For many college students pursuing levels within the arts, commencement calls for a solution to the age-old query begged by dad and mom, grandparents and uncles — “What can you even do with that degree?” For Class of 2022 alumna Karen Zipor, the reply is simple. 

Since graduating, Zipor has used her drama and laptop science levels — alongside robust connections she has fashioned with University alumni since graduating — to carve her path within the leisure trade out in Los Angeles.

“Everything I’ve gotten is because of the U.Va. alumni because they’re so strong out here [in Los Angeles],” Zipor mentioned.

As an affiliate producer for the advertising and marketing agency BLKBX Creative Group, Zipor has produced content material for firms like Disney, Dreamworks and Warner Bros. Her position permits her to supervise the manufacturing of content material each step of the best way, from pitching items to facilitating their supply to shoppers.

“We do a lot of social media initiatives,” Zipor mentioned. “It’s great to be in a pitch meeting where you’re like, ‘I saw this meme and I think we can do something with ‘Scooby Doo’ for it’. You’ve got to be a little creative with your ideas.” 

Before beginning at BLKBX, Zipor labored as a manufacturing coordinator for the Walt Disney Company. During her time on the University, Zipor gained a powerful quantity of labor expertise, interning with each Lex & Otis Animation and the Television Academy Foundation. 

As somebody who was closely concerned within the arts on Grounds, Zipor pressured the significance of being concerned in lots of actions and organizations as a pupil. 

“Do a lot — do a variety of things,” Zipor mentioned. “You never know what you’re going to be applying to, and having a diverse portfolio and resumes — that’s [important].”

Early on in her research, Zipor carried out with First Year Players and the drama division. Later, she participated in Light House Studio’s Adrenaline Film Project, through which teams collaborate to jot down, document and produce a brief movie in 72 hours. She additionally enrolled in Overcranked, a program that permits college students to create brief movies for sophistication credit score. 

Despite her ambition, Zipor didn’t at all times have her sights set on being a filmmaker. She initially got here to the University hoping to pursue theater, however her plans shifted through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“All of a sudden, the world changed when a pandemic hit and there was no longer any theater,”  Zipor mentioned. “I had to really reevaluate and readjust like, ‘What am I interested in? What should I give a try?’ And that’s actually when I started writing.”

Her newfound curiosity in writing led Zipor to jot down for Overcranked, in addition to to submit a play to the drama division’s New Works Festival, a program that permits college students to jot down and direct their very own brief performs. 

As a pc science pupil, Zipor was additionally within the intersection of artwork and know-how — particularly in animation. She accomplished a thesis in 3D Animation and Motion Capture know-how.

Since shifting to Los Angeles, Zipor not solely has not solely discovered success in her advertising and marketing roles, however she additionally has begun investing extra time in her unbiased artistic endeavors.  She not too long ago penned a feature-length script and developed a script for a brief movie that can go into manufacturing subsequent month. 

Zipor mentioned that shifting to Los Angeles reinvigorated her creativity and allowed her to start engaged on her personal movies once more. 

“Once I had a place I was living, a job, a good solid friend group and a support group out here, I finally had the room that I didn’t have [before],” Zipor mentioned. “I was very burnt out once I graduated, and I finally felt like I had that energy to create again.” 

Zipor mentioned that if she has any recommendation for college students trying to achieve success within the movie trade, it’s to type bonds with different college students. 

“Make a lot of friends,” Zipor mentioned. “Make so many friends at U.Va., because it will amaze you how that one person who was in that one class, all the way back in first year, all of a sudden we’re hanging out in L.A. and reading each other’s scripts. We’re helping each other through.”