Spider Spotlight
A Q&A with Carla Shriner
Assistant Director for University Events
By Phillip Gravely
Writer/Editor, University Communications
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Carla Shriner stands in front of a North Court alcove, used in scenes in both Cry Wolf and Commander in Chief. |
How long have you been at the University?
21 years, 16 in my current role.
On a typical week, what does your job entail?
We're a clearinghouse for all events on campus-kind of a one-stop shop-so everything is arranged through us. We are now up to 23,000 events during the academic year alone. We're also in charge of all the furniture in all the dorms, the master calendar on campus and channel 16. I can unequivocally say there is never one day that's the same as the next. I love what I do, and the core group of people I work with.
How does it happen that movies like Cry Wolf and TV shows such as Commander in Chief are filmed on campus?
The Virginia Film Office knows me and brings the clients to me. Those folks will give me their vision and ask me if we have locations to suit that vision. Then we take lots of long walks. If they seem interested, I will sit down with the events committee, which consists of representatives from facilities, Modlin Center, auxiliary services, communications, athletics, etc.-anybody that would be impacted by the film or show coming to campus. We decide whether we think this is a good thing for the University of Richmond. If so, I am the person who is here when they arrive, and I stay until they leave. An average day in the film industry is 18 hours.
I understand Geena Davis' character in Commander in Chief was originally going to be the former chancellor of Boston
University, but you talked them into using UR instead. Is that true?
That's true. They were telling me about trying to get clearance from Boston University to use the name. I suggested Geena Davis' character be affiliated with the University of Richmond instead, since they were here. She asked if we would sign a release, and we did.
And the glass in that scene in the pilot of Commander in Chief-was that your handy work as well?
Yes. I got to read the script every day before the shoot, so I knew they were going to sit at this table and have a close-up shot when UR was mentioned. So, I asked if I could put our china on the table, and they said "yes."
How many of the actors and actresses
did you get to meet? Any favorites?
All of them. By and large, these people are just like you and me. Geena Davis is very gracious. She would stay on set, sit in the hospitality room and talk to anybody. And Bon Jovi and I sat in a stairwell in Ryland Hall and talked about his wife and children and my grandchildren-he was just as nice as he could be.
How do you spend your time when you're not at work?
My husband, Chuck, and I have four children-two boys and two girls. I have seven grandchildren, and I am what I think you would call a consummate grandmother. Tuesday nights are "grandma nights." I keep all of my grandchildren every Tuesday night. They range in age from 10 years to six weeks. I also help friends plan their events on weekends and at night.
Tell me something about you that your colleagues may not know.
I cannot think of a thing. We're a very close group.
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