Gary grew up in a classic San Francisco flat in Cow Hollow, on Lombard Street next to a gas station and a motel. He loved the neighborhood because it was walkable, and he was only one block away from Funston (now Moscone) Playground, where SH practiced and held their home baseball games. Gary attended St. Brigid’s School and recalls walking to school with other kids and their parents until he reached 4th grade.

Gary was fortunate that his brother, Don Marenzi ’72, was already at SH (and several other family friends had also attended) when looking at high schools. As Don was the head photographer and editor of the yearbook, Gary would tag along to SH events before eventually enrolling. “I bought into the irrepressible spirit that the SH student body demonstrated,” Gary said. Participating in CYO sports growing up, Gary was fortunate to know many of his classmates who he played against, growing up in the tight-knit community of San Francisco Catholic School. 

During his freshman year, Gary played football, basketball and baseball. He continued with football and baseball, so he spent a lot of time with teammates— some remain his best friends today. In class, he was a serious student and was passionate about English and Liberal Arts. Even though his parents never went to college, it was instilled that academics was something within reach. 

Socially, as an all-boys school at the time, they really bonded as a class - a true sense of camaraderie. When SH eventually shared classes with Cathedral High School his junior and senior year, their social opportunities opened up. Gary was the senior class president for the 100th graduating class of SH. He says it was an honor leading the class into the Civic Auditorium in the graduation procession. 

During school, influential instructors such as Brother Joseph Fabiano, FSC and Emil Moy influenced his personal and professional life - deepening his desire to travel and explore life’s questions outside the classroom at a young age. While there are too many others to name, Brother Arnold Stewart, FSC was a great mentor and advisor as well as Steve Ellison for football and James Koeppen for baseball—providing sage advice and guidance.

The most important mantra–and what Gary offers to current students embarking on their next steps–is to “Get up, dress up, show up. Which essentially means to be reliable, be ready, be respectful and give 100 percent at whatever you do. Beyond that, staying curious and becoming a life-long learner is a good path to follow. Every day you are either getting better or falling back, so the quest to learn and improve every day is a good way to approach any situation. And aim high – never sell yourself short. Find out what it takes to achieve your goals and then go for it – don’t let the naysayers dissuade you from giving it a shot!”

The Leap into Media & Entertainment

Gary’s start in the media industry happened by becoming a fan of sportscasters and TV presenters on the local San Francisco stations growing up. Once he got to college (at Stanford University), Gary worked at the college’s radio station where he did a play-by-play announcing for sports, handled newscasts and had a regular slot as a disc jockey. Ultimately, becoming the station manager and handling the business aspects of running a radio station likely helped Gary get into Stanford Business School to pursue his MBA. Between business school years, Gary landed a summer internship at HBO in New York, where he learned about where they sourced a lot of their programming: Hollywood! Learning a lot about the Hollywood studio system, Gary went on to work in the sales planning area of Columbia Pictures after receiving his MBA, and ultimately rose through the Hollywood ranks to become the President of International TV at Paramount Pictures and then Head of Worldwide TV at MGM Studios.

Gary urges those interested in the media industry to “subscribe to as many (often free) newsletters and podcasts about the industry and to research the companies and creative talents that you think are doing interesting projects. Try to get connected to the companies or individuals in any way you can, as the business is one of networking. A passion for the industry will definitely help, especially when you make contact with someone who could become your boss.”

Creating Marenzi & Associates 

With decades of experience in film and TV distribution, Gary was ready to take the leap into entrepreneurship and started Marenzi & Associates in 2019. 

As the world inevitably came to a halt as COVID hit in 2020, the entertainment industry was no exception. For Gary, this was an unexpected opportunity. As production slowed, remote collaboration became the new normal, and tools like Zoom transformed the way business was done. The ability to connect with people across the globe, without the constraints of geography or long commutes, gave his business an unprecedented reach. No longer tied down by location, this virtual shift brought a new dimension to his work, enabling him to manage multiple projects across time zones and markets. 

One of his most exciting projects was Drops of God, a cross-cultural TV show that brought together creative teams from Japan, France and the United States. It was a perfect example of how international co-productions are changing the landscape of global entertainment. As Gary explained, it was a puzzle of balancing cultural perspectives, navigating creative differences and aligning business goals to bring a project to life. “It’s like building a house,” he said. “You start with a solid foundation and bring in the right people to make it happen.”

Gary’s career has always centered on connecting the right people and resources to turn ideas into successful projects. He isn’t the one writing scripts or directing, but his role in sales, distribution and international partnerships is just as vital. He’s worked on projects like Drops of God, Killing Eve and Vikings, where his eye for potential and understanding of the business side of things turned these ideas into hits. Currently, Gary is helping to craft scripted series from the U.S., United Kingdom, Australia, Scandinavia, Italy and India. 

Throughout his career, technology has been a key factor in his success. Gary sees the rise of AI in entertainment as a powerful tool, one that can reduce production costs, allowing budding filmmakers to create high-quality content with lower budgets. While AI can’t replace human creativity, he believes it will complement it and open new possibilities. Nonetheless, with the comfort Gen Z has gotten with short-form and user/creator-generated programming, companies have had to adapt more quickly than they have in the past. “So, opportunities will continue to exist for creators and companies who listen to what audiences want and try to satisfy those needs.” 

Looking back, Gary recognizes that his success isn’t just about the deals or the projects he’s helped bring to life. It’s about the connections he’s made along the way — with creative collaborators, with clients and with the lessons he learned as a student. His journey, from working in Hollywood to entrepreneurship, has been one of embracing change, adapting to new technologies and maintaining a passion for the work that keeps him going.

As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, Gary Marenzi ’74 remains at the forefront, combining his decades of experience with a forward-thinking approach that embraces the power of global collaboration and technology.