Alumns Give Advice on Breaking into Hollywood

April 8, 2013

Universal Studios Hollywood was recently hiring tour guides and according to alumnus John Murdy, the theme park's creative director and former tour and VIP Experience guide, this minimum wage job can be a chance to break into the entertainment business.

"It was my entree into what I do today," said Murdy in a recent interview. "Back in the old days working in the mail room was your entree in to the business. Now it's the tour guide position."

According to the company spokeswoman, former tour guides are now working in all facets of the industry.

Murdy, who is the creative mind behind Universal Studios Hollywood Horror Nights, still remembers his first VIP tour.

"I was ... heading back to wardrobe when the guide manager called asking if I would be interested in giving a VIP tour," he recalled. "I drove down to the lower sound stage and out walks Michael Jackson. Michael loved movies and he had a real fascination with how movies were made. And was one of the nicest people I've ever met in my career.

Read more in the Huffington Post.