InternViews: Ariel Greenway

InternViews is a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their internship experience.

Ariel Greenway is a fourth-year journalism major from Stockbridge, Georgia. This year, she’s spending her summer as a video editing intern for the Creative Artists Agency, a talent agency in Los Angeles, California. Read more about her internship experience below.

What opportunities have you had during your internship?

The opportunities I have during my internship are the access to people within CAA. I have the opportunity to network with assistants to CAA’s agents, networking with other interns and access to CAA Resources. I also get insight into the agency’s role in the industry.

Did you receive any mentorship or guidance? How did it impact your experience?

During the internship, the agency assigns each intern a buddy to provide support to them outside of their direct supervisor. My buddy, Jenelle, was an editor on the team, and she was the best. She was my first networking chat which helped me get over my anxiety around talking to people in the company. She gave me guidance on the people in the department and encouraged me to fully immerse myself into the company culture. She helped me get over the “new kid at school” feeling.

How has the Grady curriculum prepared you for this internship?

The largest way the Grady curriculum prepared for this internship was through Dr. Biddles’ Sound and Picture Editing class. The class gave me the vocabulary and confidence to demonstrate my knowledge during internship interviews. Additionally, I am constantly using Premiere Pro, a skill I learned from the class, and the team at Creative Artists Agency was really glad that I already had that editing knowledge. 

What is the most valuable piece of advice you gained from your experience?

The most valuable piece of advice I gained was to talk to everyone even if they aren’t in your department or your dream role. I talked to people who were assistants to agents in parts of the company that I did not have an interest in, but those assistants will give you a new perspective and often have dreams that do not involve taking over the jobs of their bosses. The assistants will give you advice on how to advance within the company and the industry in general because everyone is after something and it is not often what you think. The advice that people offer will surprise you and you will meet people you never thought you would. Overall, you have to have an open mind.

How has this internship influenced your future career?

This internship has influenced my future career by giving me more options. I have more options for work because of CAA’s name recognition. I have a higher likelihood of getting into the CAA Mailroom, which can lead to upward mobility through the company. If I make it all the way to the assistant position, I can pivot towards creative work due to the industry access of CAA. I am also interested in agency work and am open to a different career other than being a creative. Being an agent in the right department can have more influence than being a creative.

Editor: Sarah Kate Maher, skm01341@uga.edu