UNC Hollywood Internship Program

Internship announcement! 📢 Meet Keira Braithwaite .braithwaite , HIP class of 2025. She has secured an internship with Shoe Money Productions. Congratulations!!! Read on to get to know Keira :)




Q. College major?

A. I’m majoring in English and Comparative Literature with a concentration in Creative Writing as well as Communication Studies with a custom concentration.

Q. What interested you about the Hollywood Internship Program?

A. I was drawn to the Hollywood Internship Program because of the close-knit cohort and network of support that it offers, which has truly been invaluable in making the transition from UNC to LA. I was also interested in the personalized internship training and speaker events provided through the program and have learned a lot about both the entertainment industry and entering the job market out of college.

Q. What part of the entertainment industry are you most interested in?

A. I am most interested in writing in the one-hour TV drama and genre space. I also love feature writing and hope to get my screenplays produced some day!

Q. What other hobbies or interests do you have?

A. My absolute favorite things to do in the world, in no particular order, include trying new restaurants, visiting street markets, playing video games and DnD, reading, going to the movie theater, baking, going to the gym, and spending time with my family.

Q. What is your ultimate dream job in the industry?

A. My dream job in the entertainment industry is to be a showrunner and to freelance my feature screenplays. I would love to adapt some of my favorite books and video games.

Internship announcement! 📢 Meet Peyton Jones , HIP class of 2025. She has secured internships with & Shoe Money Productions. Congratulations!!! Read on to get to know Peyton :)




Q. College major?

A. I majored in Communications Studies with a concentration in Media Production. I also double minored in Writing for the Screen & Stage and Creative Writing.

Q. What interested you about the Hollywood Internship Program?

A. I was interested in the HIP Program because of the opportunity to gain real-world experience in a professional setting. Los Angeles has long been considered the mecca for people interested in entertainment careers, so getting to live here for the summer while furthering my career in the industry is such a valuable opportunity.

Q. What part of the entertainment industry are you most interested in?

A. I am interested in writing and development for both live-action and animated TV/film.

Q. What other hobbies or interests do you have?

A. My other interests/hobbies include marketing, drawing, documentary film, and video production.

Q. What is your ultimate dream job in the industry?

A. My ultimate dream job would be either a development executive, or a writer/showrunner on an animated show.

Internship announcement! 📢 Meet Molly Cassidy , HIP class of 2025. She has secured internships with & . Congratulations!!! Read on to get to know Molly :)




Q. College major?

A. Journalism (Advertising & PR focus) with a minor in Writing for the Screen and Stage

Q. What interested you about the Hollywood Internship Program?

A. I’ve always wanted to work in entertainment, and HIP seemed like the perfect opportunity to meet people in the industry and learn what it’s actually like to live and work in LA. I also liked the appeal of being in a cohort of like-minded students pursuing similar goals.

Q. What part of the entertainment industry are you most interested in?

A. I’m most interested in writing for TV, specifically in comedy.

Q. What other hobbies or interests do you have?

A. I do improv, I dance, and I love to hang out with my friends!

Q. What is your ultimate dream job in the industry?

A. My ultimate dream job is to write for SNL!

Internship announcement! 📢 Meet Gage Austin , HIP class of 2025. He has secured internships with & . Congratulations!!! Read on to get to know Gage :)




Q. College major?

A. I am majoring in Journalism, Communication (media production) with a minor in global film studies.

Q. What interested you about the Hollywood Internship Program?

A. I was interested in an opportunity to work hands-on close to the beating heart of the film industry and to expand my skillset as a visual creator.

Q. What part of the entertainment industry are you most interested in?

A. I want to be a part of film production where I gain practical experience working on sets with the lightning and camera crew.
I also

Q. What other hobbies or interests do you have?

A. I also run, practice photography and play guitar in my spare time and try to read as often as I can.

Q. What is your ultimate dream job in the industry?

A. I am most interested in cinematography and camera operation. I want to be able to make creative lighting and camera decisions that shape how narratives are told.

Internship announcement! 📢 Meet Melissa Looney , HIP class of 2025. She has secured internships with & . Congratulations!!! Read on to get to know Melissa :)




Q. College major?

A. I am double majoring in Communication Studies, with a concentration in media production, and English and Comparative Literature, with a concentration in film studies.

Q. What interested you about the Hollywood Internship Program?

A. When my friend told me about the Hollywood Internship Program two years ago, I was thrilled by the opportunity to move to LA and intern in the film industry with a cohort of my Carolina peers. The chance to have the support of a UNC program behind me while taking such a big step forward in my career was what really drew me to HIP.

Q. What part of the entertainment industry are you most interested in?

A. I am most interested in on-set production for feature films, especially in the camera department.

Q. What other hobbies or interests do you have?

A. I love watching movies, trying out new coffee shops, and recently I’ve gotten into watching Love Island with my roommates.

