Editor’s Note: Stewardship Snippets is a new series where we will spotlight a different Grady major, program or initiative and introduce you to the people who help make it part of the Grady experience.
Every Grady story is shaped by the people who give their time, talent and support, and the students who make the most of those opportunities.
This month, we’re putting the spotlight on Entertainment and Media Studies (EMST).
Meet Jenny Turner, a 2000 Telecomm Arts alumna, and Skye Holloway, fourth year EMST major.
For Jenny, Grady was the starting point for a career she knew she wanted to pursue. For Skye, that journey is just beginning. Their stories offer two perspectives on EMST — one looking back at where a Grady education can lead and one looking ahead to where it might take her.
Jenny knew she wanted to be a producer when she was a Grady student. More than 20 years later, she’s doing exactly that.
She has spent two decades producing unscripted content for film and some of the world’s most recognizable brands. After beginning her career at CAA and spending five years as an assistant to Gwyneth Paltrow, she spent 12 years at RadicalMedia developing and producing projects around the world for clients including Condé Nast, American Express, IBM, The Gap, Walmart and the NBA.
In 2021, Jenny co-founded Mazu Films with Ting Poo, an award-winning boutique production company focused on documentary films and series. The company’s recent releases include Faces of Music on Hulu and Lee Soo Man: King of K-Pop on Prime Video, with a feature documentary on Christina Aguilera currently in production.
We asked Jenny to share more about her time at Grady and what keeps them connected to the college.
What keeps you connected to Grady, and what inspires you to support the college?
I love UGA, and my time at Grady still shapes how I work. My production company has hosted several Grady interns out here in L.A. over the past few summers. And honestly, I never miss a college football game, no matter where in the world I am.
What’s one thing you’ve learned along the way that you’d share with a Grady student?
There’s always more to learn — know what you know and know what you don’t. Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask questions. If someone’s willing to put in the work, I’ll always make time to help, and I hope others do the same for me.
What do you love doing when you’re not working?
I surf as much as I can. Living in Southern California makes that fairly easy, but I’ll take any excuse for a surf trip.
What’s something about you that people might be surprised to learn?
I once climbed Mount Kilimanjaro — for work.
Skye Holloway
For Skye, the story is still unfolding.
Her interest in filmmaking started in high school, when she created a trailer for a book she had read in a combined film and English class. She enjoyed the process of getting the shots, putting everything together and seeing the final product in front of her classmates. That experience sparked an interest in creating media that eventually brought her to Grady.
Now in her fourth year studying Entertainment and Media Studies, Skye is focused on building the technical production skills that will help her pursue her goal of becoming a television writer and, eventually, producing a series of her own.
What made you choose Grady and EMST?
I chose Grady because of the alumni network and the achievements that alumni have had during their undergraduate years and postgraduate careers. EMST was the best program for me because it allows me to improve my all-around technical production skills.
How did you become interested in film, media and entertainment?
In high school, I took a combined film and English class where I made a trailer based on a book that we read. I had so much fun making the trailer, getting the shots and watching the final product in front of the class. From there, I realized my enjoyment of making media.
What made you choose Grady and Entertainment and Media Studies?
I chose Grady because of the alumni network and the achievements that alumni have had during their undergraduate years and postgraduate careers. EMST was the best program for me because it allows me to improve my all-around technical production skills.
What are your career goals?
In the future, I would love to be a TV writer, with hopes to one day produce a television series that I’ve written.
How have your activities outside the classroom shaped your experience?
I’m a Grady Ambassador, and I’m also in Sharkwing Comedy Sketch Club. Being an ambassador has allowed me to meet and speak with alumni, as well as speak with other students. Being a member of Sharkwing has helped me improve my writing skills and improve my ability to collaborate with others on the team.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned at Grady?
Connections are everything! I’ve gotten to where I am because I spoke up and introduced myself to others. Whether it’s other students or faculty, connecting with any of your peers will prove helpful in the future.
What does private support from alumni mean to you?
I was able to receive a Grady scholarship, which helped me fund my education as I finish my last year. I’m so grateful for the funding because now I’m able to continue to work towards my goal of being a successful TV writer. I plan to take this opportunity to make my mark on Grady and give back to the community, as they’ve done for me!
Skye’s goal of giving back someday echoes the same spirit that keeps alumni like Jenny connected to Grady.
Their stories are different, but they share a commonconnection to the special Grady experience. Jenny’s connection has grown into a career, a continued relationship with the college and a desire to help students find their own paths. That support is helping make it possible for students like Skye to pursue hers.
