CIS in LA : Sarah Lane Davidson

I arrived in Los Angeles believing I had a decent working knowledge of the industry….which is hilarious. I have grown so much more in two months than I even knew I had room for in such a short period of time. I completed my first industry internships I’ve ever had at two small boutique companies, Aperture Entertainment and Hybrid/Barnholtz Entertainment. I discovered that phones aren't that scary, I can make a mean spreadsheet, and I have some very strong opinions for the revision process of potential client scripts. Most importantly, I’ve participated in something I’m proud of.

When I first arrived to LA, I needed to pick up my rental car. I was only 19 at the time, so I had to go through a truly sketchy car rental place in Burbank. It was so sketchy that my uber didn't want to leave me there so he stayed out in the parking lot for about 15 minutes before going his own way. I was promised a newer economy vehicle, BUT that hadn't been returned yet from a previous renter so I got this:

This thing was the true beater your parents claimed to have driven when you made any negative statement about the car they gave you. Faded gold, dents everywhere, strange carpet stains---all of that. It was pretty funny pulling up to the Oakwoods for the first time blasting a spanish music station and trying to convince the front gate that I actually could afford to live there. It was also pretty great when I dragged some of the guys to accompany me to trade it in in the most sketchy way possible (nightime, past close) and snapped this picture.

Rest assured that if there’s art, I’m already there resisting the urge to touch everything. LACMA, MOCA, MONA, The Broad...I’ve explored them all. I loved mural hunting too, since it's such a key feature of Los Angeles art culture. I got lucky and was able to touch some art at Cantor Fine Art’s exhibit “Please Touch the Art.” This experience stuck with me as I got to watch many members of the blind community come out to support each other and explore the textured and sculptured art the only way they can--through touch. I realized how much I take for granted and how lucky I am. Many got emotional as they explored the art with their hands and excitedly discussed their opinions to each other. It was such a beautiful thing to watch that the people became like art to me and art finally felt more like a grounded, human thing, not a lofty painting on a wall.

Every day of my summer I was going out and doing things that I never dreamed I would do. I was ecstatic to attend Local Native’s surprise album release concert in Silver Lake, which resulted in me catching lead Taylor Rice from off the roof of the building to crowd surf and then later getting to meet him. I also attended up-and-comer Atlas Genius’ performance at The Grove for free! I also attended countless studio tours, panels at the WGA, LA Film Festival, and Arclight screenings.

This summer was the most amazing adventure, and I’m already thinking about coming out next summer.

My summer in LA LA Land 2016

What a wild ride the past two months has been. This has by far been one of the BEST experiences of my life. From the things I learned, to the places I've seen, to the people I have met and the relationships I have made, this summer has through and through taught me more than I could have ever possibly imagined for two months in a new city.

I started this summer thinking I was interested in talent representation and unscripted casting. I knew only a few of the people in the class even fewer people working in the industry, and the most I had seen of LA was tourist destinations and the inside of dance studios. I am leaving this summer knowing I don't want to cast reality TV, with life long friends, a list of contacts, and a greater appreciation for this city and all it has to offer.

I was an unscripted casting intern at Thinkfactory Media, and a management intern at Sanders Armstrong Caserta. I was beyond lucky that all the people I was fortunate enough to work with this summer were friendly, open people, that were more than happy to answer any and all questions I had. That being said, I am no longer interested in unscripted casting, and I could be interested in management, but I am planning on pursuing other things. I have found that it is almost as important, if not more important, to learn what you don't like than what you do. This experience gave me the opportunity to explore different interests with little to no risk to my career. Even though I decided I don't want to Facebook stalk people in order to cast a reality show for the rest of my life, I was able to spend my summer getting to know some great people at a fairly large production company who have told me that they are more than happy to be a reference for me when looking for jobs in the future. This industry is all about who you know, I interning is an amazing way to create contacts with people that can really help you out in the future.

After working this summer, going to industry events, and hearing from industry professionals, I have a new found interest in 1st Assistant Directing. I am planning on coming out here again next summer and hopefully working in an agency or studio mailroom to learn more about the business, then moving out here for good after I graduate in December of 2017 and finding PA work and working my way up to be a 1st AD for multi-cam television shows. This summer has made me even more excited for my future and the journey of my career in this industry.

