{"id":7245,"date":"2016-04-22T20:35:57","date_gmt":"2016-04-23T03:35:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/alumni\/2016\/04\/22\/fourth-annual-alumni-entertainment-mixer-an-explosive-success\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T06:43:35","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T06:43:35","slug":"fourth-annual-alumni-entertainment-mixer-an-explosive-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/alumni\/2016\/04\/22\/fourth-annual-alumni-entertainment-mixer-an-explosive-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Fourth Annual Alumni Entertainment Industry Mixer: An explosive success!"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was easy to confuse the group of Panthers at the
\nFourth Annual Alumni Entertainment Industry (AEI) Mixer<\/a>
\n for one of film’s most electric crowd scenes of all-time. Think the sea of people standing before Moses in Cecil B. De Mille’s
\nThe Ten Commandments<\/em>
\n (1923) or the busy Manhattan streets in
\nThe Crowd<\/em>
\n’s (1928) classic tracking shot.
\n
\n

\"img_9790\"

\n Alumni including
\nSorrel Geddes, B.A. public relations and advertising ’05<\/strong>
\n,
\nLauren Rose, BFA film and television ’06<\/strong>
\n, and
\nJared Iacino, film and television ’05<\/strong>
\n. Check out more AEI Mixer photos
\nhere<\/a>
\n.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\n
\nOkay, maybe our group didn’t quite match the thousands of extras in those films, but with a record-breaking 300-plus attendees (a 250% increase from last year), the AEI Mixer similarly made history—as the largest Chapman University alumni career event ever.
\n
\nChapman alumni with career goals or current jobs in the entertainment industry joined together at Tiato Kitchen Market Garden Restaurant at
\nLionsgate Entertainment<\/a>
\n headquarters in Santa Monica on April 20 to support one another and find leads on vocational opportunities. They were also supported with the presence of faculty and staff from Argyros School of Business and Economics, Fowler School of Law, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, College of Performing Arts, Schmid College of Science and Technology, and Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences—all schools and colleges that sponsored the event, which was so successfully coordinated by Chapman’s
\ncareer and industry<\/a>
\n team,
\nHaley Wragg, B.S. business administration ’15<\/strong>
\n, and director
\nJo Bandy<\/strong>
\n.
\n
\n“I could not have been more proud to be a Chapman alumn after seeing the turnout of fellow Panthers (at the AEI Mixer). It was meaningful to have a broad spectrum of representation from our various schools and colleges within Chapman University,” said the event’s host,
\nAkin Ceylan ’90<\/strong>
\n, trustee, Argyros School Board of Counselors,
\nAlumni Association<\/a>
\n president elect, COO Home Entertainment and Global Content Delivery for Lionsgate. “The AEI Mixer is reflective of how the entertainment industry has evolved and now requires various disciplines of expertise in order to be relevant. Our core expertise in film and media, and law and business is now complimented and integrated with performing arts, humanities and leadership,  and science and technology. This is the new world of the entertainment industry and it’s pleasing to see the talent that continues to be produced out of Chapman, and is becoming an importantly bigger part of the industry.”
\n
\nFrom the moment the evening began—with dozens pouring in even before the event’s starting time—till the moment the last guests left, the energy thrived with much more than alumni’s mutual support in the form of exchanging business cards, but with the unique and deep camaraderie that only fellow Panthers share.
\n
\n“It was valuable to know that everyone in the room was a Chapman grad eager to connect with someone new or help others out in their careers,” said
\nMackenzie Weber, B.A. public relations and advertising ’13<\/strong>
\n, who does freelance work in brand consulting and television production. “I also appreciated that it wasn’t just recent grads and that a lot of people more advanced in their careers were there. That stood out because it just goes to show how invested Chapman grads remain in the lives of other alumni.”
\n
\n
\"cory-parker-2\"

\nCory Parker, BFA film and television ’05<\/strong>
\n, and
\nClay Busch, B.A. leadership and organization ’06<\/strong>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\n <\/p>\n

