After his recent recognition at Pingry, I kind of just sat there thinking, “Wow, that’s actually someone who used to sit in these same classrooms. And then I did what any curious/insane student would do: I asked if I could interview him. Somehow, that turned into a real conversation with David Bugliari ’97, who went from not really knowing what he wanted to do to working at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and eventually building Range Media Partners, a multi-million-dollar business.

I wanted to talk to him because his path doesn’t feel like one of those perfect, straight-line success stories; it feels more like figuring things out as you go, which is honestly way more relatable. Also, I think it’s kind of funny that I was born in Los Angeles and moved to New Jersey, while he basically did the exact opposite. And somehow, in between talking about doubt, talent, and working in Hollywood, I learned that Los Angeles is basically always sunny, success involves a lot more work than it looks like from the outside, and yes… it is absolutely socially acceptable (in my opinion) to ask about PartyNextDoor in a school interview.

 

Figuring It Out Before You Have It Figured Out With David Bugliari ’97

Sophie: During the assembly, you mentioned that, at one point, you didn’t know what path you wanted and once you figured it out, becoming the best of the best at CAA became your motivation. Yet before that clarity, what was driving you? And was there a moment when you thought “I got this” even without a clear direction? What would you say to students at Pingry who are still in the same in-between phase that you were, before you found that motivation to keep going every morning. 

Mr. Bugliari: Before I had a clear direction, what drove me was competition and the desire to contribute. I wasn’t the biggest or the fastest kid, but I figured out early that there’s always a way to compete if you’re willing to work for it. I learned to use what I did have. I worked harder. I stayed tougher. I motivated teammates. I loved the challenge of figuring out how to win and finding a way to help the team.

I don’t remember a single moment where I thought, “I got this,” but I do remember gaining confidence from small wins. Getting a little better. Outlasting someone in conditioning. Helping my team in ways that mattered. That confidence didn’t come from having everything figured out. It came from showing up, competing, and improving a little every day.

For students who are in that in-between phase, I’d say this: you don’t need to have your whole path figured out yet. What matters is building habits that make you tougher, more reliable, and more valuable to the people around you. Work hard. Encourage others. Be someone a team can count on. If you do that consistently, direction has a way of finding you.

Sophie: So following off you wanting to try to do better, be better, become the best you could be, were there ever moments when you doubted yourself, or were there people who doubted you? And looking back now after building something like Range, what would you say to those doubts, whether they were yours or someone else’s? 

Mr. Bugliari: Yeah, I mean, look, I kind of feed on it. I love when people doubt me because I love the challenge. In this business, a big part of the job is convincing people to stay open minded when they think they already know what they want. A writer or director has a vision, and my job is to show them there might be an even better option. Maybe they want one actress, but I believe someone else could be even better, and it’s my job to make that case.

So when people doubted me, or said there wasn’t room to get a job or earn a promotion, I never really saw that as a stop sign. I saw it as fuel. I’d think, okay, maybe that applies to other people, but it doesn’t apply to me. I’m going to keep working until I earn that job. I’m going to keep working until I get that promotion.

Looking back now, after helping build something like Range, I’d say this to anyone dealing with doubt, whether it’s your own or someone else’s: doubt is not a verdict. It’s motivation. If you’re willing to outwork people, stay resilient, and keep showing up, doubt can become the thing that pushes you further than confidence ever could.

Sophie: So then, what do you look for, because I know you mentioned helping discover Bradley Cooper and getting him into the Hangover, which I have to say, when you said that, I was so excited because I love that movie—that movie makes me laugh every time. But what do you look for in someone where you could tell early on that they have that kind of potential, like when you first found Bradley, what sparked you to think, “Oh, that’s the one” as you had earlier mentioned on Wednesday at the assembly.

Mr. Bugliari: It’s hard to point to just one thing, but the biggest thing I look for is work ethic. With Bradley, what stood out immediately was how relentless he was. He chased improvement every single day. Not because he thought he could be perfect, but because he wanted to get as close as possible. There were no days off. He just keeps pushing.

Talent obviously matters. Bradley is incredibly talented. But what really separates people who are good from people who become great is the willingness to do the work when no one is watching. For roles, he would completely commit. Changing his body, studying real people, practicing endlessly. That level of preparation is what people don’t see, but it’s what makes the difference.

So when I’m looking at someone early on, I’m not just asking, “Are they talented?” I’m asking, “Are they willing to outwork everyone else?” Because when you combine raw talent with relentless work ethic, that’s when you start to see real potential.

Sophie: For students who are interested in talent representation, whether that’s music, acting, or something else, are there specific internships, programs, or ways to start building connections early? Especially I know at least at Pingry, we do already sort of have these connections. For instance this interview, but for people who may not have the same access and they don’t really know how to use it, is there anything that you could recommend?

Mr. Bugliari: The biggest thing I’d recommend is immersion. Whether you’re at Pingry or somewhere without the same connections, the people who eventually break into this business are the ones who completely immerse themselves in it early.

