Summer Internships, from Sydney to Hollywood
COM students travel the globe each summer to earn valuable work experience—and explore
DaJanae Hester (COM'23) spent her summer in Sydney, Australia, working for Summer Hill Media as a video production intern. Photo courtesy of DaJanae Hester.
Internships are integral to the COM experience. Students test themselves in newsrooms, studios and agencies. They gain valuable work experience and build important relationships. For those who study abroad through BU’s Global Programs, they also get to explore far-off cities, basking on Bondi Beach or searching for hidden night clubs.
Research has suggested that studying abroad can increase employment chances, earning power, and confidence and maturity. A recent survey conducted by IES Abroad, a study abroad provider, revealed that 90 percent of participants found a job within six months of graduation—many of them in their chosen field—compared to 49 percent of students in the general college population.
More than 700 BU students study abroad each summer, with more than 100 of those from COM. COMtalk spoke with three COM students during their summer internships and asked what they’re learning in and out of the office.
Q&A
With DaJanae Hester (’23)
COM: How did you choose Sydney?
Hester: I wanted to study abroad this summer for the internship opportunity and the chance to travel outside of the country. I was drawn to the Sydney program because, in addition to the internship, I could attend the Sydney Film Festival for the first two weeks of the program.
COM: Where is your internship this summer?
Hester: It’s with Summer Hill Media. I’m the video production intern and I help create promotional content for educational services and nonprofits. I also work closely with Big Picture Learning Australia because they share the office, and Summer Hill produces most of their educational work.
COM: Do you have a favorite project?
Hester: Our team helps create online modules for a school about communication skills with intellectually disabled patients and patients with autism. I worked on an animation about overshadowing diagnoses [when a healthcare professional assumes a patient complaint is due to an existing disability] that nurses can make when not correctly communicating with patients and caregivers. It’s been really fun working with animators and creating something that will make a difference.
COM: How do you see this internship helping your career down the road?
Hester: I’ve learned how to communicate with clients and take criticism. I’ve worked closely with clients on different projects and had to create their vision while also doing my job to the best of my ability. After the fourth edit, it can be hard to remain patient, but the final result is worth it. It’s helping me better understand my strengths in the workplace.
COM: Has your perspective on this industry changed this summer?
Hester: This experience helped me realize the differences between Australia and the US. The work culture in Australia allowed me to feel valued and trusted in the workplace, and I’ve only been interning for a month. I think it would’ve taken me a lot longer in the US to feel like an equal in the office.
COM: Away from work, what’s been your favorite experience?
Hester: It has to be the beaches. I’ve been to Coogee, Bondi, Manly, and Gerroa. Each had beautiful beach towns and sunsets. Even in the middle of winter, the Sydney beaches are top tier.
Q&A
With Aihua Boothroyd (’23)
COM: Where are you working this summer?
Boothroyd: I’m working for a PR agency, Grayling PR, based in Holborn, London. They do a lot of client work for tech and health.
COM: What made you choose London?
Boothroyd: I’ve always wanted to study abroad and London is such a diverse city. It’s bigger than Boston and there’s so much to do. I just wanted to get out there and explore British culture.
COM: What are you doing at Grayling?
Boothroyd: I’m working for one of their client teams doing a lot of consumer-based PR. I’m helping one tech client review programs and drafting reports and feature articles. Just being able to go to client meetings gives me a lot of insight into how the PR agency life works. And I’ve been able to pitch ideas and be involved.
It’s a very fast pace. It’s taught me to multitask and always communicate effectively and responsibly. You’re always on your toes in a business like this.
COM: How has working in England compared to experiences you’ve had in the US?
Boothroyd: I think there’s more leeway, more freedom to be more expressive and creative than I would have in the States. I think there’s more opportunity to speak. They’re always willing to take whatever you have on the table. And I’ve had more freedom to take on work than I’ve had at home.
COM: What is your favorite part of being in London?
Boothroyd: How much there is to do and the people I’ve met—they show me the hidden spots of the city that I probably wouldn’t know as a foreigner. There’s lots of hidden cocktail bars. I went to one place where the door was enclosed behind a bookcase. I don’t see that back at home in Boston.
And the transportation system is amazing, so I’ve been to Oxford and Cambridge. It’s a great aspect of the program that you have free time to go do that.
Q&A
With Charlotte Schuster (’23)
COM: Where are you working this summer?
Schuster: I’m working at Dark Castle Entertainment and bspoketv. I started working at bspoketv, a reality TV network that produces lifestyle content, in February. I really enjoyed it, so I decided to continue through the summer. Working at both companies has allowed me to explore different parts of the industry because, while bspoketv produces unscripted content, my work at Dark Castle focuses on script development and coverage.
COM: What led you to study in Los Angeles?
Schuster: I knew that I wanted to participate in the BU in LA program to get an idea of what my lifestyle would be like as a working professional in Los Angeles. Most entertainment jobs, especially jobs in the writers’ room, are based in LA, so I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to live and work here before I graduate and eventually move here full-time.
COM: Is there a particular project that you’ve found exciting and engaging in this internship?
Schuster: Dark Castle is best known for its psychological horror film Orphan, and they are releasing the prequel, Orphan: First Kill, later this year. My bosses let the interns read the script and screen the prequel before its release, and it was really interesting to compare the two and discuss the production process with company executives.
COM: What’s something that’s surprised you about working in the film industry?
Schuster: Something that surprised me is how much time my bosses, both former BU students, have taken out of their days to get to know the interns. Even though they both have crucial positions dealing with the many projects that are in production, they sometimes meet with us for hours, just to check in. It’s shown me that there will always be people from BU in the industry to look out for you.
COM: How do you see this internship helping your career?
Schuster: My internship at Dark Castle is directly correlated to what I want to do, which is to write for film and television. I’ve developed skills such as writing coverage, covering desks, and pitching, which I know will be helpful down the road. This experience has also reminded me that who you know is often more important than what you know. Networking can be the thing that leads you to your next job, even if it’s just grabbing coffee with someone from your office or in one of your classes.
COM: Anything you miss about Boston?
Schuster: I miss my friends. Pretty much everyone I know is on the East Coast this summer, so I’m excited to go back to Boston and experience my last year of college with them.
