Platt College San Diego

Morgan Bonar

• Graduation Date: 1996
• Program: Multimedia / Animation Design Diploma
• Company: Upperdeck Entertainment
• Company Type: Game & Entertainment
• Title: Project Manager, Web Entertainment

What would you say is your “specialty” at work?
I manage many different facets of the Upper Deck company’s digital products; such as the Yu-gi-oh and World of Warcraft gaming sites. I would have to say my “specialty” is managing people. My job consists of 75% managing the teams and the other 25% I get to get my hands dirty and keep my Media Art skills fresh.

What was one of your favorite projects you have worked on?
A few years ago I worked on Universal Studio's, Interactive Press Kit for the 1999 blockbuster movie “American Pie” starring Jason Biggs (www.americanpiemovie.com). I also work on the Interactive Press Kit for 1997 Walt Disney Picture’s® “George of the Jungle” starring Brendan Fraser. The Press kits were given to all Broadcast Media, TV stations, Public relation firms and movie critics.

Anything particularly “cool” about the projects?
We received the advanced copy of the scripts and had to sign confidentiality agreements to not distribute. If we distributed them we would have had to pay millions of dollars.

What was the biggest challenges with the project?
For American Pie's interactive press kit, we wanted to us Jason Bigg’s bedroom as the main menu. However, Universal had not shot any footage of the bedroom yet. So, we used one of our offices and painted it and created the room in our office per the storyboard sketches of the room. Now you can just create it in 3D.

Have you met any celebrities in your line of work?
When Los Angeles was making a bid for a team (when are they not) my company and I were working on a presentation to the City Counsel and NFL owners. I was able to chat with Al Davis (Oakland Raiders Owner) for awhile.

Any advise for students coming out of Platt College San Diego?
Stay on top of your technological skills. It is a continuing education type of field. Never become complacent with your skills.