Update from LA: The Final Countdown

I must start this post by sharing the trailer to “Contagion.” This film, starring Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Marion Cotillard, and Jude Law and directed by Steven Soderbergh, is one of the most significant films to my Hollywood career. When I arrived at my first internship at Double Feature Films last summer I was handed the script to this film and immediately began reading it — it was in pre-production at the time. I was able to keep in touch as it was filmed through the winter and hear details about its progress. Upon arriving at Participant Media this summer I realized that the film was also associated with that company and I’ve been able to keep up with it even further. It’s finally hitting theaters this fall, and I just can’t wait to see it. 

Speaking of internships, mine are going really well. I have less than three weeks left in LA before I head back to Georgia for school, but I have to say this summer is shaping up to be one of the best. 

At Participant, I have so enjoyed getting to help out on the president’s desk in addition to working in the narrative department. I was able to sit down and have a great one-on-one with Ricky, the president of the company, and chat about life, the industry, his career and my future. I had a similar meeting with the vice president of production and have had the opportunity to speak with and get to know assistants, other executives and my fellow interns.

I realized this summer more than last year that these internships are all about networking. I’m getting valuable experience and learning a great deal, of course, but it’s not often that I have direct access to so many people who are at the top of their craft and work in positions that I only aspire to reach one day. I am so thankful for the great mentors I’ve found out here and am blown away at how willing they have been to sit down with me and let me pick their brain. I will leave this summer with a much clearer picture of the industry and how I fit into it. 

On a usual day at Participant I spend my time reading scripts, covering the phones for Jack (Ricky’s assistant) when he steps away, watching clips from the company’s upcoming films, running errands or doing research for Jack, and reading and learning as much as possible about the company and the industry. I’ve also appointed myself the “social coordinator” at Participant and have planned a few outings for the 30 or so interns there. Who’s surprised? Right, no one. 

Things at MGM continue to be great as well. I have been able to cover the desks of two of the company’s vice presidents during my time there, and that has taught me a lot about what it means to truly be an assistant. In one case, I covered for an assistant for three days while he was out of town. Was it tough? Yes. Did I mess up? Yes. But the only way to really learn is by throwing yourself out there and trying something, and that’s exactly what these opportunities have allowed me to do. 

Other high points worth mentioning: 

• My 22nd birthday was a few weeks back and one of my very best friends Katie Kellogg was in town to help me celebrate. We went to Malibu, went out in West Hollywood with other friends and had a wonderful time. 
• When I was covering for the assistant at MGM, I looked up to see John Krasinski leaving the MGM president’s office after a meeting. Jim in the office? Perfection.
• I’ve slowly started to appreciate the summer blockbuster. Sure, I’ll still always opt for the Oscar-nominated gritty drama over the comic book film. But being out here and working at MGM, a company that focuses on bigger budget films with a wide appeal, has opened my eyes to the appeal of these movies. 
• The teaser trailer for The Iron Lady starring Meryl Streep came out a few weeks back. This is my most anticipated film of the year by far!
• I’ve been able to grab coffee, dinner and drinks with assistants I’ve worked with in the past, old bosses, and even a friend from the Academy that I worked with during the Oscars. Such a joy to reconnect and catch up with old friends from out here!
• Being out here has motivated me to watch a lot more movies, something I tend to slack on when I’m at school.

Low points:

• Reading over my bosses’ itineraries — the president and vice-president at Participant that I think are so great — made me suddenly very jealous. They are traveling from LA to the Venice Film Festival to London to NYC for the premier of “Contagion” to the Toronto Film Festival. I want that life. 
• I continue to commute an hour or more each way to and from my internships. I love living in Pasadena, but it sure gets tiring! 
• Carmageddon. What a joke. They shut down the 405 freeway this weekend and the traffic was suppose to be horrible so we all took refuge in our apartments and homes. Well, it turns out traffic was clearer than I’ve ever seen it. All that hype for nothing! 
• I still haven’t met Meryl or solidified a definite plan for become best friends with her. Any and all suggestions are welcome. 

And now friends, I leave you with a bold proclamation that scares me to even put in writing: whether or not I have a job secured come January 1st, I’m moving to LA. Whatever it takes, I’m going to make it happen out here. I have to; this is my passion and I have no back up plan. 

Still living my dream and feeling blessed every day to be here, 

Blake