Talking Head, Embassy helping PFW music industry students take advantage of ‘Once in a Lifetime’ experience

A few weeks into the spring semester, Jason Lundgren showed his music industry class the 1984 film “Stop Making Sense,” a concert by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Talking Heads. It was a way to introduce the students to music legends, and their next major assignment.

The clinical assistant professor of music recording and technology at Purdue University Fort Wayne wanted to push the 16 in his class to the next level. Lundgren recruited most of them to take the course because he knew how good they were. Now, they are proving it.

The students are teaming with the Embassy Theatre to present a screening of the film on May 2. The 7:30 p.m. show will include an introduction from Talking Heads keyboardist and guitarist Jerry Harrison. He will also lead a Q&A after the film.

Students can use the code MASTODON to purchase a ticket online or in person at the discounted price of $16. General admission tickets costs between $35 and $75.

“This is a unique opportunity to involve students in the entertainment industry with a show that will take place in the historic auditorium,” said Carly Myers, the Embassy’s chief marketing officer. “Students are learning about programming, marketing, and show production, all invaluable skills as they get closer to starting their own careers. We love being a part of that learning process.”

Johnathan Demme, who won an Academy Award for “Silence of the Lambs,” directed “Stop Making Sense.” With an 8.7 ranking on IMDB, 94% on Metacritic, and 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is considered among the best concert movies ever made. In 2023, it was restored for its 40th anniversary.

Talking Heads' hits include “Burning Down the House,” “Psycho Killer,” “Once in a Lifetime,” “This Must Be the Place,” and “Life During Wartime.” The band’s songs are no strangers to movie soundtracks.

The Embassy and Lundgren pitched promoting the film to his students who are studying the technical side of the music industry—basically everything except the performances.

“I think anytime students can take ownership of their education, they learn faster with more depth and it’s more fun,” Lundgren said.

This semester’s assignment has been a big challenge, but nothing the experienced students haven’t handled previously with the annual Goldstock music showcase—including the recent shift to the Clyde Theatre—and various Gold Top Music Group productions.

“A lot of us in this program want to go into specific parts of the industry that work with event promotion and work on bringing in national artists to venues,” said Noah Sties. “To have this on our résumé is really powerful.”

It’s also a culmination of everything seniors Shelby Cade, Jaymee Gallagher, and Sties have learned in the program. Lundgren usually gives their ideas a thumbs up or down, but mostly lets them handle everything, including the overall marketing plan.

They’ve reached out to bands who have performed at various PFW-sponsored events, music and film majors at other local universities, and even a handful of high school students. Sties enhanced the original movie poster for use on flyers, press releases, billboards, and other promotions in area coffee shops, music-related businesses, and on social media.

“It’s the start of a good partnership with a venue like the Embassy,” Cade said.

This will be sort of a final audition for the seniors in the class.

“I’m hoping the things we have done over the last four years carry on,” Gallagher said. “Hopefully, they can keep our momentum going, and it will be really nice to see how this program and Gold Top pick up. It’s still a baby program, but we are already doing big things.”