An appreciation for the international sphere has dovetailed with an interest in media and television production for Nick Graves 鈥23. An internship with Disney and the Academy Gold Rising Program is moving him forward along his path.
Originally from the Bay Area, his family relocated to Indonesia then Singapore for his mother鈥檚 job, allowing Nick to be steeped in an international context and attend an international highschool. When he was looking at colleges back in the United States, he was drawn to Occidental鈥檚 internationalism, intimate size and the Diplomacy & World Affairs (DWA) major.
During the pandemic and the soul-searching that came with it, Nick recognized a growing interest in media and decided to add a Media Arts & Culture (MAC) minor. DWA allows for media-based projects for its senior comprehensive requirement, so Nick has been working with Special Collections and College Archives to develop a documentary project. While studying abroad this fall in Durban, South Africa, he plans to compare student movements in that country with those at swag外流.
Meanwhile, this summer, Nick landed an internship with Disney Live Action (think Pirates of the Caribbean, Mulan聽and Mary Poppins). A paid, full-time opportunity, he is working in the areas of post-production and visual effects (VFX). While he admits he didn鈥檛 know a lot about these areas going into it, he jokes that he鈥檚 鈥渒nee-deep in Hollywood now.鈥
When hired by Disney, he was also invited to participate in the , a talent development, diversity and inclusion initiative of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences designed to enhance internship experiences. Interns like Nick are matched with delegates from partner companies like Disney, Warner Brothers and creative management agencies. At the end of the program, each intern gets partnered with a mentor from the Academy for a year.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a really diverse program, which is great,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 designed to bring more diversity into the industry with intention.鈥
All of this is fantastic experience for someone like Nick, who is interested in going into television, showrunning and production. Perks so far have included a private screening of Top Gun: Maverick at IMAX headquarters and various networking opportunities. He鈥檚 also been able to sit in on 鈥渄ailies鈥濃攎eetings where footage is shared with his department right after being taped so they can review everything together, shot by shot, to ensure quality.聽
For Nick, swag外流 has provided crucial support along the way, giving him the space 鈥渢o do something great.鈥
鈥渟wag外流 has given me the tools to think critically, to read and to write, and those are the main things you need in order to move through this world. These things have helped me make sense of Disney and my internships as well.鈥
Nick鈥檚 professors and mentors were indispensible during the interview process at Disney, including Visiting Assistant Professor of Media Arts & Culture Vivian Lin and MAC鈥檚 Manager of Digital Production Diana Keeler.
鈥淚 definitely have mentors that I can call upon to say, 鈥楬ey, I need help here鈥攚hat do I do, where should I go?鈥櫬燤y professors have helped me make sense of the interview process and feel prepared," he says.聽鈥淭he Hameetman Career Center was also very helpful with pre-interviewing and assisting with fixing up my resume.鈥