Felix Nunez JR: Blog Post 3

Hello fellow interns.

First and foremost, I'd like to wish each and every one of you a successful career in your desired fields within the world of media, if you so choose to.

1) Interning at NGL Media has been an enriching as well as a valuable learning experience. I truly enjoyed the direct interactions with the skilled employees there as well as with the multiple artists and personalities I was required to assist on the various shoots and interviews I worked on. As I mentioned in my last blog post, I've been involved in the entertainment industry for many years prior to re-enrolling in college, and working with entities within the business brought about a heavy dose of nostalgia, as well as a breath of reassurance that indeed this is the field where I truly belong.

I'm currently working on a documentary which requires me to travel several times a year to the Dominican Republic, in addition to doing a lot of pre and post production planning, scheduling, shooting, and networking. Though I already have a team in place to work on many of the technical aspects of the documentary (I'm directing), the editing and organization skills I learned while fulfilling my internship have proven extremely invaluable toward the completion of my project.

Unfortunately, I don't see myself working as an employee for this company in the near future. Aside from the documentary, there are two other important projects on the table which I will be heavily involved in as well- the writing and treatment of a pilot episode for a drama which takes place immediately after the fall of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo, the tyrant who took control of the Dominican Republic for thirty years, and a commercial musical production. The group of which I belong to responsible for the completion of these and future projects has just incorporated, and therefore I will instead be focusing on helping the new company grow.

2) Without a doubt the most important thing I learned from the experience was knowing when and when not to speak. I'm naturally an introvert, and throughout my years touring with bands and learning from each city's cultures and customs (as well as important, powerful, and influential members of their societies), I quickly came to realize that there are times when you just need to shut up - speaking in a loud, New York style tone while visiting a restaurant in Barcelona or Marseilles will not earn you any friends, fast. That being said, the same applies when in the presence of people who have made a mark in the entertainment industry; these individuals are experts at rapidly deciding who stays and who goes. They've already seen it and heard it all. In the past, I got myself into trouble and burned several bridges (hint: whatever you do, NEVER burn bridges with anyone), for wanting to speak my mind, or thinking I knew better (even when I was sure I knew). I diligently applied this lesson throughout the internship, and have so far have made it a hallmark of my personality whenever I'm in the position of making the next deal, or otherwise. One thing I must say, however: don't be afraid to ask. Just know when to.

3) Because of my prior experience in entertainment, the number one thing I've realized is that networking is EVERYTHING. It is the primary way of getting to the other side of the bridge. And this doesn't mean simply having a conversation with someone of importance. You have to make this person laugh; you have to be an entertaining storyteller; you must have PERSONALITY; you cannot be another sheep in the herd. You must know how to convince this person that YOU'RE the right person for the job, and nobody else. These are rules of which I personally live by, and though it took me a long time to "come out of my shell," with practice, experience, and above all perseverance, I've made many important contacts who I constantly keep in touch with (another important thing to do). These are people who I'm looking forward to creating a mutual working relationship with in the near future and beyond.

4) I would certainly recommend this internship to my fellow students at Queens College, particularly if they're interested in the Latin aspect of media and entertainment. It is a great experience as far as learning the ropes of shoot planning, on-set production and post production editing and mixing. Additionally, working closely with known artists and personalities, as well as networking with influential individuals in the industry, provide the groundwork for acquiring tools necessary in order to advance and for achieving success in this very demanding, competitive (but nonetheless very rewarding) field.

In conclusion, I'd like to say to all interested in pursuing a career in this field to lay focus on the "two P's:" Patience and Perseverance.

It was a true pleasure meeting you all, and keep up the hard work!

Frank Pizzolla



1.Though few could probably resist the idea of working in television for a production company located in Manhattan , I felt that commuting into the city everyday from 9 to 5 with such a repetitive lifestyle may not be exactly for me.Having said that, I ‘am beyond grateful for the opportunity to work for a production company in Manhattan and if I decide to change my mind , I would probably enjoy the development aspect of creating shows for this company. Being on set in late August was also a great experience, probably my most fun but the long 12 hour shifts that come with it aren’t for me- however if I want to continue my career in film, I must start somewhere.  

