“An Artist's World”

Storytelling and art are a core part of my life and how I view the world. My passions (art, dance, architecture, theater, and film) all coincide with or affect my current career path.    

My mother instilled in me a passion for reading and writing at a very young age. We took frequent library trips, and I read all the classics. I learned to love writing and storytelling that prompted twists, abrupt endings, and characters that leave the reader needing more. All essential pieces of making an intriguing film. 

As a little kid, over the holidays I would be taken on trips to the ballet for a Christmas gift, and from Middle school to high school I was involved in every dance and theater production I could. As I got even older, ballets, turned to Broadway shows. Years of Ballet, Tap, and Jazz have taught me the importance and strength of movement, blocking, and synchronization. Time management, both staying in time and staying on time, became essential. Stage management became second nature, and I pull on those skills today as I organize a studio or a set.   

My mother filled our house with fabric, sequins, and pins. While other kids left it behind at the end of the day, theater followed me home. Trashbags full of tulle and felt, bins of blouses and flowing skirts made their way into our car trunk as my mom, made her way into the role of the theater's “Costume Lady”. This term did little to capture the hours she spent labouring over every mermaid tail, Oompa Loompa hat, and fold of Jafar’s cloak. Seeing the effort of each stitch, sequin, and ruffle, the integrity for bodices, and structuring shaped my understanding of the work it takes to create each garment. Details I appreciate and I hope to recreate in future films. 

Both my parents went to school for architecture, so I grew up having the different types of columns pointed out to me and sidings sighed over. I was taught about famous architects, their different approaches to building, and the emotions they hoped to prompt through their architecture. Staying late at the theater let me get involved in other behind-the-scenes aspects. I got to paint sets and spray foam, gather props and arrange them to mimic real rooms and convey characters’ emotional states.. Going to the ballet and Broadway shows was a masterclass in the appreciation for sets and their construction, for how pieces of wood, fabric, and foam can create or imply a different world. How light runs through a window, how it can change a room, a scene. Understanding the work it took to create them added to the awe of sets, theaters and films alike. 

Over the summers, my friends and I wrote skits and created short films. We never knew where the plots were coming from; lines always spun together on the spot, but we always had fun setting up the shots. Further into high school, I started to watch behind the scenes of films, and wonder about the equipment and skill that it took to create what I was seeing. From there, my goal has been clear: to be able to work on sets, to see a film come together and to say I was a part of it. While I love producing and the stage managing of film, I love film more and would happily do any job on set if it meant I got to be there. Whether it would be Art Director, pulling together props and scenic pieces, or Gaffer, fiddling with burning hot lights to carefully capture a haze of smoke, or anything else, the passions I’ve pursued over the years have prepared me well to venture into this Artist’s World.

“How to Survive a Corporate Summer”

Have you just received your internship? Welcome to the Corporate world!

I spent my summer on the 18th floor of the Comcast Technology Center. It was an unusual internship, but it allowed me almost unfettered access across the campus and countless interactions in the corporate world. Here’s some advice I wish I’d been given to prepare me for the Corporate World. 

Business Attire in the Summer.

I spent every morning last summer travelling from sweltering downtown Philadelphia to the sweet relief of an air conditioned tower. Figuring out what to wear as an intern is a battle to begin with, and figuring out what to wear when navigating two separate climates is impossible. 

I recommend flowing slacks or long silky skirts, along with a layer, something to wrap yourself in. An extra something in your bag or a closet in case a grocery, snack, or coffee run turns into a swamp of sweat. While the name of the site feels more than a little on the nose. This article lays out in detail the pros and cons of different fabrics and provides dozens of links with suggestions. 

https://corporette.com/summer-work-clothes/  

The most important thing regarding dress codes, business casual or otherwise, is to remain aware and attentive to where you work and the clothing culture around you. Not just those of your fellow interns but your bosses and their full-time employees. As an intern, you could be added to last-minute “Lunch and Learns”, departmental check-ins, or meetings that require the collaboration of multiple department heads. Be confident in what you’re wearing, but most importantly, be prepared.

The Work. 

Every internship is different.  

But when it comes to the projects assigned to you, establish expectations immediately. Ask all the questions you can think of when it’s first assigned, and take notes!  What exactly do they expect you to do? Is there a format you need to follow? When do you need to have this finished? What’s the timeline, and when do they need to review?  

Don’t rush the project, imagining they’ll have more ready to go. Oftentimes, projects for interns are meant to keep you busy for weeks. Use that time to go above and beyond before the deadline, but don’t try to beat it. 

Preparation throughout your internship will save you. Before meetings, do your research and have notes, talking points, and questions to refer to.  

Be able to verbalise what was discussed, your opinion, and any questions you may have

The Art of a One-on-One.  

A one-on-one is a 15-minute or longer conversation with someone in the company. Use your resources, LinkedIn, and company websites. Research who in the company is doing a job you might enjoy. Who has similar passions or had a similar major to yours when they went to school? How did they make their transition from school to a corporation and a paying job? 

You can phrase it as grabbing a cup of coffee or that you admire them and want to learn more about a specific aspect of their job or journey. 

During the meeting, take note of 1 to 2 things to follow up on with them in a thank-you email. Meeting and beginning your relationship is just the first step. Maintaining those connections once you make them is essential. Not every meeting will provide you with a lifelong mentor, but it just might help you build a comfortable relationship with the company and future opportunities 

 For higher-ups, corporate spaces appreciate and follow a hierarchy; for the important people, “the big bosses,” consider asking your boss or direct manager to facilitate that introduction. 

It never hurts to ask. The worst you can hear is a no.

Overall, take advantage of the resources and experiences provided. The more meetings you can sit in, the events and mixers you can attend, and the people you can meet, the more successful and productive your internship will be. Similarly, each day is a new day. One with new chances, challenges, and opportunities. Embrace it.