Today's guest gobbled up every airshift he could, and now makes his living directing commercials, after learning under Ridley Scott.
Scott Bergstein came to Syracuse, like many, chasing the sportscaster dream. When he saw what a soon-to-be-famous sportscaster floormate was doing, he decided to go in another direction. Leaning into his passion for storytelling, he joined Happy Dave Dwyer's bunch at WJPZ. The timing couldn't be better. The station moved to FM in the spring of Scott's freshman year.
Like many of us, Scott didn't really find his voice until he was given a nickname. He balked at first when Julie Bruno dubbed him "Hot Shot Scott," but eventually he leaned into it. So much so, in fact, that students would address him that way on campus, and later, colleagues would in Los Angeles.
Hot Shot shares lessons learned at Z that he has applied to the rest of his life, including:
- "Everything I need to know in life I learned at Z89."
- "Talk less and listen more."
- "Be kind."
While we've extensively covered the station's move to FM in this podcast, one incident we haven't spent enough time on is the night the Student African American Society staged a sit-in at the station. Scott shares the details of that night, and why the SAAS was protesting more than just a format change. We also hear how the protest ended - peacefully.
After graduation, Scott moved to Los Angeles, where he worked under Ridley Scott on everything from Thelma and Louise to commercial sets. He discovered his passion for telling short stories over song intros on WJPZ translated beautifully to directing television commericals. He began working with a partner in more ways than one - a producer became his wife and they still work together.
Throughout today's pod, you'll hear Scott's infectious passion for his career and for WJPZ. It's also why Hollywood Hal Rood believes it was Scott that convinced his son to go to SU.
The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.
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