Behind a 30-second commercial that feels effortless to watch, there are months of planning. From budgeting, to script-writing, to casting, and location scouting, Laura Schram knows it all.
Schram is an executive producer, founder of LBS Creative Productions, and the most recent “Lunch with a Professional” guest speaker at Lane’s College and Career Center (CCC). Based in Chicago, her company’s current focus is marketing and commercials.
With a BA in Broadcast Journalism and Mass Communications, Schram’s educational background has helped her better understand the inner workings of her career. “Broadcast Journalism showed me how to make television, it showed me the behind the scenes of production specifically,” Schram said.
Though Schram is now involved in the creative side of television, her dream was to be a news anchor originally. The experience she had pursuing news led her to discovering her interest in the creative field. “News taught me how to shoot something and what it is to make something that will air on television,” Schram said.
Before founding her production company, LBS Creative Productions, Schram had been freelancing, meaning she was being hired per production. While freelancing, Schram realized rather than being hired by separate companies, she could create productions herself and have clients come to her. Now, LBS Creative Productions has shot all over the world for companies ranging from McDonald’s to the Olympics.
Amy Carqueville, school counselor and organizer of LWAP events, said it is important to have guest speakers in creative fields, considering finding a career in the field does not fit the standard routine of going to college, getting a degree, and then applying for a job.
“It’s important for people to come in from those fields to really highlight the need for hustle, the need for outreach, and networking,” Carqueville said. She described “hustle,” as taking unpaid internships, “getting your foot in the door,” and talking to people who can act as a mentor or guide into the creative field.
In regards to students interested in the creative field, Schram said, “My advice is to volunteer, internship, shadow. Do anything that you can to get into the field you’re interested in.” As a teenager, Schram would audition for plays to gain the experience of being in a live production. She went on to volunteer at a cable company and became an on-air host for a local talk show called ‘Teenage.’
In her adulthood, Schram made bigger moves. “I started just calling directors, calling creative people, and asking if I could go on set for a day, or join them, or help them in any way,” Schram said. “I can guarantee you that got me where I am today.”
Though Carqueville typically aims for 30-35 students to attend a “Lunch with a Professional” event, she allowed 45 students to come to Schram’s presentation on Jan. 16 due to a high student interest.
Junior Peyton Kravitz described her thoughts of the creative field after attending Schram’s presentation. “I wasn’t as interested before, but now I would love to look into getting a job from her or with other productions,” Kravitz said.
Carqueville said future guest speakers will include a pediatrician, dentist, nutritionist, non-profit founders, a structural engineer, and a circuit court judge, all located in the CCC, Room 135.