I started out this summer knowing only a few

people in this class but I am leaving with 

great friends. This is room N-310, my roommates

during this experience. Alexa, Furbs, and Catie:

I love you all, thanks for being you.

The first week of this summer, we went on a 

lot of tours and attended a lot of events. One

of the first things we did was go on a VIP

tour of Warner Brothers. I am obsessed with

"Friends" so getting to sit on the infamous couch

with new friends was incredible. 

Thinkfactory Media is where I was an

unscripted casting intern. I spent the summer

helping to cast season 2 of Married By Mom

and Dad on TLC. I spent a lot of time Facebook

stalking singles of San Francisco, San Diego,

Midland, Charlotte, and Tampa. 

I was a management intern at Sanders

Armstrong Caserta. I updated calendars,

submitted actors to roles, and filed paperwork.

Some of their biggest clients are Krysten Ritter,

Michael Sheen, Chris Noth, and Maggie Geha 

(up and comer who is the new Poison Ivy on "Gotham")

Los Angeles has some amazing murals and street

art everywhere you go. The art culture in this city

is so incredibly beautiful.

We loved making quick trips to the beach! Even

if it was freezing down my the water. This was 

in June! I thought it was always warm in SoCal...

Kristen, Alexa, Osagie, Sydnee, and I went to a 

Dodgers game on the 4th of July. They won and the

fireworks were amazing! After the game, you could

see all the fireworks in the city across the LA skyline.

It was very patriotic and we felt like quite the locals.

Kristen, Sydnee, and I took a quick trip to San Francisco

where we were lucky enough to see the Golden Gate Bridge

on a sunny, clear day. Of course we took a million pictures

from 4 different angles. 

Yesterday, Kristen and I went to Disneyland

with my mom and uncle John. It was the perfect

way to cap off a magical summer.

Los Angeles is a beautiful city and I can't wait 

to come back. Thanks for all the memories.

My Summer in L.A: Turner Spurlin

My summer out here has been one of the most eye opening experiences I’ve ever had.  I’ve had so many different highlights throughout the summer.  Just living in L.A. for a few months really helped me see things from an industry perspective.  There were alot of days spent in the office. Reading scripts or taking phone calls but experiences like this humble you in a way. You understand what it might take to make it in your field, whatever that may be.

There were plenty of fun days too. In particular was a visit I took to The Broad, a contemporary art museum. It was full of amazing art that I wouldn’t get to see anywhere else.  There were strange and interesting pieces everywhere, like Joe Koons.  It was a really wonderful day off. This is just one of the few things that you can do around Los Angeles.  The best part is that you’ll find many things are free, which always helps with the budget.

Another thing that made this trip was the copious amount of speakers and events that Dr. Raimist plans.  At times it seems like alot but it really was great to meet all of the industry people that are also Alabama alumni.  We also got to see many people and go to many events where other industry people spoke. One instance that really stood out to me was seeing Francis Ford Coppola speak at a UCLA student film event.  This was one of the greatest story tellers of all time and he was still talking about how he was a student of the craft, always learning.  

There was also Chuck Gordon, producer of Die Hard. He came and spoke to us about his career as a producer and writer.  He had an interesting perspective on how well your movie does in the States versus how well it does overseas.  It was a very business oriented talk and I had never been exposed to something like that before.

I was very lucky in that I had two internships. One was in an office and the other one was at a rental house.  I was able to get the chance to work on some sets through the internship I had with Vidcam Rentals. These opportunities were mostly in the reality television and promo category. This is not really what I had in mind at first but these opportunities allowed me to meet some very interesting people and make connections in the industry.  I did not shake hands with everyone on set of course but what really helped was seeing how a set, on any level, was run.

I had an interesting experience making a run one day to Bunim & Murray, the comapny that does the Kardashians.  I was told I had to move my car because “Kris was coming”.  I go outside and move my car. I come back into the studio to grab what I need. Then I run back and hop in my car but before I can back up I see there is a swarm of paparazzi behind me. I look to my right and there was Kris Jenner getting out of her car.

Working in the rental house also allowed to get alot of hands on experience with the equipment which is great. This entire experience was something that I learned so much from. This isn’t anything that can be learned in a book.  

C&IS in LA 2016 Reflection - Jared Fuhrman

I will never forget the first time I tried a buffalo chicken and waffle sandwich...

I mean really, I had never thought there would be a chance to try such a delectable sandwich.  But in Los Angeles, this was a possibility, among many others.

