What classes have inspired me as a radio host the most? That is what I will answer with this webpage. As you all know, I host my own radio show here at the University of Memphis (EAT YOUR MAKEUP, a movie review show) and a major foundation for my show were the many classes I have taken in this department over the years.
Opinion Writing.
"It was with a review of THE FOREST OF LOVE in Otis Sanford's Opinion Writing class where EAT YOUR MAKEUP was born." This should say it all in terms of the respect I have for Otis Sanford and the influence I have taken from this class ever since I took it in Spring 2022. Looking back at the earliest episodes of my show, there is a very clear influence from Otis Sanford's style and though I have largely come into my own voice and style in later seasons, there will always be a massive influence from what I have learned in this class.
Feature Writing
Though this was an online class when I took it, I consider this class to be the most important in terms of how I developed my writing style. I had a rough time in earlier writing classes, particularly when it came to trying to write within the constraints of the journalistic style. Feature writing, where journalism meets literature, was where I felt truly free to experiment, to take full advantage of the feature writing style and come into my own voice as a writer. Opinion Writing helped me find my style as a critic, but Feature Writing laid the foundation for a great style.
Multimedia Storytelling
Writing is great and an important part of my skillset, but how did I learn to take all of the promo pictures I do for each season and how do I make them all look as great as they do? That is where Multimedia Storytelling comes into play, one of the most important classes a journalism student can take and one that anyone who wants to do radio should take several notes from. Radio is more than just a voice, it is also about branding and personality, and you can't show either without good photography skills.
Intro to Radio.
Closing this project out is the one class that started it all, the first class I took at U of M and the class that changed my course in college. Intro to Radio, taught by the amazing TK King. It is in this class where the earliest possible form of EAT YOUR MAKEUP was recorded, the earliest radio episode I have ever produced in the form of an hour-long pilot known as THE HOUSE THAT JAKE BUILT. Though this pilot episode is now completely lost, it is an important step in my journey as a radio host
What is EAT YOUR MAKEUP?
EAT YOUR MAKEUP is my passion project, it is the shining example of everything I have learned during my time in the program and it is a radio show I am proud to put my name on. EAT YOUR MAKEUP is The ROAR's premier film review show, where anything goes, nothing is off limits and everything is on the table in terms of what I review. From camp classics like PINK FLAMINGOS and SLEEPAWAY CAMP, beloved masterpieces like THE MANCURIAN CANDIDATE, ROSEMARY'S BABY and FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS and cult favorites like IN FABRIC and GUILTY OF ROMANCE, to disturbing works like SUICIDE CLUB, COLD FISH and THE FOREST OF LOVE and even including the most extreme films to be featured on The ROAR, INSIDE, MARTYRS and TITANE, very few is off the table when it comes to what I am willing to review on EAT YOUR MAKEUP. Though this practice of "anything goes" had gotten me kicked to the evening by the third episode of the show, that very same dedication to holding nothing back is what has gotten my show the acclaim it has received, both in the form of praise from listeners and the various awards I have received over the years for EAT YOUR MAKEUP.
What does the title even mean?
Ah, the most common question I receive about the show, why did I even name it EAT YOUR MAKEUP to begin with? While sitting at work, a parking booth job to be specific, I was thinking about potential names for the show because at that point, I no longer liked the original title of THE HOUSE THAT JAKE BUILT. At the same time, I was watching a John Waters film, MULTIPLE MANIACS, when I remembered Waters had a short film called "Eat Your Makeup," an eye-catching title that struck a nerve with me. Then and there, I knew what I wanted the show to be called and I went with the now-famous three-word name that catches the eyes and ears of listeners. In big bold letters on The ROAR's website, a picture of assorted makeup on a plate and the name of "Jake Mars" as the host, the attention-grabbing, unfiltered nature of EAT YOUR MAKEUP is woven heavily into the show's branding, and it all starts with an eye-catching, simple name.