In high school, Brian D’Amico’s plan was to study film in college. After meeting with Michael Walsh during a visit to campus, D’Amico was convinced the cinema program in the College of Arts and Sciences was the perfect choice. “Professor Walsh’s enthusiasm for the program, and about me being a part of it, made my decision an easy one,” says D’Amico. While D’Amico knew the University of Hartford was a great fit, it was only after he matriculated that he realized all the opportunities the University afforded. With an extensive array of activities around campus, he threw himself into Greek life, student government, and intramural athletics, and made some great friends, most of whom he remains close with to this day.
D’Amico earned his BA in cinema in 2002 and headed to New York City with the hopes of breaking into television or film production. Around this time, “reality TV” was experiencing an explosion of global popularity. This type of television, in which real people are continuously filmed in unscripted situations, highlights personal drama and conflict. Even in its early stages, it was evident that this genre was rife with opportunity and would transform television. It was also a perfect time for D’Amico to enter the field, as there were a number of high-paying jobs available and a relatively small network of professionals actually working on the shows. D’Amico was soon able to secure an assistant editor position on a Food Network series and within two years became the supervising editor on a hit network primetime series. Since then, he has edited and produced shows for ABC, CBS, NBC, MTV, VH1, A&E, History, HGTV, Esquire, tru TV, Spike, Travel, and Bravo, including such television mainstays as Chopped, Newlyweds, Ink Master, Teen Mom, American Pickers, and Hardcore Pawn.
D’Amico credits his success to the strength of the cinema program and the faculty, such as Professors Walsh and Lang, who “inculcated successful techniques of filmmaking in a way that was effective and enjoyable while exposing students to classic films.” As Cinema Program Director Lauren Cook notes, “Brian moved very quickly from being an assistant editor to a supervising editor to producing shows. It’s impressive to ascend so quickly, especially in editing, which is one of the most difficult jobs to break into in film and television production. We’re very proud of how far he’s taken his career and can’t wait to see where he goes in the years ahead.”
In addition to his cinema coursework, D’Amico thoroughly enjoyed other offerings in the College of Arts and Sciences, including an assortment of creative writing courses, Professor Warren Goldstein’s “History of American Sports,” and Professor Jack Banks’ “Introduction to Television Production.”
D’Amico is grateful to work in a field that is enjoyable, challenging, and remains relevant in a society where everything is constantly in flux. Financially and creatively, reality television has afforded him more opportunities than he could have ever imagined. The foundation of his passion for all things television began at the University of Hartford. Indeed, D’Amico’s wife teases him for talking frequently about his time at the University of Hartford. D’Amico explains, “I guess I do so but because everything I learned and experienced there still resonates to this day. The University of Hartford was, and continues to be, a huge part of my life. Now that I’m a father, my only hope is that my children will be lucky enough to attend colleges that leave equally indelible marks on them as they pursue their respective passions.”