When I first arrived to LA, I immediately realized how much different it would be living in this massive, sprawling city.  I had been to many cities before, but none of this magnitude and size.  I was surprised how it truly feels like the city goes on for forever, especially if you're downtown.  It was a huge change from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, however it was a change that I loved.

During my summer in LA, I worked at two very different internships:  VidCam HD, and Blindlight.  VidCam HD is a rental equipment and crew company for reality and new media television, while Blindlight is a casting and voiceover company for video games.  Through VidCam, I learned how to function within a fast-paced reality show production, as well as how to operate some more complex and professional sound recording equipment.  At Blindlight, I was taught on how video game voiceover productions are run, how each recording session operates, and I even got to record auditions for a project currently in development.  The highlights of my internships would be working on behind-the-scenes projects for Universal's new Walking Dead attraction through VidCam, and being able to go to E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) through Blindlight.  All of these were incredible experiences that I would never take back.

By having these different internship experiences, I have come to more of a crossroads in the direction of my career.  I love both the games industry, and television (and film for that matter).  Though I am not completely sure what career path I want to take, I can say that coming to Los Angeles this summer has strengthened my knowledge drastically in how the industry works and how I can fit into it.

One of my favorite places that I visited in the city was The Broad art museum.  Though I took many photos, I would say that my favorite piece that I saw was "Red Touch, Green Kiss." This among many other pieces, certainly caught my eye.  These were pieces of art that I would have never been able to see without coming to LA.

I also made sure to take a trip to the Santa Monica Pier to get a good view of the incredibly crowded beach.  It was just a few streets away where I tried the aforementioned buffalo chicken and waffle sandwich.

Another highlight was seeing the Los Angeles Philharmonic perform at the Hollywood Bowl during a showing of the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.  Though I was not really sure how this was going to work originally, how they performed is they played a cut of the film that did not have the soundtrack in it.  So, with the timing of the film, the philharmonic played each song and tone at the correct time.  It was surprisingly and wonderfully excellent how well their timing was.

During a run for my VidCam internship, I also got to run by the Television Academy, where I was able to take a snap of their new Emmy's statue. 

C&IS in LA was a trip that I will never forget, and I think it is safe to say that it was the most important and life-changing course that I have taken in my entire life.  The experiences that I had, the places I visited, the food I tasted, and the friends I made contributed to the best summer of my life.  Until next time LA!

C&IS in LA: Best Summer Ever (Kristen Faulkner)

Looking back on my experience with C&IS in LA, I could not have imagined it going any better. From touring my favorite sets at amazing studios to meeting many useful connections to spending my days in a different yet memorable scenic of Los Angeles, this summer has by far been my best one yet. When I first arrived, I was honestly super nervous; a girl born and raised in Alabama abruptly moving to Los Angeles for a summer when she hasn’t even been further west than Colorado. Talk about a change of pace. But through my two internships at two cool companies and through the various activities, I became more comfortable with the lifestyle and grew as a person overall. Also, yes, I said two internships. Some days I wished I only stuck with one to give myself a small break, but looking back I’m happy with my decision. By having two internships in two areas that I’m interested in (music management and post-production), I got a taste of both areas. I learned that both aren’t too shabby, but they also both have their cons. I also learned a lot from the adventures I was able to embark on while on these internships, which became two of my highlights of the trip. One, I was able to visit the Disney Photo Archives to collect research on the new Disney Imagineering documentary by Iwerks and Co. They let me look through the original pictures of Walt and his journey to creating the Disney company. The other adventure I went on was VidCon. Studio71, the internship site where I worked on digital music, is known for its YouTube and social media talent; therefore, I got to meet some awesome web celebs such as Jenna Marbles and Savannah Outen. These experiences, as mentioned before, gave me a taste of the two worlds I plan to maneuver through during my career.

