RICHARD NAVA
Staff Writer
The excitement of the epics of the past can be utilized to promote creativity and entrepeneurship, according to the organizers of the first Hero’s Journey Entrepreneurship Festival, held Saturday.
Seaver College will host the event at the Pepperdine School of Law.
The festival will include several professionals in the arts and humanities field including Flint Dille and John Zuur of the award winning “Chronicles of Riddick” and David Whatley, the CEO of Simutronics. The festival will also include a keynote speech by William Fay, who is the executive producer of films such as “The Patriot,” “Superman Returns” and the current blockbuster movie “300.”
“The Hero’s Journey Entrepreneurship Festival seeks to give students, artists and entrepreneurs the tools to make their passions their professions,” said Dr. Elliot McGucken, visiting professor of business. “The rising generation is longing for epic story across all mediums.”
McGucken’s growing popularity is clearly visible not only in his students, but also fellow members of the Pepperdine staff and faculty. Vice Chancellor Michael Warder, for example, said the concept of spreading entrepreneurship and business to artists of all types is part of McGucken’s genius.
“I think he speaks to creative students who are steeped in the digital revolution in a very powerful and responsible way,” Warder said.
McGucken said he originally had the idea for the festival in the fall. McGucken’s work is supported by a $125,000 grant that Pepperdine received from the prestigious Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to further curriculum development for Artistic Entrepreneurship and Technology; a curriculum that has many students eager to participate.
Pepperdine student Dylan Vandam was asked to be a volunteer for the festival and said he immediately wanted to get involved.
“I want to network with other students, faculty and professionals to pursue and to incorporate the knowledge imparted from the leaders at the festival into my everyday life,” Vandam said.
As a student volunteer, Vandam has contributed to the festival by designing the t-shirts that will be worn and given away March 31. Vandam hopes to use his education in pursuing a life based on strong values, which he says he has learned as a Pepperdine student.
Junior Michelle Petty is also a participant and student volunteer for the festival. Petty is a creative writing major and said she was excited when she first heard about the event through Facebook.
Petty says she will have a multi-faceted role in the festival as an usher, liaison, and clean-up crew member.
“Even though doing this will take up a lot of my Saturday writing time, I know it will be an edifying experience,” Petty said.
The festival will begin at the Law School at 8 a.m. and will include lectures and speeches throughout the day. It will not conclude until after 8 p.m. at The Malibu Inn where there will be special musical quests.
All are welcome to volunteer and participate in the festival this Saturday, and also in the volunteer meeting that will be held today at 7 p.m. in the Atrium. For more information please contact Dr. McGucken at Elliot.McGucken@Pepperdine.Edu, or visit the festival’s Web site at www.herosjourneyentrepreneurship.org.
03-29-2007