Meet Our Class of 2023

Fall 2023 Interns

Tarelle Butts

Santa Monica College

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Editing

Host Company:
Ping Pong Productions

Favorite Show:
Homeland

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My career counselor inspired me to pursue a creative marketing career. I enjoy writing music, designing, creating short-form content, and working with teammates to develop campaigns from concept to launch. Working in television as a creative marketer allows me to fuse all my passions as a creative strategist and team player to build brands and entertain fans with engaging stories.

Kate Franklin

University of Southern California

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Editing

Host Company:
Geiger

Favorite Show:
Jeopardy

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
When I was younger I watched a lot of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Jeopardy, and NCIS, and they really gave me the motivation to take some of my first film classes in middle school. I wanted to know what it was like to be someone who would make a show like the ones that kept me so captivated. I was fortunate enough to go to a school where they offered a film curriculum, and seeing the high schoolers make films was incredibly inspiring. Once I took my first film class in middle school the rest was history.

Chrisie Morris

California State University - Long Beach

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Music

Host Company:
Mr. Clown Productions

Favorite Show:
Spongebob SquarePants

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My name is Chrisie, but my father used to call me "chris-elodeon" as a kid because watching Nickelodeon and other TV shows was my obsession. My favorite memories are sitting on the couch with my dad, eating snacks, and watching everything and anything on TV. While watching these shows I decided to try drawing what I watched, which marked the start of my journey in the Arts. It was later in High School when I learned of Television Production that I set my heart on that career path.

Cecilia Mou

University of Southern California

Graduation Year: 2026

Category:
Production Management

Host Company:
Disney Branded Television

Favorite Show:
Fleabag

My sixth grade teacher once gave me full creative freedom on a history project we had due in class. She suggested that I create a video to practice my media literacy -- and that one project spiraled into a love for filmmaking. By simply giving someone the freedom for creativity, she inspired years of love and dedication to the craft of storytelling within me.

Isaak Nsuangani

California State University - Long Beach

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Development - Scripted

Host Company:
The Wolper Organization

Favorite Show:
One Tree Hill

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
The stories I watched growing up inspired me to seek a career in television. As a kid, there was endless options to feed my curiosity of my external world. Living in rural Bakersfield, television introduced me to the world outside my small town. It taught me how to think and dream big and I want to take part in creating worlds for people's imagination to get lost in.

Dahlia Pacheco

California State University - Northridge

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Production Management

Host Company:
NZK/Warner Horizon/The Bachelor Franchise

Favorite Show:
Criminal Minds

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
As cliche as it sounds, watching TV shows as a child made me want to tell stories and to learn how they are able to tell their stories on screen. I wanted to know what it took to go from script to screen, and from there I learned about the world of production management.

Julia Ralenkotter

Boston University - Los Angeles

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Development - Scripted

Host Company:
The Walt Disney Company/FX Original Programming

Favorite Show:
Saturday Night Live

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
At just fourteen, Saturday Night Live was my love at first sight. In reading practically every book on the subject, I recognized the unique power of television in changing the hearts and minds of others through laughter. With the potential to influence millions of lives through creative expression- and many more in syndication- I became inspired to access the national conversation through entertainment.

Isabella Reish

Boston University - Los Angeles

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Development - Scripted

Host Company:
Daniel L. Paulson Productions

Favorite Show:
Broad City

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Anybody brave enough to crack a joke in front of a camera is my hero. Some of my favorite memories with family and friends revolve around binge watching sitcoms and rehashing bits from our favorite sketch shows. I want to create the kind of comedy that brings people together.

Keryn Shames

University of Southern California

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Agency

Host Company:
Authentic Talent and Literary Management

Favorite Show:
How I Met Your Mother

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My passion for TV initially started from watching Full House as a child. I started watching behind-the-scenes footage to learn more about the actors, actresses, production, marketing, and everything in between. This is where my interest was piqued and where I decided that I wanted to be a part of such an influential industry.