But coming to LA was not just all work. During these past two months, I got to see and do so many cool things with some really awesome people. Since I only have 500 words to express my summer, I will just speak on a few instances. First, one of my favorite memories was visiting Warner Brothers. We got to go on an exclusive 6 hour tour of the sound stages and sets, and I even got to see one of my favorite shows, Pretty Little Liars, be on set (along with Fuller House). We even had the opportunity to hold an Oscar at the end, something I definitely took advantage of. The other memory I am very fond of is having my parents and best friends come visit me for a couple days. First my parents came in June, and we went to some fun tourist places, like Hollywood Blvd., the Chinese Theatre, and Santa Monica Pier. Then my best friends came to see me in July; We went to some of the same stops as well as Mulholland Drive, Rodeo Drive, a hidden beach in Malibu, and Taylor Swift’s house (we are a little obsessed with her, so we had to do it). It was so great to see my loved ones, and because they both came at different times, it helped me have something to look forward to get through the summer when I missed them dearly. Finally, the other two memories I loved were from places that aren’t even located in Los Angeles: the Golden Gate Bridge and Disneyland, which were both amazing and fun places to visit. That’s the beauty I’ve found about California. It has so much to offer as a state, and adventures stay fresh even after two months. There is always something to do.

I am sad to see the summer go so quickly, but I would not change anything about this summer. If you are reading this and can’t decide whether living in LA is for you, you should do this program. I feel so much more comfortable and at ease about my future, and I know I will carry these memories and lessons with me for a lifetime.

Summer '16 - by Becca Murdoch

     This summer is ending much differently than how it began, and yet some things are oddly repeating themselves. 

     After driving across the country with me to help me settle into a new, sprawling city, me and my mom and Whit spent a borderline miserably hot day strolling around Hollywood Boulevard, taking pictures and remarking about the Hollywood sign and Humphrey Bogart’s star on the Walk-of-Fame. It felt touristy and a little embarrassing, but it was fun and sweet and it made my mom happy. 

Cut to a day ago and I’m guiding two of my best friends, Faith and Celia, around the same path on Hollywood Boulevard, but this time I’m not scared and I don’t feel like a tourist. I feel almost like a pro. 

     I know where decent restaurants are and I know how to navigate back to the 101. I’m still a little nervous, but I”m not scared out of my mind. Two months in Los Angeles, California and I feel comfortable. Well, at least a bit more comfortable. 

Sure I still freak out about parking from time to time, but I now know I can figure it out. I’m not sequestered to only hanging out with the people I came with. I’ve built a small but incredibly fun group of friends from work. I no longer stress out that much about running out of money because I can’t figure out to budget. It may have taken me two months, but now I know that a salad from Trader Joes isn’t going to break the bank and it’s actually going to taste good. 

     I also know that I am capable of working a 9-6 office job, but I don’t necessarily love it. Researching guests for Conan day-in and day-out got tedious and exhausting, but I had friends that were always willing to commiserate with me after an especially brutal afternoon of screenshotting two years’ worth of Zac Efron’s twitter pictures. Work is hard. Friends make it better. 

     At the end of these two months, there are a lot of things I’ve done. I’ve gone to four beaches, I’ve met a few Very Important People, I’ve spent WAY too much money on food, I’ve made wonderful, lasting friendships, and I’ve been happy. 

     But I’ve also been lonely and frustrated and confused about my future career path. I came to LA thinking I would learn about how to become a writer for television. That was the career that all of my favorite people that I look up to had and I just wanted to be like them. Then, through panels at the Writers Guild Foundations, talks with other people trying to break into television writing, and some heavy soul-searching, I realized it wasn’t for me. The endless, breakneck hustling in this industry and especially this city is not for me. I love sharing other people’s wonderful work through film festival work and this class in Los Angeles guided me to that conclusion. 

     Every panel and every event narrowed down my scope of vision. It showed me some things I wanted and some things I definitely didn’t. At the beginning of this summer, I was scared and frozen by the career path I thought I needed to chase. Now that I’m standing at the finish line, ready to start my junior year, I’m still scared, but I’ve never been more excited to start my journey and achieve goals far more suited to the person I’ve become. 

-- Becca Murdoch -- 

Me meeting one of my favorite people in the whole world, Justin Baldoni, at the the Writers Guild Foundation Jane the Virgin event. 

Me pretending I know what I'm doing behind a camera. (I don't)

First day of Conan with my official badge!!

When you're in LA, you get last minute tickets to see Kanye debut a heinous video.

Obligatory roommate squad pic :) 

A wildfire on Cahuenga Blvd got WB all smoky. This is a very LA picture. 

A writer at Conan had to hug me during a sketch rehearsal. It was wonderful. 

The beaches in LA are actually beautiful. Don't get me wrong though, the Gulf Coast is still 100 times better.