Beyond the Classroom: Santiago Arenas (CFA’22)

At Speakeasy, I was initially hired to help as a Marketing Intern for the summer of 2020. However, due to circumstances with COVID-19 at the time, I worked with multiple departments remotely. Namely, I did a lot of literary management work, reading through and analyzing scripts in order to help the company craft its next season of shows. I also got to help promote their audio play podcast series by helping draft press releases and other promotional materials. Then in spring 2021, I interned at Creator Up, working in the post-production department, providing script supervision to video editors in order to ensure that the productions fulfilled the guidelines given by clients. In addition, I helped manage the contact database of artists and specialists that work with the company.

For Speakeasy, I learned about the internship through the company’s website. Once I found out about it, I was asked to give three letters of recommendation, which prompted me to reach out to three mentors of mine within CFA. I learned about the post-production internship at Creator Up through the BU in LA abroad program. Because my class was not granted the opportunity to study abroad outside of Boston, this opportunity became part of my pivot plan for the Spring 2021 semester. In order to secure the internship, I went through a typical application and interview process. Although I had an initial interview with my supervisors that went really well and made it seem I was a perfect fit for the position, I didn’t get the internship at first. However, immediately after I was given the news I didn’t get it, I was persistent and emailed back to ask what I could do to boost my resume for future opportunities. This must’ve made a good impression because my supervisors really wanted to work with me, and an additional internship spot was negotiated for me to fulfill.

During my time at Speakeasy Stage, I was able to form meaningful connections with theatre professionals in Boston and begin to create a network of professional artists outside of CFA. In addition, I was able to gain skills in season selection and knowing how to choose material for a given audience. At Creator Up, I gained a lot more knowledge about the post-production world and the important language needed to be able to talk to editors.

The BU in LA staff were very helpful in teaching me and other interns in the program the proper etiquette and professional protocol for my internship at Creator Up.

I would say that the dramatic literature curriculum in the School of Theatre definitely prepared me to have in-depth conversations about scripts while I was at Speakeasy. On my first day of literary management meetings, I was so grateful for the tools that Dr. Kristin Leahey, assistant professor of dramatic literature & dramaturgy, provided in those courses. I think that the consistent collaboration skills that are required of me as a theatre student lent themselves very well to my intern meetings at Creator Up. There were definitely moments when our supervisors wanted us as interns to work together and the collaborative work from specifically my Theatre Ensemble and Directing classes definitely prepared me for those moments.

As an Arts Leadership minor, I am extremely interested in working in the producing side of arts and entertainment. My time at Speakeasy definitely prepared me to understand how exactly a professional theatre company operates, as well as the internship opened my eyes to a newfound interest in literary management work post-grad. Even though I am a theatre student, I really want to work in Film and Television. My work at Creator Up has definitely given me tools to work in an entry-level post-production job as well as, despite the internship being remote, give me more of an idea of what the industry looks like in Los Angeles, a city I am considering moving to sometime after I graduate.

Throughout both of these experiences, I learned that I am a very adaptable person and that I do a very good job at picking up skills or learning how to do tasks that are thrown my way. In addition, I learned that the extroverted and personable nature that I walk into a room with is greatly appreciated in any professional environment.

I would say that it’s totally okay to be nervous or feel unqualified in an internship setting, as it just means you have more room to grow and learn. Furthermore, I would recommend using internships to explore interests outside of your major.

After graduating this May, I will hopefully be moving to LA or NYC. As an acting major, I would love to sign with an agent or gain some sort of representation before doing so, but I also have already started looking for and applying for production management jobs in both cities.