2. The most important thing that I learned from this experience , is to work as hard as you can if you want something , whether it means starting from the bottom ; because through hard work , belief, dedication, passion, talent and building up networks – you can reach any feat.

3. Given the work conditions and surroundings I was placed in during my time here , I would say it was quite difficult to meet every employee personally , however I feel very close to the other interns who worked with me and I also feel I made a good connection with the assistant of the company.

4. Of course I would recommend this internship to other students at QC, even if I dreaded my stay ( which I did not) Any and all opportunities in life should be taken up, This is something that will build up my resume, give me experience, and gain me connections within the industry and something that will help me grow as a person.

Your final blog post is  a reflection on your internship experience. In thinking about what you did over the course of the past semester, include information about the following:

1. There are a few important questions to consider coming out of an internship: is this a company would like to work for full time? are there positions in the company/field I would like to pursue? OR Having done this internship, I know this is a career/industry/position I would never want to have. Which one of these describes your situation? Be specific. (For example, I worked as a production assistant for 6 months and after running around getting coffee, sitting for hours on a set wait for one thing or another, I knew production was not for me.)
2. What is the most important thing–good or bad–that you learned from this experience?
3. Did you network as much as you could? Are they people you will be able to stay in touch with?
4. Would you recommend this internship to other students at QC?

Feel free to add other information that might not be covered in these questions. Throughout the semester, you have offered insightful comments and questions about your internship experience. I wish each of you the very best in your search for a paid position -- the one of your dreams.

Dr. Fuqua

How I will make it in Broadcasting

After many years of being in an out of college since 2003, I will finally be graduating in may of 2015 with my Bachelors in Media Studies from Queens, It has been a long journey but it’s finally coming clear as to what I’ll need to do in order to begin my career in Broadcasting. I have 7 months of school left before the job hunt is officially on. Until then, there are a few steps I’ll need to do in order to best increase my chances at securing an entry-level job in the field.

As some of you know about me already, I’ve been lucky enough this semester to land an internship at NBC/Universal, on Saturday Night Live in their photography department. This internship is only a small step in the greater pursuit of my intended career path in broadcasting. As it comes to a close, There are few things that I feel I need to do before my time at SNL comes to a close, such as:
Revise my resume with my mentor in the department to help me accurately describe the detail of my day-to-day duties
Reach out to the Internship department at NBC to find other available internships for the upcoming spring semester
Asserting my career intentions in conversation to my superiors, to see if they’re in any position to help me further my pursuit.


 As Chapter 1 states, aside from the educational background, job recruiters in the broadcasting industry look more towards real world experience, rather than just the education in the subject. If I can’t get a job right out of college, I’ll bite the bullet and continue to intern within NBC or elsewhere if offered. One optimistic point of chapter 1 is that it states that in the area of broadcasting , jobs are expected to increase by 16.7 percent by 2016. With already a foot in the door at a major network like NBC, I plan on using it to my fullest advantage. In order to do that, I’ll need to conduct thorough research of my potential short and long term opportunities that come available.

Felix Nunez JR, Blog Post 2

Hello fellow interns.

First I'd like to say that I'm excited to be part of this small community of students, all reaching to advance our careers within the world of Media Arts. I will give a short introduction to my time in the entertainment industry, and how I ended up interested in the world of media.

I started my secondary education many years ago, majoring in Jazz at City College. Coming from a family of musicians, it was the logical move at the time. Halfway into completing my B.F.A., I joined a Bachata band called Xtreme (Bachata is the fastest growing and arguably the most successful latin genre today). I co-produced, co-wrote and also recorded on their albums (guitars and bass), eventually winning an ASCAP award for a song titled "Through that Window."

Because of the demand for travel, I decided to drop out of school. I can say I lived the "rockstar life" for a period of about five years while in the band. However, I later realized that this lifestyle while fun and glamorous, would eventually end. So, before it did, I decided to go back to school. However, I wasn't interested in a B.F.A. degree in Jazz anymore, but rather in the world of filmmaking. That's when I decided to enroll at Queens College.

