It starts off feeling like the worst of times. For newly arrived SCA students, the realization that they would have to sit through Joe Wallenstein’s safety course before they could pretend to be Lucas or Spielberg usually lands like a ton of bricks. But as every one of them will tell you, they are grateful to Wallenstein by the end of their program, because they can hear him in their heads, especially when it really matters—on a set, when the stakes are at their highest.

After a decades-long career writing, producing and directing for television (Knotts Landing, Jake and the Fatman, The Clinic, 7th Heaven), Wallenstein began working as the School’s Director of Production, aka its Safety Officer, on February 14, 2003. Dean Elizabeth Daley has said he is “the best Valentine’s Day present the School has ever received, because he allows us to sleep at night.” A conversation with Wallenstein about a hazardous scene has been frequently described as the most feared and the most reassuring part of the SCA’s filmmaking process. That’s because instead of an outright “no,” Wallenstein usually responds with something along the lines of: “instead of doing that, how about you try this.” And has guided almost 2,000 SCA productions safely to fruition. His books “Practical Moviemaking: A Handbook for the Real World” and “Nothing Dies for Film,” draw on his experiences on student-run and professional sets. “For me being around filmmakers, young and old, is a very comfortable sweater,” says Wallenstein. The most rewarding part of my job is watching the kids grow and mature not only as filmmakers but as caring, thoughtful adults. Every now and again, an alum will reach out and thank me for teaching that safety and film are really symbiotic and how it made them more viable in their careers.”

Wallenstein will continue to share his wisdom in retirement, with this podcast titled “Whatcha know Joe.”