Alex Johnson, a senior and a first-year music technology student in the Grayson Technical Education Program, found herself playing the role of a talk show host on Wednesday as she sat in an armchair in the Grayson Tech theater interviewing music industry pro Damon Thomas.

Thomas is an Academy-Award and Grammy-nominated music producer for his work on movies “Dreamgirls” and “The Help.” Johnson interviewed him and he shared advice to the engaged Grayson Tech students in Andre DeRamus’ class on Wednesday. The talk covered a range of topics from his creative process to musicians he’s worked with to how to network in the music industry.