Summer 2023 Interns

Olayinka Akinlade

Loyola Marymount University

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Production Management

Host Company:
Reverie Content, Inc.

Favorite Show:
Pose

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I was inspired to seek a career in television by the show Pose as it showed me how television has the ability to change lives. With each episode and season, I formed a connection with each character. I was able to learn about an experience that is unfamiliar to me solely through empathy, and that is amazing to me. I want to work in television to continue promoting stories that allow us to connect with one another and foster a culture of empathy.

Amelia Anello

University of Southern California

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Sound

Host Company:
Smart Post Sound

Favorite Show:
Star Wars Rebels

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
What inspired me to seek a career in television is the way that it always has made me feel. There is something so magical about sitting with your friends or family and connecting over a shared love of a TV show, and I want to create and be a part of something that makes other people feel the same way. Both of my parents are incredibly hard working and have inspired me to be the same way, and I would not be where I am without them. At a young age, they instilled in me a lifelong love of television, and it would be amazing to work on a piece of television that both of them enjoy.

Madison Anglin

New York University

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Music

Host Company:
Jeff Russo

Favorite Show:
?

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Beginning to study music at a young age opened my artistic awareness to music all around us, even the places most may not notice, especially television. I soon began to realize that what I was feeling while following along a story wasn't always from what I saw, but from what I heard. From then on, I knew that I also wanted to be a part of storytelling. But through my own music.

Lurdine Anifowoshe

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
News: Entertainment

Host Company:
EXTRA

Favorite Show:
Love Island: UK

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I live for diversity and representation. Growing up I didn’t see a lot of people that looked like me not only in my community, but also on television and I knew something was deeply wrong with that. I have always been passionate about television and the entertainment industry, but as I have grown older and experienced more of life, those experiences have inspired me to make it my mission to ensure that television represents the diversity of the world, and not just a certain demographic.

Luis Avila

Chapman University

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
News: Broadcast

Host Company:
Univision

Favorite Show:
RuPaul’s Drag Race

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I am very inquisitive and so, growing up, I almost always had the news playing on the TV. On a deeper level, I have always admired news personalities for their assertiveness and poise, traits I lacked until I completed a public speaking course in middle school. Putting my curiosity and newfound confidence together, I knew that broadcast journalism was the route for me.

Trelon Barret

Mississippi State University

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
News: Entertainment

Host Company:
EXTRA

Favorite Show:
We Are Who We Are

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I have always been fascinated by the visual medium from a young age. I became inspired to seek a career in the field, initially, because of all the shows and movies I watched before I entered college. However, I shifted from wanting to become a director to more of a critic in college. I just really fell in love with the idea of being able to critique what I watch from all the reviews I read in The Hollywood Reporter and Variety.

Jazmin Brown

California State University - Fullerton

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Getting Real - Development/Casting

Host Company:
High Noon Entertainment

Favorite Show:
Stranger Things

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
One of my favorite shows growing up was Gilmore Girls. I found myself relating to the main character, Rory Gilmore, in so many ways, from her love of school to her relationship with her mother, Lorelai. Growing up, I didn't have many positive influences on the screen that looked like me and that I could relate to. I decided that I wanted young black girls to have the chance to find their Rory Gilmore.

Zoe Collins

Chapman University

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Development - Children's

Host Company:
Cloudco Entertainment

Favorite Show:
Arcane

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Growing up, shows like Gravity Falls and Adventure Time sparked my love for cartoons and motivated me to write and draw my own stories. I've known ever since I began watching these shows that I wanted to make cartoons. I have the influence of series like these and the support of my friends, family, and old teachers to thank for inspiring me to follow my ambition of creating for television.

