Eye on Hollywood, UC student interns with HBO, Disney
A&S senior says companies encourage Gen Z to speak up, have a voice
By Rebecca Schweitzer
Students in the University of Cincinnati are always finding new ways to gain experience in their fields.
Callie Tucker, a fourth-year student in UC's Digital Media Collaborative, has her sights set on Hollywood. At UC, Tucker has had the opportunity to intern at some of the world's most well-known media companies in order to make her dream a reality.
UC's Digital Media Collaborative is an interdisciplinary program that prepares students for careers in digital media, focusing on filmmaking, animation and game design.
Tucker, a Cincinnati native, graduate of Cincinnati Public Schools, and first-generation college student, knew early on that internships were an important step, and that studying in the digital media program would help her achieve her goal.
“The interdisciplinary program was a perfect match for the type of person that I am,” Tucker said. “The A&S curriculum wasn’t restricting, and I’ve been awarded scholarships during my time at UC.”
Her freshman year, Tucker interned on a film set. During her sophomore year, she completed internships for UC athletics and a local company.
All the while, Tucker perfected her resume, practicing for interviews, talking with mentors, and deepening her industry knowledge to show that she cared about the field and was passionate about the work.
A&S Digital Media Collaborative intern Callie Tucker at the Emmy's, building a career foundation in the media industry.
At the end of her sophomore year, Tucker landed an internship with the Television Academy Foundation, most famously known for producing the Emmys. During Tucker’s junior year, she began an internship for Disney+, which turned into a remote internship due to COVID-19. Most recently, she finished a remote internship for HBO Max.
Tucker’s adjustment to remote work during her time at Disney+ was not easy, she said, but an accessible team with weekly check-ins and meetings helped her to adapt and prepared her for the fully remote HBO Max internship.
One of the largest takeaways for Tucker was her ability to find her voice in the film community.
“When you work in entertainment, it is so important to have a voice in the art,” she said. “You have to be able to think creatively and articulate. There isn’t a better time to be an intern, companies want to listen to what gen z has to say, they encourage speaking up.”
There isn't a better time to be an intern. Companies want to listen to what Gen Z has to say--they encourage speaking up.
Callie Tucker, UC digital media student
Thanks to her internships, Tucker has built a solid foundation in the media industry and grasps a better understanding of the career she hopes to build.
“I have built a great foundation through these internships," Tucker said. “I’m confident when I enter the workforce in a few months I can succeed.”
Featured image at top: UC student Callie Tucker outside her internship at the Television Academy Foundation in Los Angeles.
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