Kelsey Cochran

Mass Communication

Chispa House - Production Intern

How has your internship helped build skills and clarify your career goals?

When I came into my first day at Chispa House/DT Productions, I thought I wanted to be a post-production editor and sit in front of a computer piecing together stories. After 4 weeks of working with the people here, I have new aspirations of becoming a producer and getting my foot in the door on set. They've allowed me to be a creative, a businesswoman, and a leader all while respecting my ability to keep learning.     

How do you apply your Liberal Arts skills in your internship?

The skillset I've obtained within the College of Liberal Arts have allowed me to be an effective communicator, a continuous collaborator and a natural leader in the workplace.  

Describe your typical day as an intern. 

There are no typical days at Chispa House. One day I could be working on a social media strategy, the next day I'm on set as a production assistant, and by the end of the week I'm putting the finishing touches on a video for the company website. Every day brings new challenges, thought processes, and ideas.

What was the most challenging aspect of your internship? 

The most challenging aspect has been speaking up during company meetings and feeling as if my opinions are valid enough to express. I think that comes with any newcomer in a company, I haven't been at Chispa House as long as some of my employees and am still learning the in's and out's of the company, so at times I feel like my ideas may be "coming out of left field." 

What was the most exciting thing about your role?

The most exciting part about my role at Chispa House is the ability to express a lot of my own creative freedom. My role here is very fluid, and because the company is still growing they place a lot of trust in my creative abilities with very little supervisor oversight. It's scary but amazing all at once.

Describe the most meaningful experience you had as an intern.

During my third week of work, I had a meeting with my boss about my progress thus far. We had a great conversation and he expressed a lot of interest in my potential as a strong female filmmaker in an industry dominated by male figures. It was incredibly meaningful to hear so much optimism come from someone who had only seen me work for three weeks.