Although he displayed a laid-back posture and donned black Converse All-Stars, Ron Meyer, president and chief operating officer of Universal Studios, is still a businessman.

Meyer’s demeanor matched the relaxed tone of the discussion, held Thursday at 3 p.m. in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium.

The event was split between a conversation moderated by Richard Dubin, a professor of practice in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and a Q-and-A session with audience members.

Dubin guided Meyer through a discussion about the various portions of his career, such as his time as a combat infantryman in the U.S. Marine Corps and his ascent to his current position at Universal.

Meyer dropped out of high school at 17 years old to join the Marines and narrowly avoided serving in the Vietnam War. He said the experience put him on the right track toward success.

‘I didn’t drop out of high school because I was too smart. I dropped out because I was too stupid,’ he said. ‘But the Marine Corps really straightened me out.’

After his service in the Marines, Meyer became a driver and messenger for the Paul Kohner Talent Agency. He said he could be called into work at any point in the week, and he often had to do demeaning tasks like walking the secretary’s dog.

But Meyer said unquestioningly agreeing to do these tasks is essential for anyone looking to get ahead in the film industry.

‘You have to start at the bottom,’ he said. ‘Whatever you work for, whatever they ask you, the answer’s yes.’

After several years, Meyer secured a job as a low-level talent agent at William Morris Agency. He said he used the ‘lingo’ of the profession to make it appear as though he had prior experience. Meyer was fired when it was discovered he and five other employees were planning on starting their own business, he said.

The company — Creative Artists Agency Inc. — initially struggled but found success after several years, he said. Its clientele would eventually grow to include high-profile actors and actresses like Tom Hanks, Sylvester Stallone, Al Pacino and Meryl Streep, he said.

In 1995, Meyer accepted an offer for his current position at Universal, after his relationship with his main business partner at Creative Artists Agency began to sour, he said.

Later during the event, Meyer addressed student questions concerning investor influence in movies, the importance of artistic integrity and the necessary steps needed to be successful in the film industry.

Investors should have an opportunity to see what kind of film they are financing, but they should not have creative control, he said. Meyer said this is how Universal operates.

Though the film industry tries to make the best movies possible, the monetary aspect is what ultimately drives it, Meyer said.

‘I make movies to make money. I’m not an artist. I’m a businessman,’ he said. ‘And I want to be proud of what I do, but I’m as proud of bad movies that are successful as I am embarrassed by good movies that aren’t.’

Even though Meyer has a business mentality, he later revealed his favorite Universal film is ‘United 93,’ which the studio made without profit in mind. He said it shows how remarkable and inspiring the human race can be.

At the end of the event, Meyer stressed the importance of interpersonal skills and connections to students hoping to enter the business.

‘You’ve got to make relationships, and they have to be genuine relationships,’ he said. ‘You can’t do it quickly; it’s a long, slow process.’

Meyer added he does not expect his time at Universal to be what he is known for.

Said Meyer: ‘I don’t think movies will define me. It’s just what I do for a living.’

dmsegelb@syr.edu

 

Published on March 4, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Dylan: dmsegelb@syr.edu | @dylan_segelbaum