A Very Thomley Summer

I want to be a production designer for scripted television.  Before this summer, I couldn't have given such a specific answer.  I always knew I wanted to work in television and through our TCF program learned so much about what it takes to get a production made.  In my final year I began to gravitate towards production design and after my experience out here this summer, I know that is where I belong.

Our first week here in LA was incredible.  Before we all got so busy with our internships, we were taken to more industry networking events than most could ever hope to.  We learned so much so quick about the structure of the industry and what it takes to break in.

I began my first internship in LA at SXM Inc..  A boutique production company that specializes in "branded content".  Here, traditional production techniques where used to make engaging new media advertisements for large companies.  Through my time at SXM I helped produce and entirely production designed a live gameshow on Facebook to promote the mobile game Fruit Ninja.  I was thrown directly into the fire and had to do the tasks of an entire department all on my own.  This was such a useful crash course for how to navigate prop houses and source materials from local LA vendors.

Along with working for SXM Inc., I split my time with their sister company, New Filmmakers Los Angeles.  Here I learned what it takes to run a film festival in Los Angeles and gained so much information on the film submission process.  Through this internship I was granted access to several festival events and got to network with so many great people involved in the independent film world.

The most impactful experience of the summer has been and continues to be my internship with the Emmys Television Academy.  I was awarded the "episodic series" internship.  Through this internship I am currently shadowing the Art Dept. at Modern Family.  Next I'll move on to Life in Pieces and then Fresh Off the Boat. It has always been my dream to help bring television to life and through this internship I'm finally getting to make that a reality.  Every day I'm learning something new about the structure of a network television show.  I directly shadow our Art coordinator who helps our Art Director and Production Designer in their day to day tasks.  Every day is so different and I love it.  One day I'll be out on a tech scout at a horse ranch in the valley, and the next day I'll be on the lot talking to TV legends like Ed O'Neill.  It's an amazing opportunity and I'm just so grateful we have a program that has helped me get to where I am.