MEIM Alumnus Blazes Trail in West Coast Entertainment Industry
Yuri Ramondelli is Living His Passion in L.A.
Master of Entertainment Industry Management
written by
Pam Wigley
The entertainment industry always held a special fascination for Yuri Ramondelli. A film fan all his life, he envisioned one day working in Hollywood. Going on 10 years following his graduation from the Master of Entertainment Industry Management program in 2014, Ramondelli is right where he wants to be, serving as Manager of Creative Content at Warner Bros. Pictures.
An undergraduate of St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., where he majored in marketing and international business, Ramondelli sought further education, a program that provided hands-on experience, and a way to help him transition to Los Angeles. He found what he was looking for in the Master of Entertainment Management Program (MEIM), a collaboration of Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Fine Arts and the Heinz College. Through experience gained via the MEIM Program, Ramondelli has found a livelihood that suits and fulfills him — and his workplace reaps the positive results. Ramondelli represents the next generation of Hollywood’s leaders as he puts his knowledge — and gut instincts — to the test within the thriving film and cable programming industries.
“Having no real connections to the entertainment industry, I wanted a program that would best help me transition to the west coast and set me up for success,” he said. “Classes taught by industry veterans, internship exposure, and a community of students that travel west together was all really compelling,” he said. “The world-class education was a nice bonus.”
He spent his first year in Pittsburgh and then, as all MEIM students do, moved to Los Angeles for the remainder of the program. The faculty members were especially helpful to him because they all have experience in the entertainment business, and they’re eager to pass it along.
“When I think of the program, I think of the word ‘immersion,’” Ramondelli said. “You’re thrust into things immediately, in a good way.”
While in MEIM, he explored a few areas of interest via internships, but gravitated toward his original calling of marketing. He interned at Machinima, Inc., a company at the time that was at the forefront of influencer marketing, where he connected brands with influencers and developed content. He also interned in marketing and development at Legendary Pictures, where he worked with people he still works with to this day in his role on the marketing team at Warner Bros. Pictures.
“Those relationships were crucial” he said. “The relationships and work at Machinima led to Legendary, then ultimately to Warner Bros.”
Throughout his career, he followed his own advice to network and make contacts. Ramondelli said he was influenced by Bryan O’Connell, a fellow MEIM alum, who works in development at Disney. The two bonded over their similar interests and general passion for the industry. Ramondelli said he also reads as much as possible and stays current on the general happenings in the industry — something he continues to do.
“You have to be passionate about your work; you won’t last if you’re not. Be sure to do your homework.”
Yuri Ramondelli
Staying current and forward-thinking on trends is crucial, he said, because “what’s relevant today might feel ancient in a month, let alone when a movie is releasing a year later.”
Knowledge is vital, especially as Ramondelli works behind the scenes for Warner Bros. Pictures. His duties vary, from producing first looks at upcoming films, pitching and coordinating advertising concepts, and overseeing Creative Content Day marketing shoots, where he works with talent like Chris Hemsworth or Jason Momoa to film content for social media. He also produces all Home Entertainment “Making-Of” materials for feature films such as “The Batman,” “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” and the upcoming “Joker: Folie à Deux.”
He said he is most proud of two projects in which he was involved: “Joker” with Joaquin Phoenix and “The Batman” with Robert Pattinson.
“Growing up a huge fan of those characters, then working on those projects, and both becoming massive financial and critical successes was certainly the highlight of my career thus far,” he said. “It was truly a dream come true.”
He hopes to one day produce his own I.P.
“I’ve been extremely fortunate to already work on the projects of my dreams,” he said. “I’m hoping to produce some of my own material in the future, or even something like Anthony Bourdain did — traveling and documenting all the incredible corners of the world.”
For now, after three years with Warner Bros. Pictures, Ramondelli still feels a thrill when going to work each day.
“I’m so happy to do what I do,” he said. “Seeing that water tower still excites me.”
featuring the following:
photograph of Warner Bros. Pictures watertower, courtesy of Ramondelli
