Don't Make Me Leave

It's been almost two whole weeks since my last post and things at my internship just keep getting better. It's really great to work in an environment where everyone is really happy and ACTUALLY wants to be there. Plus, as an intern, it's amazing to work under people who genuinely want you to learn about their field. Today one of my bosses basically quizzed me on a conference call I had the privilege to sit in on- and interestingly enough, I learned a lot from a ten minute phone call.

Every day is different - there isn't really a typical day at the office. One morning I'll be at the studio signing in actors for their recording sessions and the next I'm scheduling cars and makeup artists for Comic Con. I'll prep for auditions, sit in on meetings, watch animatics of shows in their very first stages of development, do casting research for roles, put together end-of-series gifts, and sometimes I'll just hang out and watch the actors do what they do best.

I'll break down TODAY for you just so you can get an example
I had to be at a recording session this morning in Studio City by 8:45am and honestly I was afraid I wasn't gonna make it. Luckily I was three minutes early and anyone who I wouldn't want to know that I arrived late didn't show up until a lot closer to 9, so that was good. The session was for a brand new show called Wander Over Yonder (I googled it and it's already all over the web so this isn't confidential information or anything) and honestly, it looks really funny. The first session was with April Winchell (who does so much voiceover work holy Clarabelle Cow [this is a funny joke because she voiced Clarabelle Cow]) and Jack McBrayer, or Kenneth from 30 Rock. Jack arrived a bit early so we chatted a bit - he's definitely a nice guy. Once everyone showed up and Jack and April popped into the booth, I was clutching my sides in laughter. The episode they recorded was so hilarious I cannot WAIT to see it. After they finished, Tom Kenny and Keith Ferguson came in and I handled all their paperwork. Usually we only record one person at a time (which I asked my boss about today and he said that that has to do with scheduling conflicts) but they prefer to have the actors play off each other in the booth aka record with more than one person. I took off after that because it was already 11:45 and I was trying to make it back to the office so I could head over to the intern lunch. Every Thursday there are "intern lunches" and I have yet to make it to one and I wanted today to be THE DAY. Unfortunately, as I was driving back, the only other intern in my building (who I haven't even had a chance to get to know yet) texted me saying that she would have to bail and therefore we couldn't walk over together. I realized that I probably shouldn't go either because I wanted to be back in the office by 1:00. I grabbed some lunch once I got back and ate super fast because by the time I got my food it was already 12:30. I had been sitting in on some auditions for a new pilot and my boss (I have 6 bosses so I'm probably never talking about the same one) had asked if I wanted to sit in on a conference call with the creators about the actors they saw. Obviously I said yes, so two of my bosses and I sat in a small conference room and called these dudes to discuss their thoughts on the auditionees. Honestly I had a few people in my mind and I was a little shocked when they didn't say a single one of them! But as I mentioned before, I definitely learned a lot from the exchange. Afterward I took care of some Comic Con stuff (there is so much to do every day it's crazy) and then I prepped for the Mickey Mouse Shorts record (side note: WATCH THE PREMIERE OF THE FIRST EPISODE TOMORROW, FRIDAY JUNE 28TH! I don't know what time it's on, but keep an eye out tehe). The first guy who recorded was hilarious and, upon looking him up on imdb, has an extensive list of voice over work. Next was the voice of Goofy - it was so cool to watch him record Goofy's lines. After that, the voice of Tigger, Winnie the Pooh AND Cat from CatDog recorded and although he didn't record as any of those characters, it was still really awesome to watch him work. I realized though that it was already 5:30 and since I got to the studio at 9 this morning, I had to get ready to go. I got back to my cubicle, responded to a bunch of emails, and updated my Comic Con files. I checked in with my boss on my way out and, like every day, I was sad to go. I really love my internship and I look forward to waking up at 7:30 every morning because of it. Every day is different, but almost always fun and exciting, and I really don't want it to end. It seems really early on, but I want to know if and how I could stay on throughout the fall - I know I should experience another new environment and company and department, but I love it here and honestly I could see myself working in Disney for my entire life (surprise, surprise).

