Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
“Be prepared to hustle” was the advice a DreamWorks film studio official gave to Towson University’s Electronic Media and Film students this week.
Shelly Strong is a Towson graduate who about three years ago was tapped as head of physical production for the private entertainment company that produces and distributes popular films, music, and television shows. She returned to her alma mater on Monday to discuss her climb in the film business and to give advice and tips to dozens of students and faculty.
“Just keep going,” said Strong in offering advice. “You can’t have an ego” when you are starting out. “Just get your foot in the door, and be prepared to hustle.”
Strong became head of physical production in 2015 after working as vice president of production since 2006. She has worked on films such as “Tropic Thunder,” “The Help,” “Need For Speed,” “Ghost in the Shell” and most recently on the upcoming film, “The House With A Clock In The Wall.”
Dreamworks Studios is a film studio started in 1994, which made live action films like “Saving Private Ryan” and “Castaway,” as well as animated films such as “Shrek” and “Kung Fu Panda.”
Strong is the only woman in her position in main studio business. As physical production head for DreamWorks, she oversees the process of preparing for a film before shooting but after the script has been finished. In addition, Strong said that she oversees the location scouting and the physical items, such as cars and props, needed for the film. These tasks can take between 10 to 26 weeks, depending on the size of the film, she said.
”One of my favorite processes” is looking for locations for shooting a movie, said Strong, a native of West Maryland who graduated from Smithsburg High School. Strong said she has traveled to popular U.S. sites like Atlanta and exotic places like New Zealand, Hong Kong and the Island of Kauai, Hawaii to find locations that fit a script’s needs.
Strong said she got her start with the film, “He Said, She Said,” working as a director’s assistant. The position included being willing to fetch dry cleaning, coffee and run errands. Strong said the key is to work.
While Strong insisted that students interested in breaking into this field must “Just keep going,” she also joked when asked by Michael Angelella, the EMF Department chairperson, that you should “wear sunglasses” when asked to work with people you don’t like.
Strong graduated from Towson with a degree in Mass Communication, concentrating in Electronic Media and Film.