I'm an avid fan of film, and as such I'm always looking forward to seeing the next thought provoking movie. In 2004, a documentary (and the only of its kind) on the genre of Bachata was released, called Santo Domingo Blues. It attempts to shed light on the genre from its rural beginnings in the Dominican Republic, up until the time it started to have an international appeal. However, I thought it fell way short in its execution. Many of us in the Bachata community felt insulted, and I personally rejected it as a documentary.

In July of 2013, a prominent Bachata guitar player friend of mine and myself decided to plan our own documentary on the genre. Eventually we formed a core group of six (a writer, a graphic designer, two producers, an attorney, and me as director), held several meetings, and laid out a two year goal to complete the project. As of today, it is tentatively titled: From Brothels to Billboard- The Rise of Bachata. We've been traveling back and forth to the Dominican Republic approximately every four months, since October 2013, and looking to have the project completed by July 2015.

Though I started this project while still in school, its completion is my first goal after graduation. My direct boss at NGL Media where I intern at (Benjamin DeJesus) has been highly influential in my development as a producer/filmmaker, himself having found success in the field (he co-produced and directed the PBS documentary, John Leguizamo's Tales from a Ghetto Klown).

I read chapter six in the book Careers in Media, which directly focuses on the branch of Motion Pictures. It was a fresh reminder on all that is required in this very competitive but rewarding field. Reading the two personal profiles in the chapter, I wholeheartedly agree with something echoed by both individuals, of which I quickly came to realize in the entertainment business- have a great and memorable personality and make connections, connections connections!

The websites in appendix B in the book that most pertain to my short term goals are:

www.2-pop.com
www.afi.com
www.dga.org
www.mandy.com

Though I will be engaging these sites thoroughly and exhaustively along the course of our documentary, I will just as importantly be consulting the home for the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (www.nalip.org), as well as the site for Latino Public Broadcasting (www.lpbp.org). Both of these were suggested to me by NGL Media in order to raise and recoup funds for our project.

Blog Post 2

I found chapter 1 very interesting in the ways that they spoke about the media industry. I had learned about a lot of sectors from taking the Media Management course with Professor Einstein a few semesters ago. The class completely changed the way that I looked at the media industry and what I would be setting out to do. I had always wanted to become a "host" or "broadcaster," like anyone with big dreams and aspirations. Now, not that I do not still have those dreams, I have found that there are so many positions available  behind the scenes, it's not just being the host, the director. There are so many people that are apart of the team to get a film, a television show, a PR campaign, an ad, etc. out there and finished!

After doing several PA jobs and networking through family friend's, or at events, I really fell in love with development and production. I enjoy the idea of being part of a job from start to finish, sitting at a writer's table bouncing back and forth with ideas, and then being able to watch a project be executed and finalized.

I am graduating this May, as I am a senior. After I graduate, in order to find a job, I am definitely going to begin my research before graduation. This means, researching openings and opportunities through numerous websites. I am definitely going to apply through the big name companies, such as CBS, Time Warner, Viacom, Disney, NBCUniversal, etc. But, I also like the entertainment/media databases that I've seen online such as EntertainmentCareers.net. Glassdoor, Indeed, LinkedIn are also great websites to find companies that are hiring. I definitely want to bulk up my resume by outsourcing to help PA on shoots in the NYC area so I am able to add them to my resume as well as my internships. As I have read in the textbook, as well as have experienced and heard from my peers and professors, the more experience one has on their resume, the more one will stand out to an employer. I definitely like to do my research on companies before I apply, such as the type of programs they produce, meaning the genre, where they shoot, how big the programs are, what sector (radio, film, TV, web). I also like to research the company and see how big/small and how many employees they have, if at all possible to find. Sometimes, I'll look through LinkedIn at the company's page, because employees sometimes post there. I like to research different events that apply to my interests in television production where I can network. Most recently, I went to the New York TV Festival in NYC at the SVA Theater and was able to see numerous producers and writers speak, and I was able to even ask audience questions to some of them, like Jennifer Konner from Girls, one of my favorite series on TV. She was able to share how she got her career started, that she started as a temp in the 90's for numerous people, building a network and client list that was able to jumpstart her career. Living in NYC is definitely an advantage because there are so many different events that are available to network. When I was looking for an internship, I knew there were some production companies I really wanted to intern at, yet didn't know whether or not they accepted interns. I Googled for days for specific companies, looking at how to contact people there. I've even looked on social media for people who work within the company or the company's social media page specifically. Most recently, I reached out to Last Week Tonight's Twitter page and asked if they hired interns. I was responded to by a producer via private direct message with her email and how to send over my resume and information. Connecting on the social media site landed me an in person interview for the show's second season this spring. I've found that taking risks and putting myself out there with people via email or social media sounds kind of odd at first, but it's a way to get my resume in front of someone at the company. A lot of companies that I am interested outsource their employment to social media I have actually discovered. Researching production companies also helps me find companies that produce shows I'm interested in such as comedy and comedy docu-series. Many of their websites also have a contact or connect with us button on the bottom of their websites, and provide an outside source to apply for employment. I think that interning has given me a way to see exactly how a company works from the inside, what the day-to-day life is like. Also, interviewing for internships has also taken away some of the nerves/anxiety of the interview process. Of course, interviewing for a full-time position may be a little more nerve-wracking, but at least we've had the experience! I'm most definitely going to continue looking for networking events around the city to attend before I graduate in May, and also hopefully when I obtain a Spring internship, I am able to network there, too, as well as fill my resume more.

Frank Pizzolla,

After going through and reading Appendix B , the websites that interest me the most and the ones that I know Ill visit after I graduate are the following: about.com , afi.com ( due to my passionate interest in film), tvandradiojobs.com , mediastaffingnetwork.com. Also I will definitely go out of my way to look into jobs pertaining the companys like timewarner corp. careers , cbscareers especially those of Viacom , and also nbc careers especially ones dealing with Universal Studios.

My next step after graduation is finding a job that will hopefully finance my Masters Degree , As I have been finding out through family and after reading chapter 1 that few jobs will take you with just a bachelor's . I plan to work part time with a company that hires me and go to school for my Degree at the same time. My action plan in finding this concept of my dream job will to start by researching many different companies - especially those on the websites I mentioned above. I will also look to improve my resume , by adding my current internship experience that im working on now and also maybe to look for another internship during this summer. I know that many success in this industry is achieved from who you know - and I am finding that out more so at my time at my internship company - so I plan to meet more people and gain as many contacts and phone numbers I can while Im there , so after Ill feel confident in my sources to contact if I have trouble looking for work.

After much thought and from reading chapters in , Careers in Media. I think my intrests are taking me towards Advertising/Marketing and Public Relations, Even though my passion for film is still alive and I'd love to take a job in that field if the opportunity is given. Im also starting to like the idea of becoming a creative director, overseeing copywriting, artwork , and graphics. Being a copywright also would be a cool job, in dealing with creativity aspects , and building a company's image and campaign.

Hello Interns,

Here is Blog Post #2.
In the book Careers in Media, you need to read/review the following:

1. Read Chapter 1 for an overview of the industry
2. Read the chapter related to the area in which you are most interested in working. This may or may not be connected to your current internship.
3. Throughout the book, there are Personal Profiles in which people describe how they got their job. You should read these whether they are in the chapter related to your area of interest or not. They provide helpful tips for job searching.
4. Read Appendix B: Employment websites

After doing the reading and reviewing the job search web sites, write an action plan for the next steps in your career based upon what you learned. If you are graduating, what do you need to do over the next two months in order to land a job? If you have a year or more before you graduate, what do you need to do to best position yourself to be successful when you do graduate?
Be specific. This should include everything from research you need to do on companies, to how you will improve your resume, to how you will put a plan together for networking within the industry. The more thoroughly you think about this (and then hopefully execute it), the more likely you will be to land the job you want. (You may bullet point your action plan, but the bullets should have some substance. For example, "Revise resume" is not an acceptable bullet point). If you have questions, come see me during office hours.
This blog post is due Monday, Nov. 3.

Just a reminder: You are receiving individual grades on each of your blog post questions based upon the quality of your engagement, reflection, and conversations with your peers.

Dr. Fuqua

Hello fellow interns,

                 My name is Frank Pizzolla and I'm interning at Steven David Entertainment, an end-to-end television production and development company based out of New York City, with its own in-house post-production facility. The primary responsibilities I have at the company are mostly "intern-y", But as feeling like part of the team me and the rest of the company all help to contribute to specialize in docudrama, documentary and non-fiction television, as well as select scripted series.

1. The first few days of my internship were spent on a production set of one of the shows our company is producing called RedRum a docudrama that airs on investigation discovery which just last week finished it's third season. I learned that working with a production crew is polar opposite than working the office hours. You get a real sense of teamsmanship working with a small production crew of 42 people in total pulling long hours (12 hour work day) working together every little job detail and function as a unit to produce a vision on camera. The crew for RedRum consisted of many job titles I wasn't aware of including - Production department, Locations department, AD department, Camera department, Grip/Electric department, Art department, Sound, vehicles, Hair / Make Up / Wardrobe, Editorial Department, Casting, Accounting, and lastly the Interns. As an intern on set our job was to help and do anything the Production Assistants would ask for which sometimes meant : make sure the actors on set were taken care of with food , water, assistance; Locking down the location whenever the camera was rolling ( which meant during shooting I would secure an area,  mainly a door or entrance from on coming pedestrians so they wouldn't interfere with the shot), I also would load and unload all amenities and set equipment from our trucks. My favorite part about set was that I got to play an extra as a EMT in one of the episodes. It was really cool also to see a scene for T.V. shot right in front of me in real life - Giving me sort of a director's point of view.

2. The experience is going how I expected however thoughts of creating and developing show ideas in a cool comfortable work place are slowly diminished by desk work, research for shows, running errands, and reading scripts - which isn't bad at all with knowing that you have to start off from the bottom first. Working in NYC is also a great job experience. I'm learning more about the different job spots in this industry, the freelancing aspect of the industry ( in where to get jobs mostly is  through recommendation on how you perform and who you know) networking is a big deal in this industry especially on set production jobs. One thing I realize now more so is that the people behind production and research and writing the scripts are really intelligent skilled workers who usually work under stress and usually don't take much credit because as T.V viewers we are not thinking about the people who spend long hours meticulously creating a show rather we just watch. Its really cool that Stephen David Entertainment works with a bunch of different networks such as TLC, Nat Geo Channel, History, Investigation Discovery, A&E, H2, Discovery.

3. Id say to improve myself more with my opportunity I should ask more questions, and be open to learning everything there is about the business.

Hello Interns!

Post #1: DUE Sept. 30, 5PM.

In a few sentences, state where you are working and what your primary responsibilities are. Then, please post your thoughtful responses to the following questions:

1. What have you learned about working in the media that you did not know before your internship? Include here processes and procedures, job titles, you never knew of, how companies interact with other companies, and so on.

2. Is the internship what you expected? Why, or why not?

3. Is there any way you could improve your internship experience? Explain how.

Remember this post should be like a journal entry. It is your thoughts and experiences and there are no right or wrong answers. However, it is a required assignment and proper grammar, spelling, thoughtfulness will count.

Also, feel free to comment on each others' posts.

Please post your comments as a comment to my post.

Welcome Fall 2014 Media Studies Interns!

Over the course of the semester, you will post your responses to three thought-provoking questions that I will post here. The questions are posted one week before they are due. Dates are included on your syllabus.

This blog should also be used as a forum by interns to share your experiences with each other. That said, please be thoughtful, polite, and encouraging. This is still an academic blog and not a place for disrespecting your classmates or your employers. The more you use each other as resources, the more helpful this blog will be.

Be sure to download the syllabus from Blackboard and review it carefully. All the information for our mandatory meeting, blog post due dates, and information about your final project is listed on the syllabus.

If you have questions that are not addressed in the syllabus, feel free to email me at:
professorfuqua@gmail.com

Best wishes for a wonderful and successful semester!
Dr. Fuqua