That means reading about the business, watching movies or listening to music differently, and studying why things work. Don’t just watch something for entertainment. Ask yourself, why did that moment land? Why did I feel something there? Why did that character matter? Go back and watch it again and pick up what you missed the first time.

There are also very practical ways to start building connections. Read the trades. Learn who the producers, directors, and agents are. Reach out politely and ask for informational interviews. Look for internships wherever you can, even small ones. Most people don’t get their first break because they had the best connections. They get it because they showed real interest, did the work, and made themselves useful.

For students who feel like they don’t have access, I’d say this: access helps, but curiosity and effort matter more. If you show that you’re serious, that you’ve done your homework, and that you genuinely care about the business, people notice that. And over time, that’s what opens doors.

Sophie: Moving away from that, what was it like moving from New Jersey to L.A., and did it take time to find your footing, and did you know anyone out there when you first started? 

Mr. Bugliari: Before moving to L.A., I was living in Northern California, up in Lake Tahoe, with my good friend, Nick Ross from Pingry. When I moved to L.A., I moved in with another friend from Pingry, Palmer Emmitt and another great friend of ours, Haley Joel...and we got an apartment about a mile from the CAA office. So I didn’t arrive knowing a lot of people, but I did have a couple of close friends, which made the transition easier.

That said, finding your footing still takes time. Moving to L.A. was exciting, but it was also humbling. You quickly realize there are a lot of smart, driven people chasing the same opportunities. I was working long hours, learning the business from the ground up, and trying to prove that I belonged there.

What helped most was being close to the office and staying focused on the work. I didn’t spend much time worrying about whether I had it figured out. I just showed up every day, worked hard, and trusted that if I kept doing that, I’d eventually find my footing. And over time, that’s exactly what happened.

Sophie: You mentioned you lived a mile from CAA. Is that where you first came across CAA, or is that something you were always aiming for? Or did you kind of just discover it along the way?

Mr. Bugliari: No, I moved to L.A. after I got the job at CAA. I was living in Tahoe when the offer came through, and once I had it, I packed up and moved that weekend. So it wasn’t something I stumbled into. CAA was always the goal.

At the time, getting a job at CAA felt like getting into your first-choice college. It was the place to be. Even before I knew exactly what role I wanted long term, I knew it was the best place to learn every side of the business and surround myself with people operating at the highest level.

That was the mindset. Get into the hardest place to get into, learn as much as possible, and figure the rest out from there.

Sophie: In your experience, were there moments when you could tell someone wasn’t going to make it, even if they were talented? Like something subtle most people wouldn’t notice? 

Mr. Bugliari: Yeah, there were definitely moments when you could see it, and it usually had less to do with talent and more to do with how people handled rejection. This is a business where you hear “no” all the time, and it’s often subjective. You can do everything right and still not get the job.

The subtle sign wasn’t lack of ability. It was how people reacted after being told no. Some people would let it wear on them. You could see their energy change, their confidence fade, and eventually they’d decide they didn’t want to keep putting themselves through that cycle.

The people who tend to make it aren’t the ones who never get rejected. They’re the ones who can take the rejection, learn from it, and keep going without letting it define them. That resilience, more than talent alone, is usually what separates the people who last from the people who don’t.

Sophie: What’s it like being married to Alyssa Milano, and how do you feel when someone Googles your name, and it comes up as “Alyssa Milano’s husband”?

Mr. Bugliari: I think it’s awesome. I love it. She’s had an incredible career as an actress, but what I admire most about her isn’t what people see on screen. It’s who she is at home and what she chooses to do with her platform.

If you asked her what she’s most proud of, it would be being a great mom and being present for our family. That always comes first. At the same time, she spends a huge part of her life trying to help other people, whether that’s through her activism, philanthropy, or raising awareness for causes she believes in. She really lives in service to others, and I find that incredibly inspiring.

So when someone Googles my name and it says “Alyssa Milano’s husband,” I take it as a badge of honor. I’m proud of her, proud of the life we’ve built together, and proud to be associated with someone who works so hard to make a difference.

Sophie: Well I have one last question/statement. So I saw [artist] PartyNextDoor in the video you showed us at school. I have to say I am a huge fan, like I don’t think you understand how much I love PartyNextDoor, and if I didn’t ask this, I think it would genuinely haunt me to the day I die. But do you have any idea if he’s working on anything, or if he’s dropping anything soon?

Mr. Bugliari: He’s gearing up for a major tour. I don’t think it’s been fully announced yet, but it’s going to be huge.

Sophie: Wait, but surely he’s coming to New Jersey or New York right… surely! 

Mr. Bugliari: Oh yeah, for sure.

Sophie: Wow, thank you so much.

Mr. Bugliari: Yes, of course! Thank you.

***

To contact the author: Sophie Pateyuk '28