NYU Student Selected For Television Academy Foundation Internship

NYU Student Ciara Bess has been selected for the prestigious Television Academy Foundation Internship Program. She is one of just 40 students chosen by Television Academy members from across the country for the 2024 Summer Internship Program. The Foundation offers paid internships at top Hollywood studios and production companies annually to college students nationwide.

Bess will be a senior this fall at New York University majoring in film and television. She will be a sound production intern this summer at Smart Post West, an audio/sound design production facility in Los Angeles, California, through the Foundation’s program.

Originally from Leesburg, Virginia, Bess attended Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, Virginia.

“I am super excited to work in a post-production audio facility and have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with professional sound equipment and editing software,” said Bess. “I look forward to the connections I will make at the facility as well as with the other interns from this program.

“I was always deeply moved by the music in movies,” said Bess. “Whether it was the ‘Rocky’ theme or the music from ‘The Incredibles’, I paid a lot of attention to the sounds and music in a film. This interest has led me to pursue a career path in sound mixing, editing and design.

“The post-production audio realm has a scarce amount of Black women like me,” continued Bess. “So, at times, I find myself discouraged by the lack of representation and role models in this specific field. But knowing that I can be one of the people to pave the way as a Black woman in audio inspires me to keep going with my dreams.”

The Television Academy Foundation shapes the art of creating television by engaging and educating the next generation of television professionals providing essential resources that help them discover their voices, refine their skills and forge rewarding careers in every sector of the television industry. The Internship Program provides over 50 students from across the nation with hands-on work experience, mentorships and opportunities for accelerated career development in more than 30 disciplines annually.

The Television Academy Foundation’s Internship Program also provides professional development sessions with leaders in the television industry and customized seminars covering personal brand-building and navigating the job market ahead for participating students.

Foundation alumni include prominent writers, producers, documentarians, creative executives, network presidents and more. Interns also automatically become members of the Foundation’s alumni family, giving them access to year-round events and networking opportunities as they build their careers in the industry.