Laurie Parker
By Mark Kregel
Growing up in Saratoga, Laurie Parker wanted to be a journalist, but instead produces television films.
"This was not my dream to do this, but I love the business," she said.
She is now vice president of development for de Passe Entertainment, a film production company in Southern California most famous for the television series "Lonesome Dove." She was born and raised in Saratoga, and her parents, Grace and Al Parker, still live there.
Laurie attended both St. Andrew's Episcopal Day School and Saratoga High School, graduating in 1983.
She studied political science at Occidental College, graduating in 1992, and worked at the San Jose Mercury News during a one-year hiatus from school in 1991. After graduation, she went to work part time for a producer, a job that got her a foot in the door. She was hired by New World Productions in 1991 as a manager in charge of television movies.
In the spring of 1996, she co- produced Mr. and Mrs. Loving, a Showtime movie about the first interracial marriage, starring Timothy Hutton and Lela Rochon.
She has since overseen Against Her Will for the cable station Lifetime and worked on the up-coming Education of Little Tree.
"I like working in TV. We actually get to make something," she said, referring to how theatrical movies can spend years in development and and get held up in production.
In television, "there's more room for creative control," she added.
Roger Adams, her physical education teacher at St. Andrew's School, said her position is a natural for her. He remembers Parker as the class leader with a high maturity level.
"She was very highly motivated," said Adams. "Whatever Laurie put her mind to, she could do."
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, March 19, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.