Melissa Weinstein has what most college student’s dream of: A job she cannot wait to go to every morning.

‘I wake up in the morning so excited to go to work. I never thought that would happen,’ Weinstein said.

Weinstein, a junior film major, is one of the 28 Syracuse University students participating in the inaugural Los Angeles semester. The program, designed for television, radio, and film majors in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and film majors in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, gives students the invaluable hands-on experience that only Los Angeles can provide.

‘I am really learning what it takes to be in the industry,’ said Ashley Askew, a junior TRF major. ‘At times it can be stressful, but I know that this is what I want to do so I am preparing for it now.’

Each student in the program works a 20-hour-week internship based on his or her interests and career goals. The internships have the students actually working and becoming directly involved in their companies.

‘I’ve had internships before, but never with such a prominent company,’ said Weinstein, who works for Mark Platt Productions. ‘We are not just there to get coffee – I am actually reading and developing scripts, offering my opinions and meeting with my bosses and coworkers.’

The internships also give students the opportunity to connect with industry professionals, from professors to their new bosses.

Students attend classes in their respective majors on the Universal Studios lot in Los Angeles, and take classes in the College of Arts and Sciences online.

Askew echoed his sentiment: ‘When you have an internship, plus other classes, you somewhat forget you’re taking an online class,’ she said.

While taking classes is necessary for students to be considered full-time SU students, they take a bit of a backseat to the professional experience.

‘Taking a three-hour night class after working all day is draining,’ said Weinstein. ‘Of course classes are important, but since I’ve been out here I’ve moved my emphasis from my classes to my job. I’ll never get the chance to redo this internship.’

All of the professors teaching in the Los Angeles semester are industry professionals. The university also taps its Los Angeles alumni network for frequent guest lectures, including Jason Blumenthal (producer of ‘Seven Pounds’ and ‘The Pursuit of Happiness,’ among others) and television legend Fred Silverman,

‘It’s really eye-opening and inspiring to see the extent of the Syracuse alumni network,’ Page said.

The hands-on nature of the program not only lets students explore what they love, but also helps them realize the career paths they do not want to pursue.

‘I’ve always wanted to be in film production, but this definitely narrowed what I thought I wanted to do,’ Weinstein said. ‘There’s so many facets within production, and this made me realize I’m more suited for the development side of production. Finding out what you don’t want to do may be more important than finding out what you do want to do.’

The Los Angeles Semester is similar to study abroad programs in that it lets students experience a different culture and lifestyle.

‘The atmosphere here is so different from the East Coast,’ Weinstein said. ‘I was so nervous about that at first, but I absolutely love it.’

The California weather and the city itself are also important factors in shaping the experience.

‘The weather is the best part of the program – it’s sunny every day!’ said Askew. ‘There is so much to do in L.A., you just have to be willing to find it and explore it.’

Although California seems like the sole destination for every student who wants to work in the entertainment industry, the Los Angeles Semester is giving SU students realistic ideas of what to expect professionally.

‘Personally, L.A. has really redefined my career goals,’ said Askew. ‘It has taught me to go after things I want not only professionally but also personally. L.A. is such a huge city and there are so many people out here trying to do the same thing, but I’ve learned that I have to bring something unique to the table so that people will be interested in me and what I have to offer.’

While the Los Angeles Semester offers different insights for each student and affects them all in different ways, Weinstein said, the first half of the semester was a success.

‘I almost didn’t come out here,’ said Weinstein ‘and I could not be happier that I did,’

‘This has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life, and I highly recommend this program to everyone who truly wants to learn about the industry and themselves.’

ertocci@syr.edu

Published on October 12, 2009 at 12:00 pm