The Value of Connection

“Connection and change are the guiding principles in the work that I plan to pursue after college. Partaking in the progressive strides that the film and television industry is making to create a more interconnected humanity has and always will be the goal for me,” said sophomore Ella Pascua. 

Pascua said that these are the ingredients to a happy and successful career path. Pascua is a sophomore majoring in Communication with an emphasis in Film and Television Production, who currently interns at WarnerMedia in their Culver City and Burbank offices.

Seeing Through Different Lenses with a Village of Professors

Pascua began her studies at California Lutheran University’s last spring and expects to graduate May 2023. 

“Film and TV holds a special place in my heart. It was my rock through my most impressionable and identity forming years,” Pascua said. “Growing up in a small, homogenous community as a young queer Asian woman, I never felt validated in my identities. However, film and TV helped pave my path to acceptance and validation in my identities as I watched stories of characters with multifaceted identities unfold before me.”

The impact these media personally had on Pascua gave her the impetus to explore them in her studies and pursue work in the industry. Her major gives her the ability to combine her love of entertainment and the value of connection. 

“I get to explore the world through a variety of different lenses, while gaining clarity through my own lens,” said Pascua. 

Pascua has an appreciation of growing up in a tight-knit community and knew her experience at Cal Lutheran would be similar. She values the small student-to-faculty ratio.

“Getting to collaborate and learn alongside my peers in a small, intimate setting encourages me to be a better learner as I am able to discuss ideas and concepts more openly than if I attended a larger university,” said Pascua.

Pascua has flourished in her coursework and as co-editor of a monthly Film & TV program newsletter. She and fellow Film and TV Production major Gabriella Ariola provide their peers with industry and department-related information. Co-editing the newsletter has helped Pascua improve her ability to communicate more effectively and directly. 

“Getting to hear different stories and aspirations makes me eager to see how the entertainment industry is going to look one day,” said Pascua. “Gabriella and I try our best to put out beneficial content for the students, all while not trying to overwhelm them with everything. Because of this, we have had to condense material in a manner where students and staff are not only able to digest all the content without feeling overwhelmed, but also where our readers can walk away with the most vital information.”

Pascua credits her professors for her academic success, especially Aaron Heresco, PhD [Communication]; Colleen Windham-Hughes, PhD, MDiv [Religion]; Peter Carlson, PhD [Religion]; David Grannis, MFA [Communication/Film & TV]; and Dru Pagliassotti, PhD [Communication]. 

“I truly would not be where I am today without the village of professors who have supported me,” said Pascua. “These are some of the people who have mentored me with such attentiveness and nurtured me to not only grow as an industry professional but also as an individual. This type of one-to-one mentorship can only be found at a university like Cal Lutheran.”

Perseverance Pays Off 

As a talent relations and events intern at WarnerMedia, Pascua has worked alongside talent from HBO, HBO Max, TNT, TBS, and truTV. She has also had opportunities to work on-site at the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Awards and the premieres of the HBO series, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty and two streaming series, Minx and The Flight Attendant.

Her work schedule keeps her busy as she notes she will assist in the planning of events for shows like Barry and Euphoria, among others in the coming weeks.

The internship has helped Pascua develop skills such as initiative-taking, adaptability, prioritization, and business communication and will undoubtedly help her in her long-term goal of becoming a network executive. 

“Interning in my department, there are a slate of projects that are back-to-back, so I have to be quick on my feet to keep up with my team’s pace,” said Pascua.

When Pascua started her first semester, she knew she wanted to go into the entertainment industry and work at an influential conglomerate like WarnerMedia, NBC, Fox, and similar organizations. She applied throughout the year for an internship at these companies but met repeated rejections. She eventually found two internships at smaller companies, which Pascua says showed her the stamina needed for a person to succeed in the industry.

“During 2021, I interned unpaid for two companies, worked four part-time jobs where I was on my feet constantly, and started a small cookie business,” says Pascua. “I had gotten to a point in the year where I was questioning if I would ever get the chance to intern for a dream company of mine because there were just so many ‘No’s’ coming my way.”

Pascua persisted and in late December 2021, she received the offer from one of those dream companies.

“My current internship is so near and dear to my heart because it’s a living reminder of how hard work and perseverance pay off. My internship with WarnerMedia symbolizes my grit and growth during my time at Cal Lutheran,” said Pascua.

Pascua reminds other undergraduates not to worry when they don’t receive offers from an organization that can provide them with a purposeful learning experience. 

“It’s important to note that during college internship application processes, a ‘No’ means  ‘Not yet’ or a redirection to another place,” said Pascua. “There is ample opportunity to learn and get those dream internships if you persevere past the “No’s’ that come your way," said Pascua.

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