<p>One of the areas I have an interest in is media/entertainment. What can Harvard offer in terms of this area? I'm aware of some of Harvard's artistic features, but what can they offer to those who are interested in possibly producing or being in charge of a media/film company? Also, what extracurriculars does Harvard look for when dealing with this area? What activities can you do in high school that deal with media/entertainment? I should note that I don't live in a very big city, like New York, which offers bundles of opportunities dealing with this area.</p>
<p>Harvard won't be looking for any one set of ECs just because you say you're a prospective VES major. All the general EC advice here will apply to you.</p>
<p>Harvard VES is more oriented toward atrsiness, theory, criticism and cleverness (many of the usual stereotypes apply) than practical film making. As a result it is not a prime destination for future film makers. In the Boston area it is overshadowed by BU film/media school, Emerson, and RISD not far away, and nationally it hardly compares with the big guns. However, if you want to become a TV writer or media conglomerate executive, Harvard has more to offer (the graduates who end up in those jobs were generally not VES majors).</p>
<p>With that said, as far as I know, VES is considered a flexible and desirable major for those enrolled.</p>
<p>Producing or being in charge of a media/film company?</p>
<p>Ms. Henson seemed to do OK in those areas as a folklore and mythology major.</p>
<p>"Lisa M. Henson
She made national headlines when she became the first female president of The Harvard Lampoon, and would later control the silver screen as president of Columbia Pictures" (at age 33)
"Published On Monday, June 04, 2007 8:56 AM
By NATALIE I. SHERMAN"</p>
<p>Jim Henson's daughter ran her dad's media empire (well over $100 million in value in the late 1980's) before getting to Columbia Pictures. Paul Sorvino's daughter, Quincy Jones' daughter, and Natalie Portman also had industry connections before arriving at Harvard.</p>
<p>Darren Aronofsky studied anthropology, not VES, at Harvard, and he then got a degree from American Film Institute after graduation. </p>
<p>All the VES graduates that I've ever heard of who went into film/media (not academic teaching) either went into specialized areas as one might expect from the undergrad training, or did try "mainstream" directions but were unsuccessful. Film is a difficult business to start with, and I don't think Harvard is considered a major school in that field. A lot of the executives have been to Harvard for undergrad, business or law school, but that isn't the background of the film-makers.</p>
<p>Siserune is correct about the limited possibilities for film studies. But Harvard also has a number of graduates who went into the entertainment business without previous ties. Conan O'Brien and a whole slew of people who were with the Harvard Lampoon are a case in point. A lot of them wrote for The Simpsons.</p>
<p>The Lampoon is a feeder for TV and comedy writing, hence the reference to "TV writers" above. I think the head writer at the Daily Show is a Lampoon alumnus. Some of his staff also worked there. It's a relationship business, and Lampoon is one of the few places outside LA and NYC where relationships can be formed, at least for that small slice of the business.</p>
<p>I think The Onion has nothing to do with the Lampoon, which may be surprising given the affinity of styles. They started at some college in the midwest if I remember (or by students therefrom). </p>
<p>Looking back to prehistoric times, The National Lampoon and its offshoots started from the Harvard Lampoon, and at least one of the founders of SPY magazine went to Harvard.</p>
<p>(added: re "limited possibilities for film studies", Harvard VES has a large archive of films, and seems like a fine place for cinematic history, criticism and theory. The only disadvantage is that it's at a far remove from the commercial film industry, if that is one's area of interest.)</p>
<p>Carlton Cuse, producer of Lost, is a Harvard grad. He came back last year and did a sneak preview of Lost + a Q&A. No special connections that I've heard of.</p>
<p>He was not a VES major. He did benefit from a couple of other things at college (see link below). </p>
<p>There is no public information online about his level of connection to Hollywood, but a profile in the Harvard student newspaper gives the impression that he was from a relatively elite Eastern background and not without phone numbers to call in the event of film projects. As an unknown novice and college student, to get a "major financial backer" for a first film is not an easy thing for the unconnected:</p>
<p>It's also interesting that one of his friends interviewed found it necessary to defend the idea that Cuse "worked for and deserves" his success.</p>
<p>Cuse does cite an on-campus lecture by a Hollywood executive, and funding from the campus arts council, as things that helped start his career.</p>
<p>Lisa did not run her father's empire before going to Columbia in 1993. She worked for Warner Bros.</p>
<p>Milestones
1993 Recruited by Columbia Pictures to be head of production; replaced Michael Nathanson as president in August
1992 Promoted to executive vice president, Warner Bros. Theatrical Production in March
1990 Named vice president, production, Warner Bros.
1985 Appointed director of creative affairs, Warner Bros.
1983 Joined Warner Bros. as production assistant
Served as an editor for the Harvard Lampoon Magazine</p>
<p>With the death of her father in 1990, Lisa and her siblings became owners of The Jim Henson Company. Her brother officially took control.</p>
<p>"In January 1991, at the age of 27, Brian Henson was named president, chairman, and chief executive officer of Henson."</p>