240: Randi Michel, COL '91 - A Career in Entertainment

CS Radio - The Official Podcast of University of Pennsylvania Career Services

This week, we're honored to interview College of Arts & Sciences alumna Randi Michel about her career journey. From Penn undergrad to the mail room to becoming a top manager-producer and then back to Penn again as a lecturer, Randi shares advice about how to leverage your Penn network to break into the industry of your choice!

Talent Manager and Emmy Award-winning Producer (“Bessie” starring Queen Latifah for HBO) Randi Michel’s next film projects are: producing two projects with client Queen Latifah and The Henson Company- the animated film “The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear”, based on the fantasy novel by popular German author- illustrator Walter Moers, and the globe-trotting family comedy “We’re The Hendersons” starring Latifah.Randi is also producing with client Travis Scott "Chopped & Screwed" for his Cactus Jack label based on the life of DJ Screw, the legendary Houston D.J. She also put together a comedy series that sold to Apple starring Smartless co-host Sean Hayes and written by “Bad Sisters” writer-producers Brett Baer and Dave Finkel to be Executive Produced by Ben Stiller. Some of Randi’s other notable clients are: global movie star John Travolta, Jenna Elfman, Devon Sawa, Gina Gershon, Colton Underwood, Saudi comedy star Ibrahim Al Hajjaj, and Italian newcomer Manfredi Marini. When client and Legendary Astronaut Buzz Aldrin celebrated 50+ years of walking on the moon- Randi closed an array of endorsement campaigns for him with Omega watches, IBM, YouTube for Major League Baseball and Verizon. Randi is also involved in the film communities of Saudi Arabia and Southeast Asia, and a member of the PGA and BAFTA.

Randi heads up the New York office of management-production company Artists First. She has been featured on both The Hollywood Reporter and Variety Industry Power Lists.Randi started in the industry in the famous William Morris Agency mailroom. She was the youngest Agent Trainee to be promoted to agent, and the youngest to be given an agency contract. She went on to be a Partner at WME, and after 22 years at the agency became a manager/producer for her clients.

Randi is a graduate of Beverly Hills High School and the University of Pennsylvania, where she is Faculty in two schools: Visiting Lecturer in Cinema & Media Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences, and Lecturer in the new Master of Communication and Media Industries graduate program at the Annenberg School for Communication.

Randi has been active at Penn as a leader and mentor since graduating. She serves on the Director’s Advisory Council of Penn Live Arts, the University of Pennsylvania’s home for the performing arts.She is a founding member of Penn Arts & Sciences Professional Women’s Alliance, serves as an Alumni Ambassador and is a longtime Kelly Writers House RealArts@Penn Mentor providing internships to Penn undergrads.

Randi is on the Advisory Board of The Said Project, a non-profit bringing theater arts access and mentorships into public schools in New York City and West Philadelphia (http://thesaidproject.com/).

Mentioned in this episode:

• Masters of Communications and Media Industries - https://www.asc.upenn.edu/graduate/master-communication-and-media-industries-mcmi

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