David Michael Petrou is a film producer, author and communications executive. In 2013, he served as Co-Executive Producer on ''Ronny & I''. Petrou wrote ''The Making of Superman'' (Warner Books, 1978) while he was part of the senior production team on the first two ''Superman'' movies starring

Christopher Reeve Christopher D'Olier Reeve (September 25, 1952 – October 10, 2004) was an American actor, best known for playing the title character in the film ''Superman'' (1978) and three sequels. Born in New York City and raised in Princeton, New Jersey, ...

. His previous non-fiction book, ''Crossed Swords'', was about film making behind the

Iron Curtain The Iron Curtain was the political boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991. The term symbolizes the efforts by the Soviet Union (USSR) to block itself and its s ...

in Budapest, Hungary. Petrou is also a nationally recognized accredited communications executive. He established and ran Eisner, Petrou & Associates, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. and an office in Baltimore, Maryland, from 1986 until 2005.

Biography

Education

In 1971 Petrou graduated from the

University of Maryland, College Park The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the University System of Mary ...

with a bachelor's degree in English. In 1973, he received his master's degree in English & Journalism from

Georgetown University Georgetown University is a private university, private research university in the Georgetown (Washington, D.C.), Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded by Bishop John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore), John Carroll in 1789 as Georg ...

Career

Petrou began his career in New York, NY as Associate Director of Public Relations at

Ballantine Books Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann in 1998 and remains ...

, the paperback division of Random House. Following three years in the publishing industry, Petrou worked for eight years in motion picture production and development. For three years, he worked at the Salkind Organization on the first two “Superman” films, shot on location around the world and at Pinewood Studios outside London. He later worked for motion picture studio Warner Bros. in Los Angeles, where he was an executive consultant in production and marketing. Petrou wrote "The Making of Superman: The Movie Petrou returned to Washington, D.C., where he served as a director for the late Ambassador R.

Sargent Shriver Robert Sargent Shriver Jr. (November 9, 1915 – January 18, 2011) was an American diplomat, politician, and activist. As the husband of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, he was part of the Kennedy family. Shriver was the driving force behind the creation ...

II and the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver at The Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation. In 1986, he founded Eisner, Petrou and Associates, Inc., a full service communications agency based in Washington, DC, where he served as President and Chief Operating Officer until 2005.

Board and Advisory Councils

Petrou has served as a member of the Kennedy Center Community Advisory Board, the

Choral Arts Society of Washington The Choral Arts Society of Washington is a major choral organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1965 by Norman Scribner, it is regarded as one of the premier symphonic choruses in the United States. The Choral Arts Society of Washingt ...

Board and the Washington Men’s Camerata Advisory Board. He is also a baritone singer with The Choral Arts Society of Washington. Petrou participated in several recordings, including: London Symphony Orchestra recording of Mahler “Symphony No. 8,” Valery Gergiev, conductor. “Make Me Drunk with Your Kisses,” by Alexander Knaifel, composer; Mstislav Rostropovich, cellist; Norman Scribner, conductor “Of Rage and Remembrance,” by John Corrigliano, composer, Leonard Slatkin, conductor, with the National Symphony Orchestra. Grammy Award-winner for Best Classical Recording.

Awards

Petrou has received the Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America as well as the PRSA Best in Maryland Awards.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Petrou, David Michael Living people American film producers Georgetown University alumni Year of birth missing (living people)