn Hinkle (MEIM '22)

For this issue, MEIMLAND caught up with alum Michael Brown who is a Senior Producer at Framestore and now lives in London.
 
What follows is a Q&A between Michael and MEIM ’22 graduate, Devyn Hinkle.

1. Can you talk about your path to being Senior Producer at Framestore? What experiences led you to this role?
   
   I started out after the MEIM program, working for a talent agency, which was an interesting experience. It was great to meet a lot of people, but I didn't love working at a talent agency, and New York was where I wanted to be. I was applying to a lot of places and ended up at a big post-production house. That's when I took on the world of visual effects. Some people don't set out with a goal in mind or a dream. That was me. It was, let me see what's out there and what sticks, what lands and gets me to the place I want to live.
   
   
2. How would you describe what you do? What does your day-to-day look like?
   
   So, a quick log line: I manage the artists that put everything fake into a commercial, whether just touch-ups on faces or as big as CGI dragons.
   
   
3. What are the most challenging parts of your job?
   
   The biggest challenge is in post-production, you are the last stop before it goes anywhere, whether you're working on a post-production for film, commercial, or TV. So, everybody comes to you to fix things they didn't get on camera or didn't get right on set. Everything becomes our problem. It's a late-night industry, especially as you're getting close to delivery.
   
   
4. What are your favorite parts of your job?
   
   I really like working with the artists. I can tell them what to do, but the stuff they create is impressive. My favorite thing is witnessing it all play out.
   
   
5. What are some of the favorite projects you have worked on?
   
   It was fun to work on Super Bowl projects because we were working on stuff airing during the commercial's biggest season. I worked on the Bud Light and Game of Thrones crossover. I am into music, and I love Tame Impala in particular. I worked on one of their music videos. It's very cool to work on something you're passionate about.
   
   
6. How do you think your internships prepared you for your current role?
   
   I was interning at an agency, so I didn't know what I was getting myself into. Right out of the program, it felt like a safe space to grow and make connections. You work with a lot of different students. It's nice to hear their point of view and what they're getting into. You can also determine what's for you and what's not from their experiences. It's nice to keep in touch with those folks, to see what they're working on. You never know when worlds collide.
   
   
7. What is it like working in such a dynamic and innovative field?
   
   It's probably the hardest part of my job because I have to relay the technical terms to the client. AI is a good example - clearly communicating what actually is happening and the relative costs involved (can be difficult). At the end of the day, that dictates the creative; they'll come up with a million-dollar idea and have $250,000. So, it's sitting with the client, working with our team, and trying to come up with solutions that don’t jeopardize the story or the creative.
   
   
8. What opportunities did you gain from the MEIM program that helped you succeed in the industry?
   
   It's great at opening up doors for internships in particular. My background was in health care management. “Why are we going to take this kid who doesn't know anything regarding the industry or have any connections?” The MEIM program…opened doors to internships and jobs I wouldn't have had access to otherwise.
   
   
9. You currently live in London. What do you love about the UK and what do you miss about the US?
   
   The move has been nice. I’m in a new world.  I’m just a two-hour flight away from Rome. It's been nice to get more holiday … you get more for your dollar/pound. I live in the biggest space I've lived in since L.A. I do miss aspects of New York; a lot of my friends lived there. Overall, it's been a nice experience, and adapting wasn’t too hard.
   
   
10. What do you see in the future of animation and VFX? Where do you see the technology going?
    
    That is a big question. I don't think we'll ever wipe out the need for an artist or a producer, but even software for minutia tasks is becoming automatic. Some things will come across your plate, and you'll be like, I guess this is what we're doing now. Things that used to take 3 months, now sometimes take 3 days.

Global Impact: MEIM Graduates Shine at China's iQIYI

By Devyn Hinkle (MEIM '22)

In the rapidly evolving landscape of global streaming platforms, iQIYI, often dubbed the "Chinese Netflix," has emerged as a significant player. At the forefront of its international expansion are four talented alumnae from our program: Vicky Peng (2017), Kelly Cheng (2019), Elaine Zhang (2019), and Feiyu Su (2023). These professionals have converged at iQIYI, bringing their diverse skills and perspectives to the company's global growth.

Kelly and Feiyu work on the VIP team, focusing on expanding iQIYI's subscription base. Kelly handles external partnerships and collaborations with local partners such as telecommunications companies and banks. She explains, "Our goal is to grow the VIP subscription base globally, so my daily work involves communicating with colleagues to explore opportunities and help bring more revenue." Feiyu complements this by managing in-app features like the cashier system and handling user feedback. She notes, "I prepare products for the Apple store and work closely with customer service to address any issues."

Vicky plays a crucial role on the content team. Her responsibilities include supervising content strategy for iQIYI's international business. "My daily work can be divided into three parts," she elaborates. "First is content strategy—discussing daily with the head of content how our content performs compared to competitors like Netflix. Second, is working with production and acquisition teams on which titles we acquire or produce. Third is budgeting and revenue forecasting to ensure profitability." Vicky's path to iQIYI was serendipitous; her previous internships at film sales companies like IM Global and Lionsgate connected her with iQIYI as a client. One of the challenges is working across the cultures and understanding of local content. “You have to watch content and put yourself in the consumer’s shoes to see what makes the content attractive.”

Elaine was the last to join the company and works to enhance iQIYI's presence through content marketing. She focuses on creating buzz for shows across various regions, particularly in Southeast Asia, Korea, and the US. "We build online buzz through social media" channels and PR," she says. "What makes my job interesting is handling external partnerships so we can work with many partners." Elaine's role involves integrating iQIYI's products with those of telecommunications partners, expanding the platform's reach.

All four women came from varied backgrounds. Kelly’s undergraduate major was international politics and communications, Vicky’s was cultural management, Elaine’s was sociology and theatre, and Feiyu’s was communication and journalism. Yet, the MEIM program's unique blend of business acumen and entertainment industry knowledge has been pivotal for these alumnae at iQIYI. Kelly emphasizes this point: "The MEIM program combines business and entertainment. And that's something you will always find useful across your career."

Their reunion at iQIYI underscores the strength of the MEIM network. Feiyu recalls contacting Vicky when she was job hunting, which led to their eventual collaboration at iQIYI. "On my first day at iQIYI, I was introduced to Kelly," she remembers. "During lunch with another colleague, someone mentioned Kelly graduated from the same university as me." Vicky vividly describes their first introduction: "When Feiyu and Kelly joined our team, I asked them to lunch and the head of their department said they were also interviewing another MEIM (Elaine). I asked the head of the team [jokingly], are you collecting MEIMs? What a great coincidence."

Despite their varied roles, these four alumnae find opportunities to collaborate and support each other through weekly meetings and shared projects. Vicky notes, "iQIYI is one of the leading players in the international market for Chinese companies, so we're looking for people who have an international background, and of course, in our case, MEIMs have an international vision as well as a Chinese background."