FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9/16/08
Contact: Barry Freidly '69, interim director of media relations, 717-361-1495, freidlyb@etown.edu
Elizabethtown College Grad Pens Upcoming Episode of House
In September of 1994, only a few months after earning his B.A. degree in Communications at Elizabethtown College, Dustin Paddock got into his hatchback and drove solo across the United States to Los Angeles. His goal was to land a job in television.
While at Elizabethtown, Dustin was inspired by Professor Michael Sevareid, the son of renowned CBS correspondent Eric Sevareid. Television was in the Sevareid family genes and Michael had worked in Hollywood as an actor and writer, including crafting scripts for the Dukes of Hazzard TV show. While in professor Sevareid’s screenwriting class, Dustin put together a team of students to create the first scripted series for ECTV, the college’s TV station that is seen on the local cable system. Of that early experience Dustin says, “It wasn’t very good, but it taught me a lot.”
When he arrived in L.A. Dustin knew just one person, a guy he had met only once. But there’s a bond among Elizabethtown alumni and Brian Carroll, a 1981 grad, invited Dustin to crash on his couch for the next few weeks. Brian worked at Dick Clark Productions and helped Dustin get an interview. Dustin got the job, working as a production assistant (or as Dustin says, “A gofer”) for $50 a day.
Dustin worked from job to job over the years, including a stint at The Drew Carey Show during its first season. He worked his way up to being a writers’ assistant and then a script coordinator. “It’s a good job to work with writers, learn the craft, and be ready should an opportunity arrive,” Dustin said.
That opportunity came five years ago, when Dustin landed a job at a series that was about to premiere on the Fox network, House. The head writer, Emmy winner David Shore, mentored Dustin and his writing partner, Carol Green. Last year Shore gave Dustin and Carol a chance to pitch a story for the show. They suggested three ideas and Shore liked one of them, giving Dustin and Carol the go ahead to craft a script.
That script has now come to life as an episode of House titled “Adverse Events.” It will be broadcast on Fox on Tuesday, September 30 at 8 p.m.
And what does Dustin think about his adventures at Elizabethtown College and Hollywood that led to this achievement? Dustin answers by quoting the Roman philosopher Seneca, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
Located in southeastern Pennsylvania, Elizabethtown College offers its 1900 students more than 50 academic programs in the liberal arts, sciences and professional studies. Driven by its motto to “Educate for Service,” Elizabethtown centers learning in strong relationships, links classroom instruction with experiential learning, emphasizes international and cross-cultural perspectives and nurtures the capacity for lives of purpose.
