Joe Pichirallo, veteran studio executive and film producer, has been named the chair of New York University's undergraduate film and television program, the university announced on Tuesday.
Pichirallo will assume his new post next fall and succeeds Lamar Sanders, who stepped down as chair after six years.
Pichirallo is a former studio executive, film producer, and reporter for The Washington Post. He began his film career with HBO Pictures and was one of the original executives hired by Fox to set up Searchlight Pictures, where he worked for nearly eight years rising to senior vice president. Later, he was an executive vice president at Universal's Focus Features.
Most recently, Pichirallo worked as a producer, including serving as the head of feature film production for The Gold Company, a management/production firm led by Eric Gold. He also was head of the feature film unit at Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment, Will Smith's company, where he produced "The Secret Life of Bees" and executive produced "Lakeview Terrace."
Pichirallo’s film credits include "Antwone Fisher," "Hollywoodland," "Quills" and "One Hour Photo."
He has taught at the American Film Institute for the last 14 years and also at Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television.
At the Washington Post, he covered national security, the criminal justice system, and politics.
