John Perry, '92, holds key role on ' - Franklin Pierce University

ut I needed a school where I could touch the equipmentmy freshman year. I didn’t want to study theory for threeyears before I got to actually produce something.”Dr. Phyllis Zrzavy, professor of media studies at FranklinPierce, advised <strong>Perry</strong> for two independent studies classesin which he made two feature-length films. “<strong>John</strong> is oneof the most remarkable students I’ve ever had,” she says.“He was very motivated and had a way of envisioning aproject and carrying it out. He didn’t think small and hemade great use of the resources we had.”This was before the modern production studios in theFitzwater Center were available, she says. “We were ina basement with no windows, but <strong>John</strong> worked with thelimitations in imaginative ways. He wasn’t constrainedby them.”Zrzavy describes how <strong>Perry</strong> filmed from the top of thebell tower and the building that now houses the FitzwaterCenter. And how he would hand out a professionalschedule for his productions at the beginningof the semester and even hold formal opening nightsfor them.Franklin Pierce alumni instrumental to his success. . .When <strong>Perry</strong> moved to Los Angeles, the Franklin Piercefamily was instrumental in his success, he says. He washired as a page by Paramount Pictures in April of hissenior year through the help of Matt Reise, an ’82 FranklinPierce graduate. He moved with his college roommate,Jason Lassen, and they made contact with a groupof alumni already living there, many of whom were in thefilm and TV industry.“At one point, we had 13 alumni in one apartment complex,”<strong>Perry</strong> says. “Even if we didn’t hang out in school,the Franklin Pierce bond was very strong. We becameinstant companions and we all offered help, advice andmeals to each other. We became sort of an unofficialalumni chapter.”<strong>Perry</strong> moved to the Leeza Gibbons Show, where he waspromoted from production assistant to senior segmentdirector over the course of the show’s seven-year run. Hethen spent two years directing “Remember Your Spirit”segments for the “Oprah Winfrey Show.” In 2002, <strong>Perry</strong>moved to the newly-created “Dr. Phil” show. Dr. Phil hadbeen a regular guest on “Oprah.”“I’ve been with the Dr. Phil show since day one,” <strong>Perry</strong>says. “It’s been an amazing experience. He is the smartestman I have ever encountered – and I feel privilegedto be working on a program that isn’t just for entertainment’ssake – people’s lives are changed for the betterbecause of him, and the show. And the opportunities,directing and otherwise, have been tremendous. We’veflown many cross-country trips on Dr. Phil’s private plane.I’ve done shoots on top of skyscrapers with helicopterscircling around.”McGraw is happy to be working with <strong>Perry</strong> as well. “<strong>John</strong><strong>Perry</strong> is an amazing artist,” he says, “whose canvas is thetelevision screen. His ability to see something in his mindand powerfully translate it onto the screen is absolutelyunrivaled in Hollywood. He never lets ‘television’ get inthe way of the human element or the compelling storieshe so passionately shoots, always preserving the dignityand respect of those he films. His craft impacts millions oflives each and every day. There is but one <strong>John</strong> <strong>Perry</strong>.”One of his most memorable experiences with the show,says <strong>Perry</strong>, is the coverage of Hurricane Katrina. “It was alife-changing experience. I didn’t want to go but my wifetold me I had to – that it was a moment in history - andI’m glad she insisted. To be honest, I was nervous aboutwhat I would see.”“It (New Orleans) was basically like a war zone,” he says.“It went beyond horrible. The devastation was awesome.We saw bodies floating in the water. Those images areburned into my brain. It reminded me again that we’repretty small in the big picture.”Surrounded by ‘family’ <strong>Perry</strong> has returned to the FranklinPierce campus twice to speak to classes. Recently, hesigned on for the new alumni PACE program – PierceAlumni Career Education. It pairs current students withalumni who agree to mentor them and offer opportunitiesfor career exploration.Even if <strong>Perry</strong> wanted to get away from Franklin Pierce, hecouldn’t. Many of his Franklin Pierce friends still work inSouthern California. “I count people from Franklin Pierceas my best friends,” he says. “I’ve enjoyed my continuedrelationship with the people and the school.”Not only is <strong>Perry</strong> surrounded and supported by theFranklin Pierce family, he also works with a member of hisown family. His brother, James, 32, is a senior editor onthe “Dr. Phil” show, and between them, they’ve receivedeight Emmy nominations. They previously workedtogether on Oprah and Leeza.“We spend everyday in the bay together. We still havesibling spats but we’re good work partners.” For two guyswho could only watch one show on TV when they weregrowing up – “The Wonderful World of Disney” – they’vedone pretty well in the world of television production.9w w w . f r a n k l i n p i e r c e . e d u