I finished my internship this week! I can’t believe it is over already. At the same time, it feels like I’ve been working there forever. I learned so much and was introduced to so many new things and people. I even got to lay my eyes on Ariana Grande–in the flesh! That was definitely a highlight of the summer.
Working this internship allowed me to finally see what the film and photography industry is like, and I’m happy to say I still want to be a part of it. I wish there had been more photoshoots to assist on because I find myself missing the creative side of the art, but I still really enjoyed the feeling of importance as part of the production team. Being responsible for getting everything necessary to the set is a huge weight but super rewarding when done well.
I set out wanting to gain a clear understanding of the step-by-step process of set production. I also wanted to establish and build some professional relationships with my coworkers, supervisors, and anyone else I met along the way. I wanted to gain more confidence in myself and in the work I was doing. Throughout the weeks, the assignments and projects I was tasked with allowed me to tweak my skills and made me a better intern with each day that passed. I liked the intense and faced-paced environment. At times, I thought I was swamped in work. Each time I finished my workload, I would soon realize I had merely been in the eye of the storm.
I am definitely proud of sticking through this internship and living as a New Yorker. I’m sure I’ve picked up some habits and will return to campus with the ability to walk a mile a minute, but it’s been a great experience. I can’t get over the fact that just days before starting this position, I was in a completely different country! I definitely miss home sometimes, but it feels great to be making solid steps toward my career.
Trying to land an internship in the film industry? Do what I did and submit a million applications. Tighten your resume. Build your portfolio. Apply early! Don’t listen to the people telling you that getting a job is next to impossible. Have you seen the end credits of a movie? There are plenty of jobs, you just have to be first and among the best of the applicants. It’s super cool that Annie’s team thought I was worthy enough to be in her presence. After leaving the office, I now have the skills to prove it.
Huuuuge thank you to Annie Leibovitz and her staff! An even bigger thank you to the Steven M. Bunson ’82 Internship Fund and the WOW team for helping me experience this amazing summer!