Ximena Davis

University of Southern California

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Development - Scripted

Host Company:
Bristol Circle Entertainment

Favorite Show:
The Twilight Zone

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Stories have always been an escape for me and as a young adult I became immersed in the worlds of my favorite TV shows like Supernatural and Star Trek. Seeing the intricate worlds and characters that could change, triumph, make mistakes, and share grief is something I really connected to when I myself felt isolated in life. It inspired me to create my own unique, messy, and detailed characters and worlds that I hope will connect with other young, awkward, and passionate storytellers like myself.

Care Dorghalli

University of Southern California

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Production: Documentary/Nonfiction/Unscripted

Host Company:
Herizon Productions, LLC

Favorite Show:
Love on the Spectrum

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My high school history teacher first exposed me to the beauty of films. Because of the spark he ignited in me, I applied to film school at USC. To my absolute delight, I was accepted. Through taking both documentary and television classes, I realized that is the direction I would like to take my career in.

Rachelle Duran

California State University - Long Beach

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Public Relations/Publicity

Host Company:
Accolade Publicity and Consulting

Favorite Show:
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
So many shows contributed to my growing love for entertainment. The more I learned about what happens behind the scenes, from production to promotional aspects, the more inspired I became. My desire to have a career in television is motivated by my love for storytelling and for bringing more diversity to this industry. Being around like-minded individuals who will get my TV references is also a big plus.

Clare E. Groninger

California State University - Northridge

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Physical Production/Business Management

Host Company:
Xpedition Media, Inc.

Favorite Show:
Psych

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Two mentors have defined my genesis in television production. Professor Karen Dee Carpenter is an incredible filmmaker and artist; I am fortunate to have her as a producing professor and creative mentor. During the pandemic, she was the one who encouraged me to pursue television even when everything was virtual. Atieh Bandehyazdani is a Television Academy alumnus and my freshman-year student mentor that not only introduced me to the expansive possibilities of television but also the important role physical production plays in this creative industry.

Elizabeth Giacchetti-Dzenkauskaite

California State University - Fullerton

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Getting Real

Host Company:
44 Blue Productions LLC

Favorite Show:
The Rehearsal

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I have always loved to entertain and story tell. Since I was a little kid, I would go up to strangers and ask them questions because I was so genuinely curious about them. I've always known I wanted to have a career that would highlight people's voices and give them the ability to tell their stories.

Mina Hostrop

University of Hawaii - Manoa

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Production: Animation (hand drawn)

Host Company:
Bento Box Entertainment

Favorite Show:
Transformers: Animated

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Since I was a kid I loved watching cartoons, and that inspired my love for making stories and characters. My friends ultimately inspired me to seek animation as a career as many of them were part of the animation track in my school, so I took the move of taking that as my major. I grew up with many cartoons in my time such as Transformers, Regular Show, and Steven Universe, and showrunners such as Rebecca Sugar and J. G. Quintel inspire me a lot with their works.

Mark Jabourian

University of North Carolina - School of the Arts

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Special Visual Effects

Host Company:
CoSA VFX

Favorite Show:
Breaking Bad

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
The evolving industry trend towards short-form content inspired me to choose television as my career path. The appeal lies in its potential for greater financial security and an expansive storytelling canvas. My mentor at UNCSA, Bob Keen, further influenced this decision, emphasizing the surge in television production opportunities. His insights, combined with the industry's shifting dynamics and my love for storytelling, affirmed my choice to dive into television.

Geethika Kataru

University of Miami

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Production Management

Host Company:
Starz Entertainment, LLC

Favorite Show:
Fleabag

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My professor Rechna Varma is who inspired me to take the leap of faith and put myself out there for opportunities such as this. As another powerful brown woman, I see myself in her and it is inspiring to me to watch her produce amazing works and have such a drive to make her creative projects come to life. She made the entertainment field seem achievable, but also reminded me of how important this work is to inspire others.

