Matthew Feldman

Major: Communication Arts & Sciences, Psychology
Hometown: Potomac, MD

How did you learn about this opportunity?

I knew I wanted to participate in internship in Los Angeles that was involved with the entertainment industry. With that in mind, I went to the internet and applied to internships at many of the large entertainment studios in Los Angeles. I also reached out to my Uncle and Aunt who live in the area and are involved within the industry. My uncle told me that his friend's company was looking for interns, so I forwarded my resume and interviewed with them. When I heard back from the internships I had applied to, I got into a few programs, but I chose to intern with Circle of Confusion because it seemed like the internship was most related to what I want to do with my career.

Tell us a little bit about your experience.

I would have to say this internship is a dream. Compared to other internships I've done in the past, this internship requires far less grunt work and significantly more work that makes me feel like I'm receiving training relevant for my future career. As a person passionate about the film and entertainment industry, I have found this internship to be fulfilling because I get to regularly read television pilots and screenplays that could potentially be optioned and turned into either television shows or movies. In addition, being surrounded by people who are equally passionate about your interests is a considerably rewarding experience which adds to the joy I've had thus far.

How did this experience impact you academically?

This experience has positively impacted me academically in many ways. While I am not pursuing a film major in college, I came into this internship knowing as much about the entertainment industry as I could learn from reading articles and critiques of my favorite shows and movies. In this position, I am able to participate behind scenes of the industry and I am learning something new every day. For instance, during my first week I learned that when a pilot for a television show is created, they also create what is called a bible that complements the pilot, indicating what will happen in future episodes and seasons. From professionals in the field, I've also been learning about the most marketable parts of a television show or movie. For instance, one of my mentors indicated that strong characters are more marketable than strong stories, so they are more important.

"This internship has confirmed my interest in the entertainment industry and has provided me with valuable experiences to start my career."

What are your career goals and plans?  How did this experience impact them?

My career goal is to get involved in the entertainment industry following graduation. This internship has confirmed my interest in the entertainment industry and has provided me with valuable experiences to start my career. First of all, the skills that I have learned will provide me with the knowledge needed to perform in a wide-variety of other positions.  Because of this internship, I will also have a stronger idea of industry expectations when conducting my own job search. In addition, this internship has provided me with the opportunity to network with professionals in the field who may be able to assist me in my future job search. Also, being part of a very selective internship program, I've been introduced to a number of other interns who come from well-regarded academic institutions who are passionate about getting involved in the industry. These connections have extended my professional network and may also assist me in my transition from student to professional.

Would you recommend this experience to other Liberal Arts students?

I would certainly recommend this internship experience to other liberal arts students. I've gained a vast amount of resources and knowledge after that will hopefully assist me in the near future. It will also hopefully help me when searching for employment as I try to look for opportunities after I graduate from college.