Warner Bros. Entertainment Internship Field Notes

Introduction…

Hi, I’m Cathy Bui and I’m currently a junior at Cal State University, Long Beach pursuing creative directing and commercial production. I hope to create work that combines advertising and storytelling in the entertainment world and am always looking to learn and grow!

The type of work that I did at Warner Brothers included...

This past summer of 2019, I was able to intern with Stage 13, a digital network under Warner Bros. Entertainment. This was an incredible opportunity and my first studio internship. Stage 13 is a smaller team, but that definitely was a perk in being able to communicate closely with everyone. From elements such as scripted and unscripted programs to the marketing and brand partnerships of shows, my work was extensive in all those fields. I did script coverage, marketing decks, shadowed pitch meetings with creatives, and even presented an intern project for Two Sentence Horror Stories to the Stage 13 Team and the CW Marketing team. 

My favorite part was…

Seeing the process behind producing scripted/unscripted programs and how creative marketing campaigns are first ideated in a room. I loved witnessing creatives pitch their script to seeing how imaginative a team can get when developing plans to promote a show or movie. There is a passion and collaboration so inspiring when you sit in a room of creative individuals. These experiences have been valuable for me as I follow my own path in writing and directing. 

What I wish I knew…

Coming into every internship or new work space can be intimidating, but everyone has come from similar mindsets of nerves and they only want to help you reach your goals. I strongly believe that once we remain grounded and realize that, you will open yourself up to sharing your voice and truly being a part of the team! You were chosen to be here for a reason, so do not lose confidence in yourself and just embrace and share your thoughts and questions. Be open, ask your supervisor for a coffee chat, email people for informationals, and simply be curious and be yourself! 

Advice for future interns…

Pretty similar to the last one, but have meaningful conversations with everyone! You are lucky to be in an environment with working professionals who all have individual maps they’ve taken in their careers. Ask questions, hear their stories, and share yours. Even if people have roles in your department or other departments that you may not be pursuing, there is always a piece of inspiration that you can hold on your journey.

If you want to connect or check out any of Cathy’s work, below are her IG and website!

IG: @mrstomjoness

W: cathybui.com