LA in 60 Days by Teah Shaw

Leslie Knope inspired me to visit Pawnee City Hall
which happens to be about 20 minutes from Burbank.

So where do I start? 

You can see my name is Teah Shaw but what you don't know is I'm not a TCF—or as of late, JCM—major. I study PR and my concentration is technology and digital media. This summer class was my best decision in the last five years.
         
Last spring, I applied to 34 internships and spent countless hours wondering if I could do this. I was a small town gal with even smaller experience. But by faith and Photoshop I managed to land a studio job. And God bless, because it was paid.
         
After months of doubt and worry, I got a call from 20th Century Fox. Absolutely wild. Again, they paid me(!) and I was placed with Creative for TV Distribution. I handled and created art and materials for current and upcoming shows. It was surreal to make and know what the world would be talking about in the future.

The Fox Plaza is art and business and the lot is lunch
and production. 

But onto the biggest city I've ever known. LA took my breath away. What I thought would be a glamorous facade of life turned out to be one of the realest cities I've seen. Now, I'm not saying this town's too genuine. Rather, there's something in the water or the well that makes people want to stay. And then it's mental, it's physical, it's visceral—it's inside. 

Everyone knows things happen here but for me, on the Fox lot, I saw it. I sat in on the meetings. I heard the calls. New seasons of my favorite shows were being imagined downstairs and down the hall. There's nothing like that in Alabama. 

I was invited to the set of "New Girl" and it was nothing short of wonderful. And a few stages later was "Modern Family" and the scoring stage Star Wars and Jurassic World used. I was blown away every day. 

Around the lot at Fox

"The Simpsons," Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Jurassic
World and so many more were scored here. 

Being on the lot was such a thing. Who gives Alabama kids three badges? I took each moment as an opportunity. 

What was most special was the willingness of my supervisor. If I asked Pam to meet someone she would do everything in her power to make it happen. 

I met SVPs, managers and directors by just asking. (This goes for getting internships too!) But it was those new connections that brought me to places I never thought accessible. 

And that's why it was worth it. From the "two hours in traffic/30 minutes without" commute to the little cafes two hops and a skip down the street—this has been the absolute best summer of my life so far. 

It wouldn't have happened without the University of Alabama, Dr. Raimist...and the multi-faceted support of my parents. 

Y'all, if you can handle the blissful chaos of not knowing what's life like two steps ahead, this trip is for you. It's a lot of work in and out of the office, but please, if you can—get here. 

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Nothing in Beverly Hills makes sense. 

Recommendations:

Sprinkles Cupcakes grabbed me by my Southern soul and tried to lift me to heaven. 

Reno's Pizza in Burbank is a gift. Pretty sure they're ordained to make margherita pizza. 

Jeni's Ice Cream has a location in the South, but the one here in Silver Lake is extremely unpleasant to park but also delicious.

                                                                                      

          

Sometimes you don't even eat at the place,
you just have to see it to make sure it's real.
This is the Commissary at the Line Hotel.

Alfred Coffee {In the Alley} is a tastefully 

designed haven for the drinks you'll miss

terribly upon return to Alabama.

Fun fact: The pink wall people Instagram (Paul Smith on Melrose) has its own security guard.

Fun fact #2: If you say "Roll Tide" at intern 

events (and most offices) people will talk to you and ask if you know Nick Saban. 

10/10, right? 

Verve Coffee Roasters in DTLA convinced me.
Starbucks is capitalist garbage :) 

         



Okay, thanks!

See you in nine months, LA.