Madeleine Kern

New York University

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Development - Scripted

Host Company:
The Walt Disney Company (FX)

Favorite Show:
Fargo

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
For me, television has always meant a chance to bond. I grew up binge-watching shows into the early morning with my dad, and I soon found myself filled with ideas for television and intrigue into how each show was made. There was (and is) nothing I enjoy more than talking with friends about a show that was airing and all of our theories about it. Television gives you a chance to experience a thousand worlds outside of your own, and for me, there was no career more perfect to pursue.

Daniel Kundrat

Towson State University

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Development - Scripted

Host Company:
Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment

Favorite Show:
One Piece

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My entire childhood was practically Nickelodeon, and they are what mainly inspired me to seek a career in television. From the world and stories within the Avatar universe, to the funny episodes of Victorious and iCarly, I dreamt about making the magic behind the living room TV as a child. Aside from this, my biggest inspirations for pursuing a career in television are Bryan Teller Clark, and several friends and professors from my college, including Professor May, who first showed me the beauty of storytelling, and Professor Ross, who believes in the story and world that I want to build. Many friends in the film and theatre department who are now graduated, showed me that there is life and possibility for me to pursue in this industry, and I am deeply grateful for them.

Kaela Lavin

University of California - Los Angeles

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Corporate Social Responsibility

Host Company:
Banijay Americas

Favorite Show:
Community

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My mom and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. My mom inspired my love of television from a young age, showing me the educational and entertainment powers of TV. Mister Rogers showed me that television is an important medium for change – we can learn to be kind to our neighbors, the necessity of being compassionate leaders in our communities, and how to advocate for equality through television. Television is a medium for good.

Evelyn Lim-Garcia

California State University - Fullerton

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Getting Real - Development

Host Company:
Endemol Shine North America

Favorite Show:
BoJack Horseman

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Like many others, while growing up, I was an avid television watcher. As time went on, I found myself increasingly curious about the interworkings of the television industry - from the conception to the physical production, then the finished product. This, combined with my love of storytelling and its endless possibilities, gave me the motivation to seek a career in television.

Carissa Liu

University of Southern California

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Public Relations/Publicity

Host Company:
Organic

Favorite Show:
Jane the Virgin

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Before I could even comprehend what was being said on screen, I’ve been watching TV! Watching television has shaped some of my core values and taught me communication techniques that I’ve been able to apply off-screen in my own life. I’ve always had a fondness for the relatability that television show characters can have in our lives, so I couldn’t think of a more fitting field than the television industry for me. I’m a superfan of so many television shows, and I hope that’ll be helpful in even the smallest way as I enter this multifaceted industry. My PR coursework has also taught me that I love media relations, and I know television is an industry that relies a lot on this specific sector of PR.

Emery Markey

Loyola Marymount University

Graduation Year: 2025

Category:
Agency

Host Company:
Authentic Talent and Literary Management

Favorite Show:
Our Flag Means Death

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I have always been interested in the representative side of entertainment, but bounced between music and film/TV. However, it was not until I took a couple college classes - like Queer TV and Film/Media and Social Justice - that I really became interested in television. The professors, TAs, and students expressed such immense passion for film and TV that it led to my own curiosity. Lastly, my professor and mentor, Dr. Miranda Banks continues to inspire me through our conversations around the motion picture industry and encourages my interest in representation.

Peri Michael

American Film Institute

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Development - Scripted

Host Company:
Valhalla Entertainment

Favorite Show:
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I have always been drawn to the immersiveness and escapism of media, and I realized early on that everything looks cooler on TV, which really comes down to good storytelling. The longer narrative form of television is particularly compelling to me because truly getting to grow with characters is so special. Media evolves with us, and I want to be part of ensuring it is both enjoyable and an authentic reflection of our modern society.

Jaime Morales-Hernandez

Minnesota State University - Moorhead

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Production: Animation (CG)

Host Company:
Lex and Otis Studios

Favorite Show:
Atlanta

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Artists like Guillermo Del Toro and Donald Glover who were able to use their backgrounds and culture into their creative work are what inspired me. I was also inspired by films like Coco and The Book of Life that represent communities that I identify with. Most importantly my parents, family, and friends are what inspired me in seeking a career in television as there is multiple stories that of the struggles we've been through.

