From farm fields to film sets: Jill Kleck Woo’s journey from WOUB to Hollywood

Jill Kleck Woo’s story begins on a quiet farm in Northwest ��, where the rhythms of rural life shaped her early years. But Woo had a spark for something more creative, electric, and far beyond the cornfields. So, when it came time for college, she followed that spark to ��, drawn to communication because, as she puts it, it looked like fun.

“I didn’t know what else was out there beyond the farm,” Woo laughed. “The people I grew up with thought I was going to school to learn how to repair TVs. But I had my heart set on the best college in the country for television production and that was ��. Especially because of the hands-on experience you could get at WOUB.”

Woo dove into the action right away. At WOUB, she rolled up her sleeves and got to work on programs like "Reflections on Rails" and "Hocking Valley Bluegrass." Whether behind the camera, at an editing console, or managing audio, she quickly learned the ropes.

“I learned every aspect of TV production,” Woo said. “From editing audio and video to working the big pedestal cameras, WOUB was an incredible training ground and it was so much fun.”

After graduation, Woo packed her bags and headed for Chicago. Her first gig? A receptionist at a commercial production house, a brief six-month stint that paved the way for something much bigger.

“I had friends working as production assistants on 'The Blues Brothers,'” Woo said. “They invited me to visit the set, and I ended up getting hired as the night production secretary. It was thrilling to see how movies were made, all the moving parts. It was fun seeing all the actors and crew that it took to film a movie.”

Inspired by the chaos and creativity of set life, Woo made the leap to Hollywood. It was a bold move, but one that paid off quickly.

“I was nervous, of course. But then I landed a job as a production secretary on 'FRIDAYS,'”&�Բ��;said Woo. “And from there, everything changed.”

"FRIDAYS" was ABCs late-night live comedy show, airing from 1980 to 1981. It was ABC’s answer to "Saturday Night Live" and featured rising stars like Larry David and Michael Richards.

“I worked on 'FRIDAYS' for a few years and had the time of my life,” said Woo. “Every week brought a new musical guest and celebrity guest host. It was electric.”

Woo’s career continued with a role on HBO’s "Not Necessarily the News," where she reunited with fellow �� graduate and WOUB student, Mark West. Life soon brought other adventures: marriage, motherhood, and a well-earned break from the business. But Woo wasn’t done with television.

In 1991, she launched EyeMagic Productions, a company that provides freelance TV camera crews and production support both in the U.S. and around the world.

And through it all, she’s never forgotten her roots at WOUB.

“WOUB gave me the tools, the knowledge, and most importantly the confidence,” Woo said. “When you’re there, learning every corner of the industry, you realize this isn’t just a dream. This is a job you can actually do. It gave me the courage to go after it and keep going.”

Learn more about WOUB.

Tags: