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!