Mateo Nikolav

Santa Monica College

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Getting Real - Development

Host Company:
Bunim/Murray Productions

Favorite Show:
Westworld

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Watching Tania Hermida's film Que Tan Lejos when I was nine years old was the first time I came across characters and storylines that explored and reflected parts of my identity I had never seen on-screen before. Not only did her film inspire me to dream about becoming a filmmaker when I grew up, but it shifted my attention to television as I found that TV shows and the medium's format for episodic storytelling offered an experience that called for introspection and curiosity. I believe TV has the power to inspire new communities and immerse audiences in realities beyond their own.

Caroline Nouhan

Wesleyan University

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Development - Scripted

Host Company:
Prodigal Entertainment

Favorite Show:
Mad Men

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Stories have always been an escape for me and as a young adult, I became immersed in the worlds of my favorite TV shows like Supernatural and Star Trek. Seeing the intricate worlds and characters that could change, triumph, make mistakes, and share grief is something I really connected to when I myself felt isolated in life. It inspired me to create my own unique, messy, and detailed characters and worlds that I hope will connect with other young, awkward, and passionate storytellers like myself.

Mathewson Parks

Berry College

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Interactive Media

Host Company:
Elysium Media

Favorite Show:
Barry

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My father exposed me to auteur-driven movies at a young age, and I started writing my own scripts and filming sketches and short films from middle school through college. Watching Bill Hader's growth from an anxious SNL cast member to an auteur director inspired me to pursue the television industry in a serious way. A lot of the bold creativity in Hollywood today primarily seems to be coming out of television.

Chase Ramsey

California State University - Long Beach

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Editing

Host Company:
Ping Pong Productions

Favorite Show:
The Last of Us

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I started watching animated music videos (AMVs) around the age of 12, and was immediately hooked by the powerful stories that were being reframed into something brand new when fans edited video clips to music in order to intensify the existing scene or put their own spin on the narrative.

Anna Reynoso

Yale University

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Editing

Host Company:
Geiger Post

Favorite Show:
Friends

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I have my mom to thank for my love for television. We've been through a lot together, and watching TV has always been a fundamental part of our relationship. Having grown up with television and now having discovered my love for filmmaking and storytelling, I'm extremely excited to explore a medium that has been such an integral part of my life.

Sydney Rothenberg

Loyola Marymount University

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Casting

Host Company:
Isenberg Casting & Consulting

Favorite Show:
Survivor

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
After visiting the Saturday Night Live pop-up exhibit in Chicago, I knew that television was the field I wanted to go into. Seeing the writers' room, control room, and learning about the process it takes to put a television show together made me know that this was what I wanted to do with my life. After doing theatre since I was eight, I knew that the arts was an area I wanted to stay in, but seeing the direct impact a television show can have on its viewers allowed me to know that television was the place for me.

Angelique Russell

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Foster Youth Opportunity - Development (Scripted)

Host Company:
Shondaland

Favorite Show:
Lucifer

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
As a little girl, I have always loved television and I have also always adored writing. Being able to lose myself in stories that hold so much meaning, on TV shows like Friends, Soul Food, Everybody Loves Raymond, Gilmore Girls, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and so many more cemented my desire to help create stories. It was also important for me to one day see more girls who looked like me, as I never saw girls who were lazy-eyed or autistic onscreen. Having the ability to tell stories that others like me can relate to is what motivated me to pursue television.

Harsimran Sandhu

California State University - San Diego

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Getting Real - Development

Host Company:
44 Blue Productions, LLC

Favorite Show:
Tie between The Good Place and Ted Lasso

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Growing up, stories always made me feel less alone, whether that be TV, movies, or books. With television, I saw myself in the characters and they helped me get through rough times in my life. I want to be able to help others in that similar way as well.

