Executing Their Vision

By Rachael Powles '22, April 2, 2021
“WandaVision” team members share industry wisdom with students.
Wandavision Actors on the couch

“Wandavision” has been a critical and commercial success thanks to its unique visual style and engaging social media presence. 

(Photo courtesy of Disney)

“Wandavision” has been a critical and commercial success thanks to its unique visual style and engaging social media presence. 

(Photo courtesy of Disney)

The release of “WandaVision” on Disney+ marked the beginning of a new era for fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And the series has been a critical and commercial success, thanks in no small part to alumni Mackenzie Dohr ’11 and Greg Dunbar ’10, who spoke to the public on March 24 for the “Storytelling Through the Lens of WandaVision” event hosted by the Roy H. Park School of Communications.

The event was moderated by Steven Ginsberg, associate professor and Pendleton Endowed Chair of the college’s Los Angeles Center and Nick Sagan, assistant professor of media arts, sciences and studies.

Dohr, who is the show’s executive story editor, praised the college’s strong liberal arts background, which allowed her to take courses in several schools while earning her degree in culture and communication.

“At IC, there are so many opportunities to take classes you never imagine you’ll be interested in. Part of the reason I am where I am now is because I gave myself that time to explore.”

Mackenzie Dohr ’11, "Wandavision" executive story editor

“I knew I wanted to work in television and film, but didn’t know what specifically I wanted to do,” she said. “So being able to take courses like psychology, history, and writing in addition to my communications courses was great. At IC, there are so many opportunities to take classes you never imagine you’ll be interested in. Part of the reason I am where I am now is because I gave myself that time to explore.”

After working internships and odd jobs in the industry, Dohr sold her first pilot to ABC in 2015, and has worked on shows including “The Mindy Project” and “Locke and Key,” before joining the “WandaVision” creative team in 2019.

“I feel like in my career I just keep wanting to do the next cool thing, and I wait for the right opportunities,” she said. “I’m very lucky to be at that place now.”

Screenshot of panel participants and Wandavision image

Greg Dunbar '10 has helped curate the look of the show's social media content.

Greg Dunbar '10 has helped curate the look of the show's social media content.

After graduating with a degree in cinema and photography and a minor in integrated marketing communications, Dunbar was unsure of the direction he wanted his career to take. He joined the International Radio and Television Society Fellowships and was placed in a field marketing internship at Disney.

“I was running advanced screenings of films,” he said, “but it didn’t scratch my creative itch and it didn’t make sense to me when I was seeing all the incredible marketing happening on the Internet at the time.”

Dunbar eventually realized that social media marketing was where he was meant to be.  He is now a director of digital marketing for Walt Disney Studios, and supervised the creation of “WandaVision’s” critically acclaimed social media presence, which has amassed nearly 900,000 followers on Instagram.

“The job I have now didn’t exist while I was in college ... I always like to remember that I thought I was going one way professionally, and I ended up in something I had no idea even existed.”

Greg Dunbar ’10, director of digital marketing, Disney

He highlighted the importance of remaining flexible when it comes to career choices, in large part due to the constantly changing media landscape.

“The job I have now didn’t exist while I was in college,” he said. “We were barely on Facebook at the time. Big film studios weren’t using social media the way they are now. I always like to remember that I thought I was going one way professionally, and I ended up in something I had no idea even existed.”

Dunbar also stressed to the audience that the people you meet and work with as a student will have a profound impact on your career.

“Every single person you sit with in that auditorium watching your student films is going to be your best ally in the future,” said Dunbar. “There are so many people who have helped me get to where I am and people that I’ve helped too.”