New Director of Summer Program Named

David A. Weitzner has been named to replace Duke Underwood who recently resigned as the long-time Program Director for the Summer Program.  Although Underwood plans to return in the spring to teach, he decided that he did not have sufficient time to complete writing his screenplays as well as direct the Summer Program. 

David Weitzner has been an adjunct instructor at the School for the past few years teaching in the Business of Entertainment classes (in conjunction with the Marshall School of Business), and he has more than 40 years of experience in entertainment marketing at major studios and with his own business.  Prior to beginning his own global marketing company as a consultant and strategist for clients including Honda Motors, PepsiCo, the WB Network, and others, he served as President, Worldwide Marketing for MCA/Universal Studios Recreation Services Group, a division responsible for its theme parks, Universal CityWalk and other entities.  He has also been President of Worldwide Marketing for 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures. 

This past summer more than 350 people from throughout the United States and several other countries, took hands-on classes in production, writing, interactive media, animation and critical studies.  The classes are offered for university credit, although the applicant does not have to be a USC student to be eligible to enroll.