Q. What is your ultimate dream job in the industry?

A. My ultimate goal is to work consistently as a DP on independent narrative feature films.

Internship announcement! 📢 Meet Alexandra J West .j.productions , HIP class of 2025. She has secured internships with & . Congratulations!!! Read on to get to know Alexandra :)




Q. College major?

A. Communications with a focus in Media and Production, and a minor in Dramatic
Art with a concentration in theatre production!

Q. What interested you about the Hollywood Internship Program?

A. I’m going to be so honest: everyone I looked up to my freshman year applied. I
then researched the program, and made the career switch afterward. I was
majoring in studio art at the time.

Q. What part of the entertainment industry are you most interested in?

A. I’m primarily interested in animated television, either as a writer or a producer,
that’s where my love lies. That and the indie side of short films – I love ADing!

Q. What other hobbies or interests do you have?

A. I’m a big fan of baking, drawing, swimming, and singing!

Q. What is your ultimate dream job in the industry?

A. One is to work in animation as a writer/showrunner, the other is to plan film
festivals and travel the world as I do so

Internship announcement! 📢 Meet Kaya Jordann , HIP class of 2025. She has secured an internship with . Congratulations!!! Read on to get to know Kaya :)




Q. College major?

A. Media and Journalism (Advertising/Public Relations), Communications

Q. What interested you about the Hollywood Internship Program?

A. The Hollywood part.

Q. What part of the entertainment industry are you most interested in?

A. Feature film or drama TV production/working on set.

Q. What other hobbies or interests do you have?

A. Travel, songwriting, screenwriting, fiction writing, photography, editing.

Q. What is your ultimate dream job in the industry?

A. Feature film and/or tv director.

Internship announcement! 📢 Meet Shane Vulpis , HIP class of 2025. He has secured internships with & . Congratulations!!! Read on to get to know Shane :)




Q. College major?

A. I am a Communication Studies Major with Minors in Writing for the Screen and Stage and Data Science.

Q. What interested you about the Hollywood Internship Program?

A. Before I got to UNC, I researched as much as I could about what UNC had to offer for people interested in the entertainment industry. As soon as I found out that HIP existed, it was a no-brainer. I was excited about the prospects of getting a taste of the entertainment industry before I graduated college, and I can comfortably say HIP does just that. I even went to the HIP interest meeting my first year at UNC even though I was still two years away from being eligible to actually participate.

Q. What part of the entertainment industry are you most interested in?

A. I am interested in screenwriting, specifically anything comedy related. I also want to be a part of a song that becomes a one-hit-wonder. Ideally, an EGOT in 44 years.

Q. What other hobbies or interests do you have?

A. I grew up playing baseball, so I love any opportunity to play catch. I hope I can find a league if I decide to move out here full time. I’m also a big Pokémon guy, so I’m waiting for the day a guy offers me money to name a bunch of Pokémon in a row.

Q. What is your ultimate dream job in the industry?

A. Either showrunner on a groundbreaking sitcom, or Adam Sandler.

Come out tonight and support independent film! HIP students and alum making it happen!!!!

Internship announcement! 📢 Meet Keller Huffman , HIP class of 2025. He has secured internships with & . Congratulations!!! Read on to get to know Keller :)




Q. College major?

A. Communications (Media Production Concentration).

Q. What interested you about the Hollywood Internship Program?

A. The Hollywood Internship interested me because I felt the transition to LA would be much smoother with a cohort of friends and support from talented professors and industry professionals.

Q. What part of the entertainment industry are you most interested in?

A. I am primarily interested in feature development and production.

Q. What other hobbies or interests do you have?

A. My other hobbies/interests include lifting, reading novels, hiking, running, live music, Rubik’s cube, international travel, skateboarding, and Pokemon Go.

Q. What is your ultimate dream job in the industry?

A. My ultimate dream job in the industry is to write and direct independent feature films.

Internship announcement! 📢 Meet Camryn Marie Hicks , HIP class of 2025. She has secured internships with & Congratulations!!! Read on to get to know Camryn :)




Q. College major?

A. I’m double-majoring in Advertising/Public Relations and Communications with a concentration in Media Production.

Q. What interested you about the Hollywood Internship Program?

A. I’ve always loved movies and TV. After watching anything I’d go down a rabbit hole of researching the production process, creative decisions, and behind-the-scenes details. So, when I realized I was interested in working in entertainment the HIP program felt like the perfect fit. It offered hands-on experience in the industry and the chance to connect with Carolina’s strong alumni network in Hollywood.

Q. What part of the entertainment industry are you most interested in?

A. I’m keeping an open mind as I learn more about the industry and each career path. However, right now I’m interested in marketing for TV/film and talent representation!

Q. What other hobbies or interests do you have?

A. Within the past year I’ve gotten really into yoga. I also love to travel! I came straight from my study abroad program in Australia to LA for the summer.

Q. What is your ultimate dream job in the industry?

A. My dream job would be to working on a marketing team for a major TV or Film studio.