Every so often, we’ll be spotlighting alumni and what they are up to these days. These Q&A sessions will give you a bit of insight into where the world has taken them since graduation.

This week, the spotlight is on Hunter Johnson (BFA/Film Production ’07).

DODGE: Share your career path with us – how did you get where you are now?

Hunter:
Right now, I’m a Senior Video Producer at Google. How I got here has been a long road, but the story involves a Chapman connection. My first job out of college was working for Steve Mosko, who is currently Chairman of Sony Pictures Television. He came for a lecture at the school and offered anyone who emailed him a paid internship. I was only one of two students who did so. I worked for Mr. Mosko as his intern, working in almost every department until I was hired full time. I worked at Sony and have been blessed to have been a part of the team that worked on shows like
Breaking Bad
and
Shark Tank
. After two years as an assistant in the development department at SPT, I was promoted and given an overall deal to work as a producer for them. I felt I needed to gain more experience and moved on to producing television for every major network and almost every major cable provider from HBO to ABC. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to hire and work with other Chapman graduates after leaving Sony Pictures Television. After three years as an independent producer, a good friend of mine, and fellow Chapman alumni, joined Google and asked if I’d be interested in working there. After several emails, I found myself working for a great company. I’m currently in Indonesia filming for Google as I write this!

DODGE: What was the biggest adjustment you faced after graduation and how did you overcome it?

Hunter:
The biggest adjustment I’ve had is learning to earn your worth. At Dodge, you gain an incredible set of knowledge that can and will instantly translate to the work environment. However, with this power should come restraint. You’ll work, and continue to work, with people that don’t know what you know, and that’s the hardest part of going into the “real world”. At Dodge, when you’re doing a senior thesis or any film/TV/PR project, you all are equals; opinions and ideas can flow easily. However, in the work world, this mostly is not the case. You have to earn that opinion, and then be ready to battle to defend your worth. The only exception to this is at Google. From day one, your opinion matters and is encouraged. Not all entertainment jobs are like this. The quicker you can figure out your work environment, the better.

hunter johnson in front of a large building

DODGE: What is the best advice you have received and/or what advice would you give current students?

Hunter:
The best advice I have received still to this day comes from Chapman professor Kiku Terasaki, and that is “A.C.Y.A.” or always cover your ass. I can’t even begin to tell you how much this advice from Kiku has saved me, got me promoted, and continues to be an everyday part of my job. The entertainment industry is a fast paced and filled with high maintenance people. Be thorough and detailed. Know everything about your job, and the job you want, and then A.C.Y.A. From sending an email to confirm meetings, to writing detailed recaps of meetings to make sure you’re all on the same page, it is all important, especially the stupid things that you don’t think are important.

DODGE: What is your favorite memory from your time at Dodge?

Hunter:
Hard to say name one. However, one of my favorites was being able to meet and talk with Sherry Lansing. She’s a legend in the film industry and it was a great honor.

DODGE: What have you taken from the classroom and applied to your career?

Hunter:
I’ve been fortunate enough to have three incredible professors that I still lean on for advice and whose lessons still resonate with me every day: Harry Chenny, Dan Pavelin, and Kiku Terasaki. Harry’s incredible editing classes have helped me become a better producer. I’m able to dissect and work with editors easier than most producers can. That skill set has helped raise me up the ranks quickly. Dan’s audio and sound design classes are crucial in our field. Horrible audio and knowing how to fix it has saved so many shows I’ve been on that I can’t even count. Nothing is worse than getting a note from an executive saying the music just doesn’t feel right. Having taken Dan’s classes and now being the executive giving notes on the tracks, I’m able to articulate better and be more clear with my teams on what I’m looking for. Music is often the most noted part of your films/shows, so this skill set will always come in handy for me.

Thanks so much, Hunter!