Over the summer, FMS major Samantha Vilchez Guillen participated in a summer internship at PADNET, (The Public Access Digital Network) a Long Beach based community media center and public access television station. During her time interning at PADNET, Samantha was in charge of transferring and organizing media files, filming B-Roll for different artistic disciplines, conducting interviews with guests, and operating a boom microphone and audio recording devices. This all culminated in her producing an episode of PADNET Presents, a long running series featuring a variety of local voices and topics. This experience aided in her personal growth of learning to trust in herself and try something even when her gut tells her to be afraid.
What about your FMS education has helped you get the internship? Or what parts of your FMS education do you utilize while at your internship?
Samantha: After participating in the 24-hour film festival of Spring Quarter, I was inspired and motivated to find ways of gaining hands-on production opportunities over the summer. I do not own a camera or have any prior experience with production. I looked at the FMS website for internships and applied, as well as ones promoted in department emails. This is when I discovered PADNET, my summer internship in Long Beach. I have been learning how to use a Zoom Microphone, set up tripods, wrap cables, and use a DSLR camera. I have also filmed many B-roll clips for the summer youth program at LBCAP and participated in a few productions, even producing an upcoming episode of PADNET Presents.
Being a Film and Media Studies major at UCI has taught me to play into curiosity and never be afraid to gain new knowledge. Whether in a class or a new environment, asking questions is important for personal and professional growth.
Which professor or class has been influential?
S: A course I found influential was FMS 145 with Dr. Guiterrez. It was a Latinx Pop and Media course where we discussed the impact of stereotypical depictions of Latinos, Telenovelas, Bad Bunny, and Walter Mercado. I also learned how companies saw the value and power of the Latino vote and decided to market media and celebrities to their demographic to gain it.
This course also introduced me to Patricia Cardoso’s film Real Women Have Curves. It is now one of my favorite films and my friends and I highlighted it in our spring quarter podcast, The Latinx Film Club. Discussing Latinx representation is important to us so we decided to make a short podcast about it. My friend/co-host Mary and I went to see it at the Academy Museum in June and we were able to chat and take a photo with Patricia Cardoso.
I would also like to thank my TA for two of the 101 series, Edward Mendez, who made the classroom less intimidating and supported my endeavors. He’s the best!
What has been the best experience about your internship?
S: One of the best experiences about my internship is seeing the sacrifice that goes into giving myself a chance. Learning to trust in myself and try something that scares me when my gut tells me to be afraid usually means I need to give it a chance before making a decision. When I first entered the internship, I felt embarrassed because I had no experience with cameras or production in general. My manager and fellow interns never shamed me for having a question and took their time to teach me. All this growth would not have been possible without removing the mentality of not giving myself a chance to be in the running. I would tell others to apply for a job or internship and see what they’re capable of achieving instead of thinking that nothing is possible for them. I have come a long way since the beginning of the internship and it is all thanks to sacrifice, hard work, and the support of my loved ones.
What did you hope to get out of this internship or what responsibilities did you have?
S: At my internship, I was in charge of transferring files, filming B-Roll for different artistic disciplines, conducting interviews, being a boom operator, and producing an episode of PADNET Presents. These were not solely my responsibility but they are a variety of opportunities I have had through productions at PADNET. I collaborated with my fellow interns and relied on them for support.
I kept journal entries for when I was in the office and the accounts truly reflect how my growth was not overnight. I became familiar with new skills like organizing a broadcaster schedule and creating Channel ID’s. The summer went by so quickly and so what I hope to take away from the internship is to continue asking questions and capture magic with a camera. I really want to buy my own and put those skills to use.