Seen on the Screen podcast: Hollywood at your fingertips

Photo Collage by Braylan Enscoe, Staff Photographer

You can say what you want about there being too many podcasts nowadays, but if you have any interest in wanting to hear about the behind-the-scenes experiences of artists and the true process of making movie magic, you have to listen to the Seen on the Screen podcast. 

The Seen on the Screen podcast — hosted by Jacqueline Coley, awards editor at Rotten Tomatoes, in collaboration with Make It Universal and Rotten Tomatoes — gives a behind-the-scenes look at how films come to life at Universal Pictures. On April 7, The Panther participated in a virtual roundtable with other college papers to speak with Coley and the head of Universal Pictures Domestic Marketing Dwight Caines. The roundtable provided an even deeper inside scoop on how the two of them bring the show to life.

Coley’s parents never wanted her to pursue a career in entertainment. She wanted to major in writing and minor in musical theater, but her parents swayed her to get a business degree. She worked on software logistics for companies and eventually returned to school to get an informational technology degree. After graduating from that program, it was challenging to find a job — so she started freelance writing to pass the time. She wrote some articles for the Austin Chronicle, getting some bylines for herself until she made her way over to Rotten Tomatoes. 

“The only reason why I tell people that long story is just to say that it was not what I thought I could do, but I’m so glad that I decided at a late stage to just see what happens,” said Coley. “It kind of spiraled and at one point I remember thinking I was like, ‘Wow, this job that I thought was a side gig is now more important and is helping me get more money than the regular gig.’ It’s never too late.”

Caines did study film, television and radio in college. He was an aspiring screenwriter and producer, and spent a lot of time in New York.

“My student debt started to knock and was looming very large. I took a job in customer service at what was then Chase Manhattan Bank, what is now JP Morgan Chase, taking customer service inquiries and then writing with my writing partner at night and literally snail-mailing our scripts to the West Coast to try to get a read,” he said.

When his company merged, Caines was given the option to either move back to Manhattan for work (he had moved to another location for the job prior) or be given a check. He took the check and used the money to move to LA, where he found a job in the theatrical research department at Sony Pictures. People over the years have asked him how he got to his current status after starting so strongly in the banking industry.

“It’s because all of those skills were transferable,” Caines said. “And what was in my soul was a storyteller. If you love this stuff, as hard as the business is and will continue to be, it’s a lot easier if you love it, right?”

The Panther got to ask the first question at the roundtable, inquiring why Coley and Caines think their Seen on the Screen podcast is valuable to film students or those interested in learning more about the entertainment industry. 

“There are a lot of people studying film and entertainment who aren’t aware of the array of people that you run into or the role,” said Caines. “When we came up with this idea, it was really to showcase what we think is a unique culture at Universal but also to highlight the people who get it done. Over time, we started to find that people we were talking to who had jobs that seemed to tell it all, had interesting backstories, different career paths that landed them in the place they are now.”

Like many who come to Los Angeles in the hope of making it big, Coley grew up far away from Hollywood.

“I was born in Alabama and grew up in Texas. To hope for a career in entertainment is something that was very distant for a lot of people, due to proximity or just what they believe is possible,” said Coley. “I think the podcast is a great tool to give those people so that they don’t feel like there isn’t a chance to do this job if they don’t end up being somebody like Jordan Peele or Greta Gerwig or Christopher Nolan.”

Part of Coley and Caines’ jobs on the podcast is deciding what guests to feature. The two want to make sure that they highlight enough big-name creatives while also shining a light on lesser-known roles.

“What we truly wanted to do was put a light on the roles that don’t come top of mind,” said Caines. “When I was studying TV, radio (and) film, I didn’t know there was such a thing as a business strategist or a creative content editor. Then, truth be told, when we have a movie that I’m working on the campaign for and we have access, I say, ‘Oh, let’s get (‘Wicked’ director) Jon M. Chu.’ If the campaign is running and the talent’s available and willing, we’ll try to leverage that opportunity.”

Another part of Coley and Caines’ job is to analyze the ever-changing world of Hollywood. One of the changes highlighted by another journalist was how the industry has shifted from going to movie theaters and renting DVDs to streaming. 

“One thing that we started out on the podcast was that it was theatrical guests only,” said Caines. “But as a big company, NBCUniversal, Comcast, we started to pull in guests who do things that are not theatrical, but also touch TV and live sports and other parts of the business.”

Coley thinks the love for physical media is making a huge comeback. 

“This was the promise: a library of movies in your home, like Blockbuster in your house,” said Coley. “We will ensure that we have it in our vast library or something close to it. Now, you have like 15 streaming services to get all that stuff. It costs way more than cable. Then they’re just deleting things. I think that is going to make people want physical media. It’ll sort of be the way that books are now where you want to treat them like trophies. Maximalism is going to save us all!”

When asked if there was an experience on the podcast that changed how Coley and Caines see their role in the industry, the two said that it happens every episode.

“We have people whose paths make mine look almost pedestrian because they have done so many different jobs,” said Coley. “And then you have people like Peter Kujawski, who runs Focus Features, who pretty much had only one job. He came out of college and worked for a company that eventually got acquired by a company that became Focus Features. He started as an assistant and now he is the chairman of the studio. I want to tell more people about it because I just wish there was something like that when I was younger.”

Caines spoke about how every time he listens to an episode that is recorded, it cements his desire to continue being a mentor to others.

“When I was in college, there was a phrase that if you see it you can be it,” said Caines. “I didn’t see professors who looked like me. I think I had two Black professors over my four years in college and I sort of felt like maybe the industry isn’t diverse enough. So whenever I have a hand in choosing these guests, whenever I hear their stories, I love when it reaffirms the idea that if there’s somebody who can help guide you on your path, who can help you remain curious, who can help you take risks and fail, that’s everything.”

The Seen on the Screen podcast is exactly what film students and those interested in the entertainment industry need. If you want to listen, find Seen on the Screen episodes here. You can also follow Coley on Instagram to keep up to date with everything entertainment at Rotten Tomatoes!