Timothy Shibles

University of North Carolina - School of the Arts

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Design: Art Direction/Set Decoration

Host Company:
JPConnelly

Favorite Show:
Will and Grace

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I've always had a flair when it came to design, but if it wasn't for my best friend in high school, I know for a fact I wouldn't be where I am today. He introduced me to some of my favorite TV shows like Game of Thrones, and along the way, I found what spoke to me individually. I'm looking forward to working alongside him in the television industry at some point!

Sophie Silva

University of California - Los Angeles

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Agency

Host Company:
ATB Talent Agency

Favorite Show:
Avatar: The Last Airbender

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
When I found myself bawling after finishing all six seasons of This Is Us, I made a vow that this is what I want to be a part of. I’ve always been captivated by the power of storytelling within television and its ability to transport audiences and evoke genuine emotion. Moreover, I admire the fantastic world-building abilities of talented creators, writers, and directors who I hope to work alongside one day.

Cassandra Sisson

University of North Carolina - School of the Arts

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Design - Costume

Host Company:
Terry Gordon, et al

Favorite Show:
The Golden Girls

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
What inspired me most to seek a career in television was the television shows themselves. A well-developed, incredibly produced show speaks for itself and it was many shows like this that drew me in. I want to take part in the creative storytelling that television provides the opportunities to make.

Jessica Tifase

Virginia Commonwealth University

Graduation Year: 2024

Category:
Production: Commercials

Host Company:
Radical Media, et al

Favorite Show:
The Real World

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Any kid who grew up in the early 2000s can confidently say that television has had a huge influence in their life, and I’m no different; television shaped the way I saw and understood the world, and I want to be a part of its future. Throughout my life, I’ve had this belief that the power of storytelling is unlike anything in this world. And the ability that a single story has to transcend any type of barrier is unparalleled. And this has always been the driving force behind the work that I make now and the work that I want to make in the future.

Siena Viencek-Walsh

Chapman University

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Production - Live Television

Host Company:
Bob Bain Productions

Favorite Show:
Weeds

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Television and its groundbreaking history have always inspired me! The Television Academy Foundation's work "preserving and celebrating the medium of television" has always inspired me as well. My favorite television shows have always gotten me through the best of times and the worst of times. It was only when I had some medical setbacks and went to community college that I knew I wanted to pursue a career in television and nothing else would suffice. During that time, I volunteered at my local TV station and fell in love with the fast-paced, team-centered, mental, and physical challenges of production. The more women I saw working in production, the more I was inspired to continue on this path. I was also inspired by my father. He always guided me towards pursuing a creative career, the type of career he always wished he pursued. In a way, seeking a career in TV is not only fulfilling my dream but my father's dream as well, and to me that's pretty cool.

Spring 2023 Interns

Ana Carolina Arantes

University of Southern California

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Production Management

Host Company:
Warner Horizon/The Bachelor Franchise   

Favorite Show:
Lost

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My upbringing was always inclined towards the arts, but when I saw my first and only (thus far) Broadway play, The Phantom of the Opera, I was amazed by the feelings provoked by great storytelling and by the performances of the actors. Since then, I have chosen television because I believe this path will allow me to touch the lives of others in a broader and more accessible way.

Robyn Bankston    

Loyola Marymount University

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Development - Scripted

Host Company:
Valhalla Entertainment

Favorite Show:
Sailor Moon

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
It wasn't until I started taking pilot writing classes at LMU that I considered a career in television. Specifically, my interest was sparked by professors Deborah Dean Davis and Vanessa Baden Kelly -- they're iconic. TV shows connect to such a wide range of audiences and give opportunity to develop characters in such a profound way. It's inspiring enough as it is.

Nina Barresi

Boston University -
Los Angeles   

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Development - Scripted

Host Company:
Prodigal Entertainment

Favorite Show:
Fleabag

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
The show Shrill truly changed my life. Seeing myself represented truly and wholly on screen was the catalyst that helped me realize I wanted to give someone that experience too. I hope to be a writer who champions all facets of inclusivity and representation in the television industry with both heart and laughs.

