Professor Peter Weishar, UCF TEA Service Award Winner
Interview by Judith Rubin and Martin Palicki
Peter Weishar is one of the pioneers of college programs that prepare students for careers in the entertainment industry. Create a pool for recruiting and helping industry leaders reward their experience and knowledge. His dedicated efforts often support the TEA student membership program and enrich the TEA conference. and generally help foster productive dialogue and partnerships between industry and academia. He has been named for the TEA Peter Chernack Award for Distiminated Service and will be honored by the Thea Awards Gala This April at Disneyland Resort.
How did you get involved in themed entertainment?
I have been fascinated with art for as long as I can remember. My father is a scenery/exhibit designer. My mother has a master’s degree in art history and was the department chair at Parsons School of Design. I would paint for hours after school. And on weekends, I’ll spend time at my dad’s thrift store watching them create great things. I was actually over 30 the first time I spent most of my time at a theme park. I felt like I was a kid again wandering through this amazingly designed and detailed world. I guess I immediately saw the amusement park as a large interactive stage.
What do you love about this industry?
People. There’s an incredible talent and genius to create a narrative environment. Each brings their own perspective and skills to the project. I love hearing their stories and learning about the special work they do.
Tell us about your relationship with TEA.
I owe TEA a huge amount. I made good friends there and learned a lot about the industry from meetings, seminars and discussions with fellow members. I don’t think I could have accomplished what I could without TEA.
When I was the Dean of Entertainment Arts at SCAD [Savannah College of Art & Design]Work on the course for the Master’s Degree Program in Themed Entertainment I met and hired an influential former Disney Imagineer. The late George Head, as a professor. He said I should join TEA. I owe this and more to George. His mentoring and guidance helped create the program. And he is an amazing professor. We attended a TEA SATE conference in Orlando. Phil Hettema and his team Talk about their work for the World War II Museum in New Orleans. It comes back to me how powerful and impactful a themed experience can be.
That adventure led me to host SATE at SCAD in 2013, the first SATE on campus. The following year, I became dean at FSU, and we hosted SATE at the FSU campus in Sarasota, Florida. Now that I’m at UCF, I’m available to talk to TEA at any time about bringing SATE to the UCF Orlando campus.
Many of my former students from SCAD were part of the first wave of TEA student members. I think it’s amazing that TEA recognizes the importance of youth entering the field. I am currently [email protected] consultant.
This is an industry that was originally developed by people learning as they go along the way. (often built on education/experience in art, engineering, theater or film) Why is formal academic training important now?
look at the movie industry There was a time when only a fraction of film industry professionals attended film school. Now, the vast majority of successful directors and producers study film at university. Film school transformed that industry and led to remarkable advances in the art form. The same happens in themed experiences and attractions.
Graduates from the themed experience and design programs have significant advantages over students from other programs. They entered the field with interest. Have industry knowledge and relevant skills They understand the history and context of the business they are entering. They put a lot of time and effort into creating original and focused work.
We are doing our best to make Themed Experience a strong and active academic discipline. at UCFWe have a distinguished advisory council of industry leaders who learn by working. Their knowledge has dictated how we build the course now. It combines formal education with industry experience. Several colleagues and I founded Themed Experiences and Attractions Association of Academics (TEAAS) It aims to help other institutions and academics develop programs in this field. Themed entertainment is too big and important for just one or two institutions to support it.
For me, the big reward is seeing talented students grow and embark on their journey to achieve their dreams.
How can industry associations and their members best support academic programs?
interesting question Most people in the industry view field trips as just internships and employment. That was the end result of the study. The more an organization can be involved in the learning process, the better. The more effectively these organizations can guarantee the future of our industry.
The first thing I tell anyone interested in entering the industry is “join TEA.” There are obvious advantages to attending Summit and SATE. But even just showing up to the mixer and meeting with industry experts in an informal setting is invaluable.
I really don’t know of any course of study that teaches everything a graduate needs to know. There will be many years in an industry where the continuity of education is the key. But individuals who have spent a lot of time and effort earning a graduate degree in a themed experience have shown their commitment to the industry. This leads to higher employer retention and a faster learning curve.
What have your students taught you over the years?
There are many examples of first-hand learning where students find niche areas interesting and introduce me to new designers, authors, or discover little-known and interesting facts. more importantly Each student is unique. They bring their own life experiences and perspectives into the classroom. The students have shown me how they work creatively to understand loss, misery and even happiness in their lives. I was amazed at the courage and creativity of some of the students. it is inspiring
Will experiential, themed education programs benefit mid-career workers?
We have a number of students in their 30s and late 40s who are the most successful who have confidence in their talents and abilities. But realize that there is always more to learn. Older students can have a great influence on their peers both in and out of class. I can say that the majority of students returning to our program have successfully transitioned careers.
What is your number one piece of advice for graduates in this field?
Don’t be afraid to be yourself and express your vision. Some students feel they should show work that looks like a project they have already done. An excellent art director who is looking for new talent. will be impressed by the unique vision and creative approach in this field.
What is your approach to integrating mentoring and field experience into the curriculum?
MFA program Internships are permitted up to 11 credits. That means students can complete a full year of industry work as course requirements. Our shorter MS program allows up to six credits. At UCF, we have the benefit of being an industry center. themed entertainment industry speakers Portfolio reviews, critiques and site visits are part of every semester at UCF, and people are open and generous in their time and expertise.
I can think of many examples. Some of the highlights will be working with WDI’s Zsolt Hormay and Colleen Meyers on a plaster class, Cecil Magpuri co-teaching a VR class in Falcon’s Creative X-lab, a UCF Universal Creative Lab class to be held in the sector. Many years ago, the UCF Christie Digital Projection Mapping Lab and the UCF/Meow Wolf Writers Workshop, these themed entertainment/academic collaborations began when Patrick Brennan, Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering, approved and sponsored Walt Disney classes. Imagineering off campus (however (Patrick retired from WDI and is now a full-time professor of themed experiences at UCF.)
What parks/projects/experiences have inspired you in your career?
I’m an unabashed Disney fan. One of my favorite experiences was at dusk at Pandora and seeing the bioluminescence begin to light up in a beautifully designed environment. The other is the home of the eternal return of the wolf cat. I see this type of work as the future where it can reach a whole new audience. Go back in time to your youth in New York. I particularly like the Whitney Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
What are you doing to continue your lifelong learning goals?
I read everything I could about this field. But I think most teachers do. For me, I try to be open to new ideas. and new technologies And combine it with what we already know and do. For example, I’m passionate about AI and real-time high-resolution rendering. We’re getting closer and closer to the Holodeck. and me as both a fanatic and an artist I’m very excited about that.
What achievement are you most proud of?
I am most proud and excited about what I am doing right now. Helping to build the Themed Experience graduate program at UCF has been an incredible journey. UCF has shared the vision and provided the support needed to make this a success. The same applies to creating themed attractions. It’s a group effort. And I’m grateful to the people at UCF for making it happen • • •
