The first weekend in LA or getting "oriented."

Hey,

I wanted to talk about the first weekend arriving in LA. More specifically "orientation weekend" for the ladder program. It can be a scary experience coming to a new place and not knowing where you are. The first weekend here gave us an opportunity to get more acquainted with our surroundings. We went to dinner as part of our orientation weekend down near Venice Beach. This was awesome to initially experience some quality food because it is harder to find good food in a smaller and less diverse place...i.e. Utah. On Sunday we were able to get some directions and our very own Thomas Guides to LA. A Thomas Guide is a book with a ton of maps for all the streets that you will end up going down by mistake. So we went on a scavenger hunt to find our respective workplaces and how to get there, along with a stop at a local favorite Barney's Beanery. A sort of restaurant/bar that is very popular. We ate some good food and were able to find out how to get to work before actually having to go Monday morning. That night we had a barbecue at Heidi's house which let us meet a few former interns. This was awesome to hear from previous interns who now work and live out here.

Overall orientation weekend was a blast!
(Pano)

The Hollywood Bowl

For our first class trip we spent an evening at The Hollywood Bowl. The Bowl is a natural amphitheater that has been host to many legendary acts. During our visit we heard the music of 'The Films of Paramount Pictures'. Hearing a live orchestra accompany some of the most iconic films of our time was, to say the least, moving. It's amazing to realize the impact that a soundtrack has on the movie-going experience. This, coupled with the incredible scenery, was an incredible welcome to Hollywood.

During our visit we also had the opportunity to chat with former interns about their experiences. These interns were incredibly engaging and were a source of comfort at the beginning of our adventure here. This world can seem intimidating at times and it is always nice to hear stories of success. Also, it is nice to hear these stories from people who were interns only a couple of years ago. They are not only an incredible asset but are also really fun to talk to!
(Melissa)

Moving to LA

It's hard to believe we've been out here over a month now. If I think back real hard-like, however, I can give prospective interns a few tips on moving out here.

• Pack light. Seriously. This is the most important tip I can give you. You're going to be working full time, and you'll only be here three months. I know you love 90210, dude, but do you really need The Complete Series taking up that shelf space? Pare it down.
• The usual boring automotive stuff holds true, especially if you're driving out from a few states over. Checked your fluids? Got some spare oil in the trunk? If you don't know a lot of this stuff, your car-obsessed brother can help you out. For once.
• Another car thing: give yourself a few days and see the country a bit. We started in Denver and stopped in Durango, Colorado, which is a great spot, and Barstow, California, which... not so much. But the point stands.
• You made it to LA. Explore! There's so much to do here it blows my mind, and I still haven't seen a tenth of the stuff I want to. Ask people at work what they do, and try to avoid going the usual touristy route. The Grauman's Chinese and stuff like that are great, once, but LA has way more to offer.
  

Days

When deciding to intern there are many decisions to be made. As part of this process you must decide whether to commit 5 days a week to one company or to split your time between 2. One company, five days a week means that you are always there. You're the go-to guy. Everyone is used to your presence and you are able to build those bonds a lot faster. Also, hopefully you are able to forge more solid contacts this way. If you split your internship you are grouped in with everybody else, as most interns are not able to be there five days a week. The bonds take longer to form and it is a struggle to learn that many more names. This makes the process a bit more challenging but it allows more opportunity for exploration. If you are not sure where you want to be in the business this is a great way to use your time and this opportunity to the fullest. So the real question is not five vs. two or three, it's 'do I know where I fit'?
(Pano)

Competition

This industry is run by competition. There exists a rivalry between the interns themselves, between the interns and the assistants, and then there is the competition between everyone else on a much larger scale. This is all really interesting to observe as an intern. It is especially interesting when you are not graduating in the spring and are not a direct threat to your fellow interns. Once you establish that you are not trying to take a job opportunity away from the intern next to you, you must make this clear to the assistants you work with as well. It is a hard line to straddle but it is a skill that must be learned. The competition battle is fought on every level of this industry. It just goes to show that there will forever be the fear of someone better and younger and more in tune coming along to dethrone you. Kind of a scary thought if you're on the throne...
(Melissa)

Pitchin'

You've done it. As a writer, you've written a successful spec, landed an agent, and you're ready to pitch.

