InternViews: Dyllon Glaze

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

Dyllon Glaze is a fourth-year EMST and theatre major from Kennesaw, Georgia. This year, she’s spending her summer as a development intern at ShivHans Pictures in Los Angeles, California as part of the Grady LA Field Study and Internship Program. Read more about her internship experience below.

Please provide a brief overview of your role and its associated responsibilities.

In this position, I interned in development at an independent film, television and theatrical production company. Over the course of two months, I completed regular script coverage, pitched projects, studied projects at different stages of development and learned more about independent film and film development. I consistently learned about the work of producers in every facet of production and development, and aided the company wherever necessary, always learning from the incredible work of my supervisors.

How has the Grady curriculum prepared you for this internship?

For this role, it was incredibly important to thoughtfully understand and process a script. In addition to this, keeping up with the trade articles and current events of the industry became imperative to discuss current or upcoming projects. Both of these skills are things that have become familiar through my Grady education and work with my professors, and this opportunity was a reminder to keep building those habits!

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

I did, and it was so valuable. My supervisors were passionate about helping us understand the industry we are hoping to work in, and fostered a community of open curiosity and exploration. We were encouraged and expected to ask questions, to think deeply about projects we discussed and to voice our opinions. Every question we had was answered fully and expanded upon, and every subject became a larger conversation that strengthened our knowledge. I went into this internship with a very basic understanding of independent film production, and am leaving with knowledge that spans the entire industry. I am so grateful for my supervisors, and the wealth of knowledge and resources they were so ready to give and the depth of advice they had for us.

What challenges have you overcome in this role?

Some of the biggest challenges I had in this role were writing concisely, and being prepared for anything. I learned the importance of compression in my writing, and as someone who loves to include all information that I have in my work, this was a wonderful opportunity to practice this skill. Additionally, as I improved, I began to work faster and improve the pace and clarity of my script analysis. When pitching, I learned to always be prepared, and even when it may be difficult to present a project from a while before, the practice of executing this is invaluable experience.

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

The best advice I received was to always work hard, of course, and to pay attention to what is happening in the industry. At times it can be difficult to stay up to date on everything that is happening across studios, media formats and independent projects, but this knowledge becomes an invaluable resource. Knowing the projects that are being made, the people who are working and the audience reactions to different works strengthen your understanding of every project. Paying attention has truly never been more essential in this industry, and I am so grateful to have learned the importance of this.

How has this internship influenced your future career?

As an aspiring screenwriter, this internship was everything I could’ve dreamed of and more. I became so familiar with every type of script, and began to deeply understand the processes of development and production. I strengthened my understanding and habits of writing and analysis, and learned to research media through a variety of ways to fully understand it. I was able to engage thoughtfully with my coworkers and supervisors as we discussed different projects, recent releases and the current industry, learning every step of the way. I know that I have grown as a student, a writer and a filmmaker, and the skills I have developed this summer will follow me throughout my career.

Editor: Sarah Kate Maher, skm01341@uga.edu