LA Trek students at SAG AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA

Exploring the Entertainment Industry

Jan. 25, 2017 — Over the course of a week in January, 16 students, explored and experienced the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. The trip was funded by Grinnell’s Center for Careers, Life, and Service and led by Kelly Guilbeau, assistant director of advising and exploration at the CLS, and Ashley Schaefer, associate director of alumni and donor relationships for campus partnerships.

Alumni hosts included

  • Beth Grover ’03 at Western Costume Company
  • Dodge Greenley ’11 at Nickelodeon
  • Ian Roberts ’87 at Sunset Gower Studios
  • Brian Mann ’76 at the talent and literary agency ICM Partners
  • Trustee David White ’90 at the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
  • F. Hudson Miller ’80 at the USC School of Cinematic Arts

Several other alumni were able to meet with the group throughout the trip to answer their questions, network, and discuss their career paths.

After returning from the city of angels, many students are still processing the experience, but some have already made plans to take action. After seeing the writers of the TV Land show Teachers (who are also the cast) working at Sunset Gower, several of the students on the trip have committed to producing a web series over the course of the spring semester. Another student had said before the trip she was fairly certain she would move to Chicago after graduating. Two days into the trip, she was set on L.A.

For your information:

Treks and other high-impact career exploration opportunities for students are supported by donors and made available through the Center for Careers, Life, and Service.

  • If you would like to learn more about CLS programming, visit grinnell.edu/cls.
  • If you are interested in supporting similar experiences for students in the future, consider making a gift to the CLS.