Two weeks ago, New Media seniors got the chance to travel to Los Angeles, California, for a behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment industry. This experience allowed students to gain firsthand exposure to media careers, professional film, and television while also visiting studios, connecting with alumni, and having conversations with leaders of the industry. Throughout the week, students were immersed in the world of entertainment, allowing them to gain a clear understanding of how creativity, collaboration, and business intersect in professional media. These ambitious students include: Anna Daniel, Ford Davie, Maddie Phillips, and Gonzalo Zarazaga.
Senior Ford Davie shared what he enjoyed about the trip.
“It was a great experience seeing what it was like to do this at a professional level,” said Davie.
These New Media students saw the professionals working in the flesh in numerous ways. The group’s first day was spent at the Warner Brother lot, where they met up with Vince Vaughn’s assistant, CJ. Students toured the lot and got to step onto the set of Bad Monkey, an Apple TV+ series starring Vaughn and made by the showrunner Bill Lawrence, who was also the showrunner on Ted Lasso and Scrubs.
“Being on set was an amazing experience for all of the seniors,” said senior Anna Daniel. “We finally got to see a working set in the film industry.”
While on set, the seniors were able to observe how a professional production operates behind the scenes. Aspects like detailed set designs and collaboration between crew members gave the students insight into how much hard work goes into just one episode of a show. They also had the chance to speak with one of the writers from the show’s writing department, who explained the process of developing storylines and working together to create each script.
Friday morning, being one of the highlights of the trip, included a breakfast with LFHS alumn Vince Vaughn. He gave each of the seniors specific advice regarding their interest in future pursuits. He also talked about working in comedy, colleges, work, and life balance, and what it takes to be a part of this industry. Vaughn emphasized the importance of mastering and working hard for the future.
Vaughn was “the most motivating person I’ve ever talked to,” said Davie.
“It was amazing to talk with him for so long and hear all of his advice,” said Daniel.
The seniors also visited United Talent Agency (UTA), where they met LFHS alumnus Strawn Dixon, who is now an agent at the company. They also got to connect with another alum who works in social media marketing for Call of Duty. These meetings showed students that careers in entertainment go far beyond acting and directing.
Later, they visited Adobe and spoke with a member of the company’s education leadership team about the growing impact of AI in creative fields and the future of media.
To wrap up the trip, the seniors attended a screening of The Natural at the historic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.
Overall, the LA experience gave these LFHS students valuable insight into the professional media careers and helped them better understand the many paths within the industry.