Cory Parker, BFA film and television ’05<\/strong>
\n, originals distribution specialist at Netflix, was one of those grads there to offer support, and to make authentic, face-to-face connections.
\n
\n“Nothing beats face time with people in order to have real, lasting connections,” Cory said. “Even in this age of telepresence and social networking, humans meeting other humans (in person) is still the best way to connect.”
\n
\nIndeed, there is much to be gained from in-person connection—such as, if I may facetiously point out, the raffle winnings of the night, including the grand prize bottle of Dom Pérignon (which Cory won) and gift baskets donated by our sponsor schools and colleges.
\n
\nThe person-to-person connection created a special, undeniably tangible energy, ripe for friendships to be born and rekindled, and for jobs and creative projects to manifest.
\n
\n“I made some great connections and leads that I may end up working with on a new project for my YouTube channel,
\nThe Table Together with Tiffany Lewis<\/em><\/a>
\n,” said
\nTiffany Lewis<\/a>, B.A. communications ’04<\/strong>
\n. “Leads, connections, introductions and even tips from others in the industry—I can’t wait to follow-up on them! The event was well-worth the drive from Newport Beach.”
\n
\n

\"untitled-2\"

\nAkin Ceylan ’90<\/strong>
\n welcomes alumni from all disciplines to the Fourth Annual Alumni Entertainment Industry Mixer on April 20, 2016.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\n
\nShe added: “I loved how everyone was enthusiastically sharing their story, advice and resources with one another. Not once did I feel any level of competitiveness or notice any egos. Instead, I saw ‘we are in this together, let’s help each other out’—a true, genuine feeling that makes me proud to say I’m a Panther.”
\n
\nThe same Panther Pride that Tiffany felt was clearly alive in each graduate at the AEI Mixer, which was especially noticeable when host 
\nAkin Ceylan ’90 <\/strong>
\nmade the night’s opening comments with shout outs to each of the sponsoring schools and colleges. Each time he called out a school, it was hard to tell how many of that school’s alumni were present, as they let out a collective roar so loud it felt like every person in the room was cheering!
\n
\n
\"13072786_1266939419987431_1375814910191853367_o\"

\nAkin Ceylan ’90<\/strong>
\n, trustee, Argyros School Board of Counselors, Alumni Association president elect, COO Home Entertainment and Global Content Delivery for Lionsgate, and
\nJo Bandy, director of career and industry<\/strong>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\n
\nFrom my own perspective as a Chapman employee and former MFA documentary filmmaking student, the interdisciplinary nature of the evening was by far the event’s most beneficial aspect. We all know it takes a village to make a film (or just about any creative work for that matter)—and it’s highly unlikely to happen with a team of individuals who hold degrees in the exact same field.
\n
\n“Most alumni career events are school or college specific, so the great thing about this year’s AEI Mixer is that we had six of our schools\/colleges co-sponsor the event, which means we had alumni from Argyros, CoPa, Dodge, Fowler, Schmid and Wilkinson all coming together to reconnect, make new connections, collaborate, and share their experiences…or maybe they were there to just share a cocktail and have fun,” said
\nJo Bandy, director of career and industry<\/a><\/strong>
\n. “Regardless of their motivation, I think everyone who attended left with a real sense of pride knowing that they are all part of this extraordinary network called the Chapman Family.”
\n <\/p>\n

Haley Wragg ’15<\/strong>
\n echoes Jo: “Seeing alumni having a great time, making new connections, facilitating Panther-to-Panther introductions and reminiscing with old friends filled me with immense Panther Pride! This is what the Chapman Family is all about.”
\n <\/p>\n

Akin Ceylan ’90<\/strong>
\n notes a special thanks to the following: Argyros School of Business and Economics; Fowler School of Law; Dodge College of Film and Media Arts; College of Performing Arts; Schmid College of Science and Technology; Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Chapman’s
\ncareer and industry department<\/a>
\n; the
\nAlumni Association<\/a>
\n; the
\nalumni relations department<\/a>
\n; Lionsgate talent acquisition team; and Lionsgate A\/V services.
\n
\nBut don’t just take our word for it—check out what alumni had to say below by clicking on their photos. A lot of our feedback has been that alumni already can’t wait for next year’s Fifth Annual Alumni Entertainment Industry Mixer! Be sure you’re connected with us in the following ways so you can receive details when the event rolls around next year: <\/p>\n