Kristi Beckett

University of Southern California

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Casting

Host Company:
McNulty Casting, Inc.

Favorite Show:
Gilmore Girls

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
From the time I was 10 I knew that I wanted to be in the entertainment industry. I started acting by age 12 and was on Nickelodeon as a series regular at 16. I have seen the industry from the side of talent and now I know that I want to help talent get there.

Jacklyn (Jackie) Elliott

Columbia College Chicago - Semester in LA program

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Editing

Host Company:
Geiger Post

Favorite Show:
Normal People

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Growing up, television has always been an important part of my life and family. I was inspired to seek a career in television by my peers and teachers at South Elgin High School's Beacon Academy. They taught me the basics of editing, and I was inspired to go into editing after my class awarded me "best editor."

Ja'Kayla Francois

Chapman University

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Production Management

Host Company:
Freeform Onyx

Favorite Show:
Criminal UK

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
Television has deeply influenced my sense of self, and it plays a vital role in how the world views me and how I view the world around me. My desire to seek a career in television is motivated by my love for storytelling and the greater need for a more diverse media industry.

Bridget Gales

Loyola Marymount University

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Development - Children's

Host Company:
Cloudco Entertainment, LLC

Favorite Show:
Search Party/Love Sick

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
My mom – a boisterous woman who will make friends with anyone – sparked a love of storytelling in me at a young age. I saw her stories disarm people, make them laugh and bring them together. I picked up the skill as a way to make friends. Today, I still find joy in sharing entertaining stories from my life to a rapt audience, and I can't wait to tell more in the endlessly creative world of television.

Margarito "MJ" Garza

California State University - Northridge

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Casting

Host Company:
Hulu

Favorite Show:
Lost

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
What inspired me to go into television was always having a love of escaping into a world through characters I adored. Binge-watching Lost and becoming immersed in its universe is what sparked my interest in making a career in TV. Also from my diverse background, I want to help others by supporting those who are underrepresented within media.

Kaylen Ng

Chapman University

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Star Trek Command Training Program

Host Company:
CBS Television Studios  

Favorite Show:
Gilmore Girls

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
In high school, I got hooked on a podcast called "Gilmore Guys" which broke down every episode of Gilmore Girls. I became fascinated by how a single episode of TV could have such a multitude of moving parts to discuss, all of which trickled down from the mind of one person: showrunner Amy Sherman-Paladino. Never had I heard of a job that was as encompassing, creative, and business-minded than that of a showrunner; it was polarizing. Suddenly, the idea of television expanded to a whole bustling behind-the-scenes industry I had to learn about and wanted to be a part of.

Parker Obregon

Emerson College -
Los Angeles

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Editing

Host Company:
Ping Pong Productions

Favorite Show:
The Sopranos

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
It was my love for movies. I have always wanted to be part of this world of creating content. The first film class I took in high school was the launch point for me deciding to use that love for film for the first time.

Brandon Sherman

Emerson College -
Los Angeles

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Casting

Host Company:
CBS Television Studios

Favorite Show:
Star Trek (original series)

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
I have always been passionate about writing, and I have been in love with TV and movies for as long as I can remember. I think what first started me in the direction of this career was my high school radio and TV station's annual charity telethon. I was never as involved as I'd like to have been, but that didn't stop me from being unreasonably happy about pointing studio cameras at auction items and running back and forth between answering phones and introducing songs on the radio.

Samantha Smith

California State University - Northridge

Graduation Year: 2023

Category:
Star Trek Command Training Program

Host Company:
Kim Coleman Casting

Favorite Show:
Friends

What inspired you to seek a career in television?
What inspired me to seek a career in television is the lack of proper representation in entertainment. I rarely see people like me on TV and I hope that I will be able to change that. I want to bring in more diversity and representation of minorities because it is beneficial to society.

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