The Pendulum
Film executive,
alumnus to deliver
graduation address
COMMENCEMFNT FnTTTOM
Alexa Milan
A&E Editor
Students will get the chance to hear
i about the career achievements of an
Elon graduate when Douglas Finberg,
senior vice president of international
marketing for Paramount Pictures,
delivers the commencement address
today.
Finberg, who graduated from
Elon in 1994, produces marketing
campaigns for international theatrical
releases, including “Iron Man,”
“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of
the Crystal Skull," “Transformers” and
“Shrek the Third.” He also serves as a
liaison for producers, filmmakers and
studio executives in Los Angeles.
, According to George Troxler, dean
of cultural and special programs,
Finberg was an appealing choice for
the commencement speaker because
students often like to hear about the
experiences of someone young to
whom they can relate.
“He’s relatively young to be so
successful and he's doing so well in his
career,” Troxler said.
Earlier this year, the senior class
officers met with Troxler and Gerry
Francis, provost and vice president for
academic affairs, and compiled a list
^ of potential speakers they thought the
graduating class would enjoy hearing
from. During the last few years they
have tried to get speakers who have
some association with Elon, whether
they are parents, alumni or faculty.
“[Finberg] has spoken to some
of our communications classes in
California,” Troxler said. “He’s been a
very active alumnus.”
After they compiled their list
of speakers, it was handed over to
President Leo Lambert, who ultimately
I extended the invitation to Finberg.
^ Finberg’s first position in the
entertainment industry was as a
public relations intern for Lucasfilm
Ltd,, while he was still at Elon. After
graduating cum laude from Elon with
a degree in communications, Finberg
continued his studies at the University
of California, Los Angeles, and the
Douglas
Finberg
American Film Institute.
He then worked as an administrator
of international theatrical marketing
and distribution services at MGM
and as a director of international
advertising and
promotions for
Universal Pictures
before moving to
Dreamworks SKG,
where he spent
10 years as a
creative executive
for international
marketing and
advertising.
While at
Dreamworks,
he produced
audiovisual,
print and online
campaigns for
the international theatrical releases
of films like “The Ring,” “A Beautiful
Mind,” “Cast Away” and “Lemony
Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate
Events.” He also won the 2001
Hollywood Reporter Key Art Award for
best international comedy trailer for
“Meet the Parents.”
At Dreamworks Finberg also
managed international product
presentations in London, Tokyo,
Singapore, Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona
and Amsterdam, and he was
responsible for implementing the
design of a companywide “Digital
Asset Resource Tracking” (DART)
system.
In addition to producing marketing
campaigns at Paramount, Finberg
worked with Steven Spielberg and ^
Michael Bay to produce a special shoot
for the “Transformers” trailer that
aired in Japan.
Finberg is the official
commencement speaker, but he isn’t
the only one students will be hearing
from at graduation. Senior class
president Lauren Murphree and the
president of the alumni association
will speak. Dr. Francis will present
awards and recognitions, and
President Lambert will make Susan
Moseley a doctor of humane letters.
SPEAKERS OF THE PAST
A brief look back at the last four
Commencement speakers
2007
Kerrii Anderson
CEO and President, Wendy’s Intl.
2006
Jack McKeon
Former Florida Marlins Manager
Saturday, May 24, 2008 / Page 7
encement
stions?
or Commencement 2008
Where are the bathrooms?
There are bathrooms in McEwen,
Alamance and Long buildings. The
bathroom in Whitley Auditorium is
closed.
is open until 9:15 a.m. and will
reopen after graduation. Other
nearby stores are Rite Aid Pharmacy
and Food Lion at the intersection
of Williamson Avenue and Church
Street.
2005
Jeanne Swanner Roberston
Professional speaker, humorist
2004
Dr. Earl Danleley
President Emeritus, Elon University
What time does the continental
breakfast end?
The food will stop being served at
9 a.m. Please take your seats at this
time. Graduates will enter through
the area where the food will be
served, which will make it hard for
the attendees to get to their seats.
How will the graduates enter?
They will walk onto the center of
the stage and then will go down on
each side to their chairs.
Where do the different degrees sit?
B.A. - Audience left (McEwen side of
seating) and probably a portion will
sit in the front rows on audience
right (Whitley side of seating)
B.F.A. - Audience right (Whitley side)
B.S. - Audience right (Whitley side)
How long is the commencement
program?
Commencement concludes with the
graduate recessional. It is estimated
that commencement will run 2.5
hours for the ceremony and may
run a few minutes longer with the
recessional.
Are professional photographs
available?
Yes, a photo will be sent to your
home address in a week or two.
There is also a table Under the
Oaks and around Fonville Fountain
where you can purchase the picture
ahead of time. Look for the sign,
“Commencement Photographs.”
Can I order a graduation video
on VHS or DVD?
Yes, you can sign up and pay Elon
Television for a taped copy. ETV
employees have two booths set
up. One is near the information
booth by the parking lot outside
of Whitley Auditorium. The other
is around Fonville Fountain. ETV
has also taped Baccalaureate and
Leaders for the 21st Century, which
are also available for purchse.
Can I take photos?
The letter of the last name of the
current graduates on stage (divided
by bachelor of arts, fine arts and
science) will be held up in the photo
area. When the graduate’s letter is
held up, then the person can enter
the photo area to the right side of
the stage to take the photo.
Where is the special needs
section?
It’s located on the audience left
side near McEwen Communications
building. Individuals with special
needs are allowed to have their
families sit with them. They can
also watch the ceremony inside of
McEwen Communications building.
Is there anywhere I can buy
batteries and/or film?
The Campus Shop in Moseley Center
Where do I meet my graduate
after the ceremony?
Signs for each of the academic
departments will be placed above
the rection tables located in Scott
Plaza. Please plan to meet your
family/graduate near the sign of
your academic major.
Where do graduates pick up the
oak sapling?
Oak saplings are available at a table
in front of Powell Building which
is the building next to Duke and
beside Haggard Avenue. There is
a sign marking this table, as well
as tables for alumni information,
commencement videos and
commencement photographs. These
tables will be in the same general
area.
What happens if it rains?
Each graduate is allowed two tickets
to give to two guests for entrance
into Koury Center’s Alumni Gym.
All other guests will be asked to
go to closed-circuit viewing rooms
according to their graduate’s major
or in any building classroom.
Where is the information booth?
There are two information booths.
One is located between Powell
Building and Fonville Fountain
and the second is at the back of
the Commencement site near the
Whitley parking lot.
Where is the first aid station?
It is located beneath the tent
between Whitley Auditorium and
the parking lot.
Where are the campus police/
communications center?
They will be at a tent riear the
first aid tent in front of Whitley
Auditorium.
Where can I go to use the
telephone?
There are phones located in
Alamance Building (where the
front doors are looking out toward
Fonville Fountain).
Where is the lost and found?
During the ceremony, lost and
found should be taken to the
information table at the back of
the graduation site. Following the
ceremony lost and found items will
be taken to the Campus Police office
in The Oaks complex.
Where is the interpreter located?
She will be on the right side of
the stage near the photography
area on a stool. She will wear a
graduate’s robe and will be at the
Commencement site early that
morning. Please find her and talk to
her about where to sit.
Information courtesy of the Office of
Cultural and Special Programs