Written by Eve Katz, Photos by Mallory Chain
TEA is one of SCAD’s many clubs. The acronym stands for Themed Entertainment Association and exists both as the title of a national organization [involving those in the entertainment industry], and the school club as a separate but related entity.
Graduate student, Monserrat Dominguez joined TEA upon entering SCAD back in January 2018; she is now the president of the club. She returned to lead TEA after taking two quarters off to complete an internship with Universal Creative.
“I just want to have a fun and inviting environment where everyone, no matter what their background is, can come and share their passion for the themed entertainment industry and also learn while they’re in the club,” Dominguez said.
It’s important for members of the club to work with others outside of their major in order to get a complete understanding of what it’s like to work in the industry. “Even if you’re a writer, you’re still going to have to understand what the architect means when he’s talking about a column being in a certain style. I want to nurture that sense of collaboration, it’s very important in our industry,” Dominguez explained.
Students in a variety of majors can benefit from being a part of TEA if they have an interest in the field. Themed entertainment unites these diverse areas of study all under the common goal of creating a truly immersive experience for guests. These projects cannot come together without a writer to develop the narrative, a production designer to put together the set, a sound designer to solidify the atmosphere and other integral team members.
“You may be an illustrator, but you’re going to be working with architects, industrial designers and engineers, so having that from an early stage in your career is very important,” Dominguez said. “Once you graduate, you’ve already had those experiences and developed those skills that are going to set you apart when you are looking for a job.”
TEA is a steppingstone into the themed entertainment industry. Students can make connections and build skills within the club that help them in professional endeavors, even if they don’t decide to work in themed entertainment.
Although it may not immediately come to mind as a career path for some students due to the relatively small size of the industry, themed entertainment is certainly an art form that’s relevant to principals taught at SCAD. In fact, Dominguez commented that there is a good number of SCAD alumni within the industry, such as the Disney Imagineers that visited in September 2019.
Although it’s still an art form, themed entertainment differs from other typical mediums. “Themed entertainment is different than traditional art because you are part of it,” Dominguez said. “Film is three-dimensional, but you still experience it on a flat screen. You’re part of the audience, you don’t have that interaction with the media itself that themed entertainment can provide.”
The members of TEA may have different areas of study, and different plans for their careers, but they are all united by Monserrat Dominguez’s passionate leading style that makes everyone feel included and important in every project. Meetings for the club will resume in the winter quarter on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. They are held in room 415 in Crites Hall, and anyone with an enthusiasm for themed entertainment and immersive experiences is welcome.