Some other highlights of the past two weeks include: meeting/signing in Wayne Brady, putting end-of-series gifts together for Rachel Dratch and Jennifer Coolidge, watching Blake Anderson and Danny Pudi audition, hearing Bobby Moynihan audition (over the phone), hearing Linda Cardinelli record for Gravity Falls (also over the phone, still cool though! She still sounds like good ol' Lindsey from Freaks and Geeks), watching Vincent Martella (the voice of Phineas from Phineas and Ferb) and Ashley Tisdale record, getting free sushi for lunch at the studio, directing the mock audition and then getting critiqued on my critiques (so interesting!), passing Johnny Knoxville in the hall at the studio and not realizing it was him until after he said hi to me, listening to a speech from the co-presidents of Disney Interactive, getting my first paycheck, and realizing how hard it actually is to come up with ideas for animated characters within very narrow parameters.

Please don't make me leave.

Onward and Upward

I am in love with my internship. I am head over heels, over the moon, walking on sunshine, etc at this place. As my third day slowly comes to a close, I figured it would be a good idea to blog about my first three days working for DISNEY.

Although I wasn't specific in my last post, I mentioned that I had an interview for a really, really, really big company. Well, that company happened to be Disney and I happened to get the internship. I was shocked (and honestly I still kind of am) when I recieved the offer and I still haven't gotten over it. I'm working as a casting intern in Disney's television animation department. And so far, it's been absolutely amazing. Comparing it to the internship I had all last semester, it honestly disgusts me how bad of a program they had. I have learned more in my three days here about casting and animation than I learned about talent management in the FOUR MONTHS I interned at the-company-that-must-not-be-named. But no matter, for I have moved onward and upward!

On my first day I seemingly had an endless amount of technological issues - my keycard wasn't allowing me access anywhere, my voicemail wasn't working, the website wasn't allowing me to enter my time, etc. It was frustrating, but not enough to bring me down even a pinch. After lunch I had the privilege to sit in on a recording session and watch Mickey Mouse himself act out lines. It was surreal. I also helped out with scheduling for Comic Con and just got a general feel for the office and how it's run.

My second day was a bit busier - in the morning I sat in on auditions for a new show and it was great. I loved seeing how different actors interpreted the lines and direction and I loved being able to close my eyes and imagine a tiny animated boy speaking the words I was hearing. Throughout the day I helped out with some more Comic Con preparation (there is SO much you have to think about when planning for events like that it's crazy). One of the coolest things though was sitting in on a Phineas and Ferb record - I got to meet the co-creators of the show and watch the guy who plays Dr. Doofenshmirtz (Dan Povenmire) flawlessly deliver his lines. It was crazy and awesome, especially because I LOVE Phineas and Ferb.

Today has been the slowest of the three because a few of my bosses are out today - I helped with some organizational stuff and I prepped sides for future auditions. For lunch though my BOSS boss offered to take me and a guy who's temping for the day out to sushi. Not only did I get a free rainbow roll, but I got to bond with my boss. He's really awesome and it seems like he wants me to learn a LOT this summer and wants to give me a lot of responsibility (which I am SO ready for). He told me and the temp that we were gonna do a mock audition today - the temp gets to be on the mic (he's really an actor, of course) and I get to DIRECT THE "AUDITION". Like um excuse me what??? AND my boss said he wants me going to at least one comedy show, improv show, or theatre production every week so I can report back with my opinions on fresh talent. And he's going to fund it all. Like, if this isn't perfection I don't know what is (knock on wood).

Above everything, I just love working at Disney. Aside from it being a huge household name, it's a company that really aims to inspire and provide happiness to both kids and adults. A lot of the employees in the office have children and it seems like every day there is some sort of young person running around the office laughing. It's one of the greatest things to hear when you're really serious and focused on something you're working on - children's laughter really reminds you to be happy and have a good time.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week! Cheers to the weekend :)