113: Freelancing in the Creative Industries

Catalyst is a Creative Industries podcast, from Chapman University. Each episode features Chapman students who have completed a Podcasting course through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries at the university. Students who had no podcasting experience or technical ability in the genre before taking the course were able to contribute all the segments to Catalyst this season with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on’ experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series. Each episode of Season 13 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
This week’s first segment looks at what it is like to be a freelancer in the music industry landscape of Los Angeles in the year 2025.  Amber Zhu dives into this topic with the subject of her interview, Lu Cheng, a freelance music composer based in Los Angeles, California, who got his master's degree from USC has worked as a composer for various media formats including film, TV and the gaming industry. Zhu and Cheng discuss Cheng’s career trajectory, from his first job as a composer assistant, through his moving on to short films and then expanding to other media forms. They discuss the experience of working with and for creatives before touching on current industry trends including Cheng’s insights regarding the emergence of AI technology and how short-form vertical videos like those on the ReelShort platform have changed or will change the landscape of the creator's community. They wrap up the conversation with Lu's advice for future creators and people who want to pursue careers in the creative industries.
Our second episode of the week follows Will Swan on his journey through the career of Elizabeth Moore. Moore, who currently uses her skills and knowledge from working in the creative industries as a consultant and life coach, started her career in radio and print on Boston’s North Shore at: WFNX Radio, The Marblehead Reporter, and WNSH Radio. She moved on to become Personal Assistant to Maury Povich before working as an executive assistant to Jann Wenner, of Wenner Media, publishers of Rolling Stone, US Weekly, and Men’s Journal. Perhaps what she is most known for is holding the position of Chief Of Staff to Oprah Winfrey for 11 years before serving as a consulting Producer with the original team that created the Emmy award winning Super Soul Sunday on OWN, The Oprah Winfrey Network. Swan and Moore delve into Moore’s long and varied career, reflecting on the work and projects she has contributed to throughout. Before concluding the conversation, they touch on advice that Moore has for those navigating through entertainment industries, including dealing with some of the more corporate aspects.