Reynaldo Culannay

Pitzer College

Pitzer College Media Intern

Area of Study: 
Asian American Studies & Media Studies; Video, Southeast Asian Culture, and Queer Culture

What kinds of jobs / What professional fields are you interested in? 
I am interested in within media industries, focusing on producing content whether that is videomaking or photography.

Why I Applied to Become a VC Summer Intern: 
I applied to become a VC Summer Intern because of my goal not only bettering my production skills but, most importantly, continue the vibrant energy that the VC community foster. After volunteering at the 2016 LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, the exposure to the diversity of the VC community empowered me to come back and return the hard work.

What were some projects and tasks that you did as a VC Summer Intern? 
My position as a VC Summer Intern consist of crafting digital content that coincide with VC Summer events and the Digital History campaign. The contents were made as videos or a pre-show credit trailer.

What were some projects and tasks that you did during the VC Summer Screenings? 
During the VC Summer Screenings, my work focused not only on the pre-show credit trailer but also helping on the day of the screening through greeting, picking up food, and cleaning up.

What, if anything, did you learn while working as a VC Summer Intern? 
The biggest lesson about being a VC Summer Intern is the value of teamwork. The support and validation from my colleagues taught me that my work does not solely depends on me. Through a collective effort, a sense of accomplishment and pride subdued all the hardships and challenges my team and I faced.

Tell us about meeting and working with the LAAPFF Staff and other VC Summer Interns. 
Working with the LAAPFF Staff and other VC Summer Interns overtime felt like I was home and  part of a family . Despite being miles away from my family in the Bay Area, my engagement with the staff and intern in the office reminded me of the comfort and support that my family gave me. 

How did your VC experience compare with your expectations?
My VC experience exceeded my expectations because originally, my thoughts focused on the work and potential projects that will be done. After completing the experience, I came out with a different perspective that concentrates on the elements of community and collectivism.

Which directors or films did you learn about or discover as a result of your time at VC this summer?
The film MELE MURALS spoke out to me the most from the Summer Screening Series because of Tadashi Nakamura’s powerful message of art, identity, and community. As the last film screening of the summer, it graciously summarized my VC experience because of how it validated my time, energy, and existence spent at VC through organizing the screening with a group of empowering individuals.

Would you recommend this internship to others? Why?
YES, because the VC community encourages that all VC members learn and grow through their own goals and values. The opportunity to internship with VC is well worth with the amount of support you will receive from the staff and community.

What will you be doing now after your internship?
I will most likely come back and continue to give back to the VC community. I might consider volunteering at the 2017 LA Asian Pacific Film Festival!