Each year, the Brooklyn College Alumni Association presents awards to selected alumni for their distinguished careers and outstanding achievements. Eight individuals are being honored this year with the  Alumni of the Year award, the Distinguished Achievement Award, the Young Alumni Award, and the Jerome S. Milgram Award for distinguished service in advancing the Alumni Association and its activities on behalf of Brooklyn College.

As a teen, Daniel Scarpati worked in community theater and hosted a local children’s show. But that wasn’t enough—Scarpati was eager to work in film and television. Once he was accepted to Macaulay Honors College, he leapt at the chance to attend Brooklyn College because of its reputation for its stellar programs in television, radio, and emerging media and film. Scarpati graduated in 2015 and broke into the industry. He currently works as a senior studio technician supporting productions such as Amazon Live and directs documentaries. The recipient of several student awards, he has not forgotten his alma mater or its current students, having returned to campus to give talks about the industry and, significantly, to become a COVID-19 health and safety officer during the pandemic.

Can you tell us about your background?

I proudly come from a family of diverse New Yorkers: My dad is a retired dentist who owned a small family practice in Bensonhurst. My mom is a former Bronx Zoo staffer turned teacher’s assistant. My younger sister attended Queens College (CUNY) and now works upstate at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen. So when I started at Brooklyn College, I was pretty far removed from anything film/TV related. My only background had been performing in community theater productions, hosting an NYC Department of Education kids’ television show, and shooting home movies in my neighbor’s backyard—all of which helped prepare me for the college education I’d be receiving.

What made you choose Brooklyn College?

As soon as I heard the news that I’d been accepted to CUNY Macaulay Honors College, my mind was made up. I chose Brooklyn College as my home campus because of the advanced film and television production tracks. When I toured the campus with my parents while I was in high school, I thought about how the access to professional equipment and the instructors with backgrounds working professionally on set and in the field would accelerate my growth. As a bonus, living in South Queens meant a pretty short commute along the Belt Parkway—or at least that’s what I naïvely thought before experiencing the endless construction along it!

So you knew coming in that you wanted to work in the film and TV industry.

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to work in the film/TV industry. I knew that’s where I’d end up before day one of undergraduate school. The exact job I’d be doing was a different story. I considered minoring in computer science as an option, to design software supporting the film/TV industry, but I was sure that wouldn’t be my path when I realized how little I enjoyed staring at lines of code. Instead, I focused on working behind the scenes, operating cameras, lighting, and sound equipment, and directing and managing crew and talent. The truth is, I’m still not sure there’s one title that describes what I do—nor would I want there to be. I enjoy wearing different hats and moving between roles, which has helped me during industry strikes and work slowdowns.

The BCAA Young Alumnus award is not your first award; you received accolades as a student.

As I completed my undergraduate studies, I received a BCAA Student Award, the Senator Martin J. Golden Award for Leadership from the Center for Italian American Studies, and the Outstanding Achievement in Location Sound Recording award at the 2015 Brooklyn College Film Festival. Macaulay Honors College also gave me a Class of 2015 Legacy Award for my efforts to help create new paths for future students to gain experience in the film/TV industry. The nonfiction book I self-published, Gofers: On the Front Lines of Film and Television, became a finalist in a few book contests.

How did you break into your field?

Breaking into film/TV without any connections was not, and still isn’t, easy. Even when someone opens a door for you, it only gets you so far. They may open the door to an opportunity where you have to open yet another door for yourself. I started out cold-calling production companies and working as a PA on all sorts of projects—indie films, episodic shows like The Blacklist and Manifest, sitcoms like Kevin Can Wait, and more. I’d always try to work on personal projects in my spare time to keep my creative skills sharp. Lee Quinby, the former Brooklyn College Carol L. Zicklin Honors Academy chair and I have collaborated on many films together. In 2024, we completed our latest feature documentary about Beach 116th Street in Rockaway, Queens. Our longtime creative partnership would have never happened had it not been for our time at CUNY together.

What are you working on today?

In addition to my work a senior studio technician on broadcast productions and livestreams, I also work as a freelance video control operator and robotic camera operator. I’m also the director of photography on a few documentary films through my company, Passing Planes Productions LLC.

Have you been back to campus?

One of my new favorite memories is returning to campus to share my book with current students. I wrote Gofers to share the lessons I’d learned on set as a production assistant, aka a “gofer.” Not only have I returned to campus to speak with current students about breaking into the film/TV industry, but I worked in the Film Department as a COVID health and safety officer for three semesters during the pandemic. I was directed by Chair Annette Danto and teamed up with Director of Academic Affairs and Operations Judith Kenny, Distribution Manager Michael Irgang, and fellow graduates to manage safety guidelines and create PPE kits for thesis film students to use on their sets. I was very impressed by the students and their ability to turn a very trying situation into a learning opportunity. It’s not easy to manage safety standards as an undergrad student on your first major production, but they did so with patience, caution, and respect.

What advice would you give to today’s students?

Communication is key! This applies to every industry, every job, every path. If you don’t say what you want, it’s unlikely it will ever happen. If you don’t introduce yourself, you may never make a connection with the person who could open a door for you. And remember that stories take time to unfold—don’t beat yourself up if you’re not where you think you should be. Patience is rewarded when you least expect it.