Now what?

First off, you might be asking, "what is a pitch?" What say you, Wikipedia?

A pitch is a concise verbal (and sometimes visual) presentation of an idea for a film [or TV series], generally made by a screenwriter or director to a producer or studio executive in the hope of attracting development finance to pay for a screenplay to be written.

As my boss has both pitched and been pitched to, she has a particular insight into what to do and what not to do when you're trying to sell your idea.

First off, have a unique voice to bring to the table. This unique voice, if you've got it, comes from your life experiences, or because you've honed it through years of writing, or from your wild and crazy world view. Whatever makes you you, you dig?

Secondly, you should know the world you've created like the back of your hand. Go beyond what you've written and think outside the box.

But not too outside the box. Make sure you don't brainstorm in the pitch and throw out unmarketable adjectives. Remember, you're selling a product! You can fight the network for your artistic integrity once you're on the air.

There you go. Now get working on that script!

Battle of the Sexes

Hey, my name is Pano Mintiloglitis and I am interning at Scott Free Productions. I am excited about pursuing my "dream" while out here in California.

It's interesting how quickly men and women are given different roles in this industry. As an intern I have seen a segregation of duties between the male and female interns. Men are good at running errands while the women are better suited for writing coverage. Ridiculous? Of Course. Will it change? I'm not sure. I am trying to broaden my duties and make people realize that I too am capable of writing. It's a difficult fence to straddle because although I want to be recognized as having a brain and the ability to write, I also don't want to ONLY write coverage. It will be a process to convince these people that one person can do both. Stay tuned...
(Pano)

Artists in Business

During my internship I have the opportunity to watch artists and designers involved in the marketing process. This is an interesting struggle as the artists are unaware of deadlines and are more invested in the artistic process than anything else. The marketing department on the other hand is not only concerned with deadlines, but also has to deal with restrictions placed on them by the brand and by the different parties involved. This would seem to hinder the artistic process. I thought it would. However it becomes an opportunity for the artists to think outside of the box and to create work that would not have been conceived if they were not forced to create something based on specific guidelines. This struggle that they endure is essential to putting a product on the shelves. Both parties must fulfill their duties in order to put out the best product possible.
(Melissa)

Phone Calls

Your mom or dad probably taught you not to listen in on phone calls when you were a kid. It's rude, invasive, and you always get caught cause they can hear you breathing. Not so in Hollywood!

Believe it or not, assistants are allowed and, in fact, expected to listen in on their bosses' calls. Why, you ask? By and large, it's so the assistant can keep up on what's going on with various projects, and so they can instantly update their boss's calendar as plans are made over the phone.

Also, they have a "mute" button, so there's no need to worry about creepy breathing sounds. It's movie magic!

Hello!

My name's Matt, and I'm also here interning in LA with the Ladder Program. I'm originally from Denver (or thereabouts) and I'm on my third year at the U. My internship is with 50 Cannon Production Group, a company you've probably never heard of, but hopefully will when the Fall '08 TV season rolls around. We're owned by Mike Newell, who directed Harry Potter 4, among lots of other good stuff.

Tune in for more internship related goods and random LA tidbits!

Melissa

My name is Melissa and I was born in Salt Lake City and was raised in Ecuador, Honduras and Peru. I am currently in my junior year at the U and am pursuing a degree in Film Studies and Business. Obviously I am conflicted in my interests and this experience is all about combining my two passions and seeing if there is a place for me in this world. I am splitting my internship here. Three days a week I intern with Sidney Kimmel Entertainment (Alpha Dog, United93, Death at a Funeral, Breach, Talk To Me, and soon to release Kite Runner). The other two days I work with New Line Cinema's Home Entertainment department (The Lord of the Rings, Rush Hour, and Austin Powers franchises as well as Wedding Crashers and Hairspray). The internships are obviously very different but that is what makes this experience even more beneficial. I am looking forward to learning more about myself and where I fit in this industry!