New film highlights Athens-to-Hollywood connection

Only one year after graduating, Noah Turner worked on a video project for Netflix featuring British acting icon John Boyega, best known for playing Finn in the newest “Star Wars” trilogy.

Turner (BSC ’22) is an asset manager at bmp creative, a global content-creation agency whose clients include Netflix. bmp creative produced a spoof video with Boyega, interviewing him in character as the star of “They Cloned Tyrone,” a film released on Netflix on July 21.

“I helped coordinate production and deliver the final product to Netflix,” said Turner.

He also learned that another Ohio University Scripps alum - Mark R. Wright – was involved on the project, working as executive producer of the sci-fi satire film.

“I have learned never to doubt Ohio University’s constant and incredible spread of alumni in various levels of media-related fields,” said Turner.

Wright graduated from Ohio University in 2010 and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern California in 2017.

In Nov. 2022, The Hollywood Reporter included Wright on its list of 35 rising executives under 35; a next generation of leadership in Hollywood. In 2021, Wright joined the executive team of Higher Ground, a media company founded by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.

“It’s no surprise that Mark is succeeding on such a high level,” Roger Cooper, professor and director of the OHIO-in-LA program, said describing the film producer as “super bright and proactive.”

Scripps’ OHIO-in-LA program draws students, including Turner who participated in the summer of 2022, to Hollywood for networking and real-world experience. Students work in film, music, marketing, talent management, social media and more, obtaining internships that often lead to full-time careers.

While at Ohio University, Wright was heavily involved on campus, participating in groups such as the Black Student Cultural Programming Board as President, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the Black Student Communication Caucus, the Student Senate Board of Election, a LINKS Peer Advisor, on the Council of Student Leaders, the Homecoming Committee Task Force, the Order of Omega Honors Fraternity and the Ohio University Recruiting Society.

In addition to Turner and Wright’s success, several other OHIO alums and programs have achieved great things in film and television.

The most recent regional Emmy Awards spotlighted film and video talent at Ohio University, awarding WOUB Public Media’s “Gridiron Glory” show a Sports Emmy in the student category.

The Non-Fiction Short Film Emmy was awarded to Leslie Ostronic (VisCom ’23) and Joe Timmerman (BSJ/VisCom ’23) for “Facing Fentanyl.” Faculty advisor Josh Birnbaum, a professor in the School of Visual Communication, praised the student filmmaking duo for building access, showing sensitivity and telling multiple perspectives based on “countless hours” of documenting a complex, emotionally fraught topic.

Tony Pape (Media Arts and Studies ’21) also won an Emmy for Fiction Long-form for “Overdose.”

“Tony’s special talents behind the camera and in the editing room made for some outstanding accomplishments at Ohio University,” Associate Professor in the School of Media Arts and Studies Brian Plow said. “It’s even more exciting to see him grow as a professional and make an impact in the entertainment industry.”

Emmy-winner Pape currently resides in Los Angeles where his 2023 credits include cinematographer/editor for the NFL original documentary “The Godfather v The Gunslinger” on the 1984 matchup between Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State.