Larry Platt, an ‘85 Utica journalism alum, joins Professor David Chanatry’s Documentary Filmmaking class via Zoom. Photo by Mary Christopher.

Utica alumnus and accomplished documentary film producer and journalist Larry Platt zoomed into Journalism Professor David Chanatry’s Documentary Filmmaking class on Thursday, Oct. 10, discussing the top Amazon Prime documentary, Kelce.

Platt, an ‘85 graduate of Utica’s journalism program, was the writer and producer of Kelce that was released in 2023. It follows Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro center Jason Kelce during the 2022 NFL season, an athlete at the top of his game trying to decide whether to retire. It was a decision made more difficult for Kelce by the success of his Super Bowl bound team, which squared him against his brother, Travis Kelce. 

In preparation for the visit, the class screened the documentary and then had the opportunity to ask Platt questions.

Many of the questions applied directly to the students’ own documentaries they are producing, filming and editing this semester for the class. The call occurred the same week all of the students began filming their final documentary projects and Platt answered all the questions, even applying the questions to real life experiences he had in his career. 

A big piece of advice he gave was “always think about the story above all else” and not get caught up in too much backstory.

“Being at (the subject’s) mercy is part of the job,” Platt said. “Train yourself not to let backstory get involved in the process.”

He also told students that producing a documentary brings many unexpected responsibilities, such as business decisions and detail-oriented decisions.

“You become sort of a jack of all and sometimes none, that’s what being a producer is about,” Platt said. 

Platt has been an influential figure in Philadelphia sports media since the 1990s. He is a former columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, edited the Philadelphia Daily News, and was the longtime editor for the Philadelphia Magazine. In 2013, Platt co-founded The Philadelphia Citizen, a non-profit media outlet. Platt has written or co written a number of books including: Everyday I Fight, a memoir of the life of ESPN’s Stuart Scott.   

The Zoom call was a unique opportunity for Communication and Media students enrolled in the class to gain a massive connection in the field. It was also a great conversation to learn the ins and outs of the field through one of sports media’s best that came from the same classroom they are in everyday.