Emmy Hong

Media Design and Public Relations

Being appointed as Public Relations Manager allowed me to extend my creative reach further than ever before. I oversaw the selling and purchasing of advertising for our program. I learned how the layout of graphics influenced the minds for different age groups of people. I also was able to create ties with the elementary schools in the community of Eagle Rock. Getting the community involved was a goal of mine and it still is. In our bi-annual fundraisers, each student was encouraged to communicate the relevance of Eagle Rock Stage and why we should raise money to support the program. At the end of the fundraisers, I handled the financial aspects of accounting and composing letters of thanks.

Mr. Copley taught me to handle business situations and to manage communications between coaches, administrators, teachers, photographers, actors, crew, parents, and community leaders I collaborated with our graphic designer, and we shared critical analyses of our efforts to make sure that the images created would turn out exactly as Mr. Copley wanted them to be. To attract advertising clients, I made sure to call each of the businesses that previously participated, and asked them to re-advertise. After businesses were interested, I assigned certain people from the cast and/or crew as a sales representative to collect graphic media and checks.

Another charitable cause that we participated in was our bi-annual fundraiser. We decided to place our funds with the Humane Society of Louisiana for animal victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund for aids victims. I was personally moved by this experience. I realized that marketing also plays an important role in promoting charitable causes.

As Public Relations Manager, my biggest project is the making of the show program that is given out to each family that walks through the door. A lot of time and effort was put into designing the thirty-six page program. First, I had to learn to apply all the software. Although I needed to primarily learn Macromedia's Freehand, I needed basic knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Paintshop, Illustrator, and Fireworks. Thanks to Mr. Copley's close connection with Eagle Rock Stage's alumni, Jonathan (the graphic designer), from the class of 2006, returned to school to help me master these skills. each media element impacts another.

Eagle Rock Stage, since it's founding, has been my home base in high school. The program, founded in my 9th grade year, has lifted my spirits when I was crushed, and has brought me back to earth when I was in over my head. In its beginning, I focused on everything and learned the basics of everything, but as time continued, I learned to manage my time and prioritize production procedures. As a person, I am no longer afraid of taking on responsibilities and standing up for what I think is the right way. I am now a junior in high school, and I am planning to take Marketing as a minor when I enter college. This is because I now see the creative and technical views of the production process. I have learned to convey artistic and business concepts in a team-building environment. I am confident that the skills that I picked up in the theatre program will help me endure the long road ahead. I hope to run for ASB president at Eagle Rock High for my senior year and apply my skills to the benefit of all my peers.