My LA Experience by Sydnee Nelson

My LA Experience

My experience in the C&IS IN LA program has been one of the most amazing and beneficial experiences I have ever had the opportunity of being a part of. The first week here was one of the most fun and most brutal weeks of the summer. We started the summer of going on studio tours for the first few days that involved being up earlier than you’d hope, a lot of walking and standing in the sun. It could get pretty tiring, but the exhaustion was so worth it. Not only was it worth it because we got to see things that not a lot of people get to say they have seen, like the actual suit that Michelle Pfieffer wore as Catwoman, or the plane crash site from War of the Worlds (which, fun fact, was also used in an episode of Key & Peele), but it also got me and most of the other interns prepared for the life that we would be living in LA. If you want to work in LA as PA, production assistant, like I do, then you have to get used to getting up at insane hours and being on your feet most of the day, sometimes in the air conditioning and sometimes in the hot desert. Not only did we get to go on fascinating studio tours but we also got to hear industry people talk at some really neat panels. One of my favorites was the panel for the CW show, Jane the Virgin. At the time that we went to the panel I hadn’t watched to show, but I still learned so much just from listening to the writers and showrunner talk about how they created their characters and how they come up with more storylines. Now, I have spent the last two weeks binge-watching the first two seasons on Netflix and am anxiously waiting for the third season to air on the CW. Side note: If you don’t watch the show, I would highly recommend it, it is a hilarious show that will make you laugh until your stomach aches and cry until your eyes have no more tears. I think my favorite class activities of the summer were the different panels that we went to because hearing the stories of the industry people on the panels and how they made it to where they are today gave me so much more confidence in myself. So many of them took these crazy paths to success that you would never think would lead to success, and so many of them didn’t find success until much later in their careers, but all that matters is the fact that they made it. Learning this and seeing that these people that have so much success was very refreshing and eye-opening. Lastly, this program is only 10 weeks long, it sounds like a long time, but it isn’t. It flashes by in the blink of an eye, and...if you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it (yes, I did just quote Ferris Bueller). So, if you think you want to be a part of this program, I would highly suggest it, because you get to experience things not many college students can say they have experienced, but also, don’t just sit in your apartment on your off days. Go out and explore the city, you will meet so many cool people and you will find so many interesting places that you never knew existed. Take advantage of your time here, but also work hard at your internship and leave a lasting impression on your employer's. They will remember you and it will only help you out in the long run when/if, hopefully when, you decide to move out here and start your career.

If you have the time you can get free tickets to different tapings from 1iota.com. @midnight is one of my favorite shows on Comedy Central, Alexa and I went to two tapings of it and had the time of our lives. Plus, I made eye contact with Chris Hardwick about 10 times and got to high five him at the end of the taping so you could say I left that day a very happy girl.

Some of us got to go to the 25th Anniversary screening of Boyz N The Hood, which was my first time ever seeing the film and I couldn't have asked for a better first experience watching this film. It was so powerful and such an amazing movie and the best part was that we got to hear the director, John Singleton, some of the producers and pretty much the whole cast; Cuba Gooding Jr., Angela Bassett, Morris Chestnut, Tyra Ferrell, and Nia Long, speak about the filming process of something they were a part of 25 years ago. 

We also got to go participate in Cinegear, an expo for new camera gear including lights, rigs, VR, etc. It's amazing where virtual reality is going and getting to see some of the new VR technology was probably the most fun part of my day at Cinegear. 

I would suggest going to the Writer's Guild of America Library if you are an aspiring screenwriter. It is free to the public and you get to read scripts of very popular tv shows and movies. One of my favorite movies is Dazed and Confused, so I had to get my hands on that script. I was sad to see that Matthew McConaughey's line "Alright, alright, alright" wasn't written into the original script, but hey, at least it made it into the final cut of the film.

If you want to have a great time on the Fourth of July, I would also suggest going to a Dodgers game. It was one of the most fun July 4th celebrations I have ever been a part of, getting to spend it with new friends that I made on this trip and getting to watch a great game of baseball with a firework grand finale. 

Another screening/panel I saw on my own time was the director and a few cast members of the indie film How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town. I know, it sounds like a weird movie, and I was a little skeptical at first too, but it was actually a really great film, very funny and had moments of great emotion. 

Sometimes, depending on your internship, you may have to go on runs for your boss. One that I had to go on was to pick up his lovely dog, Bob Dylan. He is one of the cutest and sweetest dogs I have ever met, and everyday that he was at my internship he made the day just a little more sweeter. I'm also obsessed with dogs, so being at an internship that has a dog was a huge plus for me.

