Wyar finds niche in Los Angeles

Clarion University and Hollywood, CA, are about as far apart in lifestyle as they are in distance.

Yet, Robert Wyar ('89) has channeled his Clarion University education into success and the fulfillment of his dreams in California.

Currently, an assistant producer for Disney OnLine's Daily Blast, Wyar is familiar with the success, failure, and personalities which make up the world's most famous fantasy factory.

Wyar, who graduated in Dec. 1989 with a degree in speech communication and theatre, worked for several months as a legislative aide for Representative David Wright of Clarion. But, the urge to be in California was too great and he moved there in April 1990.

"I didn't know anyone, but it was something I wanted to do," says Wyar about the move. "I got a job at Paramount Studios as a page conducting tours of the studio for $5.25 an hour."

Undaunted, Wyar persevered and was eventually promoted to the post of assistant to the director for guest relations. In this job, he booked audiences for television productions such as "Cheers," "Arsenio Hall," "Wings," "Leeza Gibbons," and "Martin."

Wyar left that job to join KCAL-TV in Los Angeles where he was audience coordinator for local shows such as "Live in L.A.," a "Regis and Kathy Lee" style show. "I also produced some segments of the show," he explained. "In this business, shows get canceled and people lose jobs. That happened to my shows and I started looking for something more stable."

When Wyar worked for KCAL-TV it was owned by Walt Disney and that led him into the Disney conglomerate with a job in Disney Educational Publishing, part of Disney Interactive. The company developed educational CD Roms for children and Wyar worked as an assistant to the vice president of product development.

When the division closed, Wyar joined Disney On-Line as an executive assistant to the vice president of production for Disney On-Line and was recently promoted to assistant producer. Disney On-Line is the home of Disney's homepage on the World Wide Web. Wyar has worked as part of the Disney Daily Blast team since January.

But, perhaps the most exciting thing Wyar has experienced in seven and one-half years in Los Angeles is being a talent coordinator for the past three years for the Academy Awards. A talent coordinator is a person assigned to be with celebrities to make sure they are where they are supposed to be on time for stage appearances, press conferences, and other activities.

"I've met everyone in the industry," he says mentioning the names of Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Elton John, Bette Midler, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Madonna as among those he has dealt with in this capacity.

"They are all nice and unique," he says about these encounters. "They are always very cordial and some of them remember me from year to year. I have been very fortunate to meet and learn from people of this calibre."

Wyar credits Clarion University for preparing him for this different world that he has joined. "I am from Johnstown," he says. "I looked at schools and decided Clarion was the one I really liked. It was a good experience and there were a lot of influences at Clarion that helped to mold me into what I am now."

Among those experiences were being member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity; Alpha Psi Omega, the theatre honorary; and the Clarion University Student Senate, where he was president his senior year. He also performed in Clarion's theatre productions.

It was during Wyar's term as Student Senate President that topics such as Apartheid, changing the university calendar, and the referendum to build the Gemmell Student Complex were issues. Returning to campus last summer and seeing the Gemmell Complex for the first time, Wyar said, "It was great to see this building completed and know that I was a part of it."

That visit made Wyar reflect on his experiences. "Coming back refreshed me," he says. "My university experiences and the leadership skills I gained have helped me in my work. It has enabled me to be a people person and know how to network effectively, a big thing here in Los Angeles. It also helped that I worked for David Wright, who I think saw my ability in Student Senate. I gained a lot by being a part of Clarion University."