Celebrity photographer found inspiration in CSUF Photocomm

The assignment was to photographically capture the fear associated with HIV and AIDS. Cut to Sam Jones (Photocommunications ’89) behind a liquor store setting, the edges of a mattress on fire, his fearful friend lying in the middle doused with talcum powder. Cue the firefighter and police sirens, and back at class the professor proclaims, “This is the photo I wish I made!”

David Granger, editor-in-chief of Esquire magazine, would one day praise Jones for his breadth of imagination and ability to get subjects to cooperate. In 1999, he shot a defining photo of George Clooney at a time when the magazine was “wandering” creatively and struggling to renew its image.

“It was one of those ideas that popped into my head and turned out to fit his personality so well,” he said about the photograph that turned out to be the cover for his recently released book, The Here and Now, featuring celebrities who, well, look like they’re having a good time.

That’s exactly what happened when Jones peeled 1,800 bananas to shoot Steve Martin and transform a slippery set into his version of “Dancing with the Stars.” Other stars in his photo album include Matt Damon, Anna Nicole Smith, Elle McPherson, Steve Carell, Rene Zellweger, John Mellencamp, Jamie Foxx, Jack Nicholson – to name a few.

“People who are successful at what I do have figured out how to keep the person their shooting excited so it becomes more of collaboration rather than telling them what to do,” he said.

At Cal State Fullerton, he found a class that inspired that same sense of excitement. L.A. Times photographer Mark Boster would assign students his work from the previous week. “He was such a great teacher and so passionate about what he did that I think a lot of that rubbed off on me,” Jones said. Almost immediately after going into the dark room, Jones started considering what could be done with a camera. Also, he began educating himself on the history of photography.

And as a photojournalist for The Daily Titan, he had the chance to shoot sports, bands and other events around campus.

And as a photojournalist for The Daily Titan, he had the chance to shoot sports, bands and other events around campus.

Over time, he took advantage of the opportunity to photograph portraits of actors on the set, compiling a portfolio to show to magazine editors, hoping to get a job. For a number of years, he did portraits of actors, athletes, musicians, comedians and other interesting people until he started getting work.

His still photography led to his first commercial directing job where he was subsequently signed on as a director. His first film project was a music documentary called, “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart.” “It was a project that I wanted to do for a long time, so I did it on my own,” said Jones, who is slated to direct “Infinite Jest,” currently in development.

“For a long time, working with celebrities made me very uncomfortable dealing with such awesome talent,” he said. “But photography helped me believe I could do it.”

Cover photography by Sam Jones
Contributed by Micole Alfaro
Journalism ’03

Daily Titan cartoonist draws for Fresno Bee

“This cartoon is a tribute to Teacher/Astronaut Barbara Morgan, a Fresno native. It was picked up by the Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year: 2008 edition. It leads off the chapter on Space/Air Travel.”

Steve Para tosses and turns when politicians or pundits say something that triggers a cartoon. As editorial cartoonist for The Fresno Bee, he often loses sleep over social and political issues with which he has “a bone to pick.”

Recently it was the Central Valley’s poor air quality, which he depicted in a cartoon by illustrating a person with a dagger in his chest telling a doctor, “It only hurts when I breathe.” A related cartoon illustrated a gas mask antennae ball. “Somehow you have to think it new and funny,” Para said.

For the past five years, Parra’s cartoons have been published in “The Best Cartoons of the Year” by Charles Brooks and by The American Association of Editorial Cartoonists. His cartoons also were recognized by the California Newspaper Publishers Association in 2000 and 2004.

Early in his career he was inspired by noted cartoonists Paul Conrad and Carl Hubenthal. His interest was furthered when his dad brought home the morning and evening papers.

“It was there since elementary school,” Para said, who would turn over teacher grading sheets and write headlines with stories, then draw pictures.

Although not a journalism major (he graduated in 1989 with an art degree), Para said, “I always gravitated to newspapers.”

As a cartoonist for The Daily Titan, Para had a daily strip called “The Dog.” “That was hard,” he said. “I tried to do as many cartoon panels as I could before the semester started so I wouldn’t be overwhelmed during finals.”

Following CSUF, Para interned with The Los Angeles Times, The Orange County Register and The Sacramento Bee before being hired by the Riverside Press Enterprise in 1989. For the past 10 years, Para has worked for The Fresno Bee as a graphic artist in the newsroom and an art director before becoming a cartoonist.

At the Bee, Para cartooned Fresno State’s difficulty with Title IX, which mandates gender equity in sports. Sen. Dean Florez’s office, who called for the resignation of the chancellor, asked Para for a signed copy of the cartoon. It was given to the senator as a present from his staff.

Para also did a cartoon of a magic school bus to represent Barbara Morgan, a local school teacher who successfully flew a space shuttle mission.

“If a cartoon is successful and able to communicate an image quickly and somebody laughs, it’s worth losing sleep over,” he said. Gov. Schwarzenegger recently described California as coming down from a “sugar high.” It was not lost on Steve.

“That one will keep me up all night,” he said.

On the Fresno Bee blog site if you scroll down you’ll see three of the editorial cartoons that were included in 2008 edition of Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year. The cartoons above are some of his favorites from past years.

“This first one is the Antenna Ball, it’s one of my favorites. During 2003 my goal was to draw attention to the regions poor air quality.”

“Another favorite. After this cartoon published in October 2007. Staffers in Sen. Dean Florez office called to request an autographed copy. It was to be given to Sen. Florez as a gift from them. Florez has been outspoken regarding Fresno State’s Title IX compliance.”

Guardian scholar makes good at 80th Academy Awards

Photo credit: Richard Harbaugh/©A.M.P.A.S.
Oscar Night: Robyn Harney, a Guardian Scholar, is ready for the Governor’s Ball following the 80th Annual Academy Awards. Harney was involved in the pre-publicity events, including the unveiling of the set design and the Oscar ceremonies.

The personal statement on her resume claims she is “optimistic, eager and dedicated. I am a passionate, hard-working self-starter who creates organization from chaos. I am thick skinned and can handle stressful situations and confidential information.”

This attitude tipped the scale for Robyn Harney (Entertainment Public Relations ’06), a CSUF Guardian Scholar graduate who continues to advocate for higher education for foster youth, who has landed her dream job at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

She is an “80th Academy Awards publicity assistant.”

“Working for the Academy has been a dream come true,” she said, “especially for a local Orange County girl who has always wanted to work in entertainment.”

Harney’s job consists mainly of facilitating the publicists and the press credentials manager before and during major Academy events. Some of these events include the nominations announcement, the luncheon, the annual Fashion Preview, the Governor’s Ball Preview, the Meet the Oscars exhibit, and, of course, Oscar night.

Harney graduated from CSUF Magna Cum Laude with training in public relations and theatre arts.

Other honors include the J. William Maxwell Outstanding Communications Student and the CSUF Public Relations Outstanding Student for the year 2005-2006.

She also was the College of Communications 2006 commencement speaker.

Prior to joining the Academy, Harney was employed by Micah Dahlberg Music as a freelance booking agent and manager and a student assistant in the career center.