Lastly, going on the awesome studio tours you get to see sound stages for shows that are currently on the air, but also there are some that are saved forever, like the Friends set of Central Perk. I think I've seen every episode of Friends maybe 20 times or more, so getting to sit on the same couch that the cast sat on with their very own butts was the most magical moment of my summer. 

Catie Clayton 

#casadeLAcatie 

Deciding to come to Los Angeles was the scariest and most exciting decision I've made in my college career. Without taking the C&IS in LA program, I would be lost as to where I want to go in my career path and the correct steps to get there. If you are serious about getting into the entertainment industry and learning how to stay in, you need to take this course.

C&IS in LA provided me so many opportunities that I could have never provided on my own. The first week in LA included studio tours, good food, and countless photo opportunities. But as the summer went on, I realized that the "gloss" of Hollywood has a little more roughness to it.

In the class we learned the importance of networking, knowing correct terminology on set, and setting obtainable goals for our future. Coming into this program I thought I was going to go down a certain career path, but I learned there was another career that was right for me.

The preparation alone for this course is one that every student who wants to be in the entertainment industry needs to take. For example, I learned how to write a proper creative cover letter and resume. I learned the importance of standing out among the other hundreds if not thousands of hopefuls applying for the same entry-level positions as me.

C&IS in LA provided me the proper tools and tips that break down the process of getting into the industry. The biggest lesson I learned was the importance of networking. No matter how many times you hear it, it doesn’t click until it happens to you. In one of the classes required reading, it discusses the fact that there is no single standard by which to measure everyone’s work. The only way people feel comfortable hiring others is through someone they know and trust or personal recommendations. Most, if not all, alumni that were guest speakers for class were hired through networking, not an online hiring site.

C&IS in LA also attended PA Bootcamp, which is a two day course on everything PA. The PA has so many more jobs than just the runner for coffee or the one who does the chores no one else on set wants to do. Being a PA has huge responsibilities and a “green PA”, someone who has never been a PA before, stands out like a sore thumb on set and most likely screws up and doesn’t get asked back again the next day. PA Bootcamp prepares you so that on your first day to an official production, you will be knowledgeable on the lingo, call sheets, time cards, and communication over walkie.

C&IS in LA also gives you the chance to hear multiple perspectives on players in the filmmaking game. We spoke with writers, producers, production assistants, camera operators, electrics, cinematographers, and more. This allowed me to see other possible career paths I could take. And in fact I did change my career path. If I didn’t come to LA in this program, I might have not realized my calling until many years later in my life when it would be too late to get out of the pigeon hole Hollywood creates.

Lastly, C&IS in LA provided me the opportunity to meet new people and friends. This program has created a family for us. We lived together, ate together, struggled together, and laughed together. These relationships have formed and we are taking them back to Tuscaloosa. Some of us have formed a crew which includes a producer, production manager, director, 1^st AD, 2^nd AD, writer, production designer, gaffer, grip, sound operator, sound mixer, cinematographer, and production assistants. If you haven’t been able to find a group of students that work well together on set, take this course because you get to know your fellow classmates better and become comfortable with one another.

Taking C&IS in LA is the best thing I have done while attending the University of Alabama and I don’t regret a second of this summer. It is the best way to experience Los Angeles for the first time, and trust me you’ll never want to come home.

Nick Simpson- Studio71

If you are thinking about taking the TCF in LA program all I would say to you is In-N-Out. What other reason is there to come out to LA than IN-N-OUT? Not only can you order an animal style fry from any corner but you can try the thousands of unique foods the city provides. There is literally a Thai restaurant on every corner, which is practically heaven to me. But seriously TCF in LA is not only the best thing you can do for your taste buds but it’s also the best decision you can make for your career.

My two short months in LA interning, going to various events and listening to guest speakers have been more beneficial to me than my entire experience on campus in Tuscaloosa. So to anyone considering taking the immersion course, strongly consider it.  

I interned at a company called Studio71, which is located in Beverly Hills. Studio71 and It’s 155 employees work to manage and market some of todays most influential YouTubers and original content creators. However I didn’t work at their main office in Beverly Hills, I worked at their studio in Burbank. While in Burbank I had the opportunity to work with YouTube talents such as Roman Atwood, Lilly Singh, Gigi Gorgeous, Flula, King Bach and many more.  I also had the chance to be on the launch team of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s YouTube channel. On the first shoot “The YouTube Factory,” I was signed on as the 1^st AD. The second shoot I worked on was the “Pokerock” video and for that I was the cinematographer. These were both incredible experience because the work that I produced has already received around 7 million views. It’s not very often that your name is tagged online right beside The Rocks.

The Rock shoots were both rather small which was nice but I also worked on some larger sets, such as our shoot for Brides Live Wedding. For Brides Live Wedding, a crew and I traveled to Santa Barbara to shoot a documentary for one of our clients Elle Fowler.  The entire day was extremely fast paced and stressful considering that it was a wedding shoot. There’s no retakes or reshoots for a wedding because there are hundreds of people relying on things to stay on schedule.

For the shoot I assisted the operator to “C cam” which stood for the third camera operator. C cam was a Sony Fs5 mounted on a freefly movi steadi cam rig.

            While at Studio71 I also attended Vidcon. Vidcon is a conference where fans and pioneers of online video congregate, discuss and share the growing market. At the Studio71 after party I was asked to live stream from the red carpet.

I also gained experience in preplanning for shoots and running a studio. There were multiple times I had to sub in for my boss to give tours for potential clients that were wanting to rent out a space in our studio. I also gained experience handling payroll and creating call sheets. However I believe the most valuable experience for me in LA was networking both in and outside of my company. It’s these relationships that will potentially open up doors for me in the future. I became very close with two of the producers at Studio71.

So to those still thinking about the LA course I would ask, how serious are you about working in the entertainment industry? If you are serious, there is no better way to prepare yourself for the future than throwing yourself right into the middle of one of the entertainment capitols of the world.

McKay Mohun's Summer in LA

McKay Mohun

TCF 425

LA BLOG POSTS

May 23, 2016. That was the day that I made the three and a half hour drive down from Fresno to Los Angeles. While I held a great deal of excited for what was to come, I also was very anxious for the internship that was less than a week away from beginning. My mind was still filled with the memories of how difficult it was to apply in the first place and how happy I was when I got the call from Warner Brothers that I was accepted. Every single day when I arrived at my internship, I always tried to remember that joy and anguish of uncertainty that preceded it so that I appreciated each moment of my internship. This was a summer which every week felt as if it was filled with highlights, adventure, and moments that I will never forget. I really loved getting go to the Conan taping, seeing how they really make it an experience for those attending and how they incorporate the audience into each show. Another great highlight would be having access to walk around the Warner brother lot. Somedays at lunch or after work I would stroll by the production offices and walk in the shadows of the tremendous sound stages. On the lot I felt a heightened sense of awareness of my surroundings never knowing who I could see or wondering what was being filmed. The feeling I gained from knowing that I was part of such a historic studio was a lot for me to comprehend but just to know I was a small part of that made me feel like I was on cloud nine. While it is so difficult to pick one of so many highlights to choose as my favorite, I am certain that my coworkers would take the top spot. When I found out that my internship involved researching classic films I was thrilled but I had no idea of who I would be working with or where I would be working. I had assumed that I would either be put in some side room with a bunch of other interns or be secluded to a quiet corner of the office. My first hour of working in the office, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that my previous assumption couldn't have been farther from the truth. Though at first I wanted to keep to my work and stay quiet, the kindness and warmth of my coworkers completely made me feel not as an intern but as a part of a family. They would laugh at my jokes, even the bad ones, take me out to lunch, get me meetings with executives that I had only seen from afar, and just last week to see the sadness they had after hearing that my summer was drawing to a close. I felt like I could be myself around them even while maintaining the professionalism that should always be held in any place of work. Now looking forward from this summer, I can say that I’ve gained a new sense of confidence in my professional future and my first steps into a career in the film industry.