From Student to Set Life: Finding My Place Behind the Scenes
Introduction
Hi friends! I want to share my personal experiences during my first television production internship to inspire and inform others interested in media careers.
Somewhere between Day 1 and Day 27 of 41, this stopped feeling like an internship and started feeling like my life. My days have become earlier, longer, and a whole lot more serious. Somewhere along the way, I stopped thinking about this as a summer internship and started thinking about it as the beginning of the career I've dreamed about for years. It's exciting, but if I'm being honest, I've also had to remind myself not to lose who I am in the process. I'm still learning how to balance working hard with slowing down, saying yes to opportunities while also taking care of myself, and remembering that it's okay to enjoy the experience simply.
It's still surreal to think that the very first television production I've worked on will eventually be distributed on Netflix and the BBC. As a Creative Industries student, I've spent years learning about the media industry in classrooms, but I quickly realized that some things can only be learned by doing. You have to wake up before the sun, solve problems you've never faced before, meet people from every corner of the industry, and figure things out as you go. That's where the real learning happens, and it's what makes this experience invaluable.
Finding My Rhythm
One of the biggest adjustments has been the commute. Every morning starts before 5 a.m. as I leave Toronto and drive to Guelph. At first it felt exhausting, but somewhere along the way those quiet drives became part of my routine. They're my time to wake up, drink my electrolytes, mentally prepare for the day ahead, and remind myself how lucky I am to be driving to a job I've dreamed about for years. This routine has helped me stay grounded and focused throughout the internship.
By the time I pull into the production office, I never really know what the day will look like. Technically, I'm an Office Production Assistant, but I've quickly learned that the job becomes whatever you're needed for. While I spend time in the production office, I've found I'm often needed on set, working closely with the AD department, helping with background wrangling, learning how to cue background performers, supporting the Locations team, and jumping in wherever an extra set of hands is needed. I've also made countless trips to Staples and somehow become a regular at the local dump. Every day is different, and that's exactly what I love about production.
It didn't take long before the language of a film set started to feel like second nature. One of the coolest parts of working alongside the AD department has been getting to say those calls myself. Whether I'm calling "Lock it up!" to quiet the set before a take, confirming "Rolling!" as we get ready to shoot, or hearing "Cut!" after another successful take, those words have become part of my everyday vocabulary. At the beginning of the summer, they were phrases I'd only ever heard in behind-the-scenes videos. Now they're words I get to say as part of my job, and every time I do, I'm reminded that I'm exactly where I want to be.
Production is also physically demanding. We've worked through thirteen-hour days, extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and unpredictable weather. One afternoon, the power even went out, and our entire crew gathered inside one of the cabins while we waited for everything to come back. Looking around the room, I remember thinking how special this industry really is. For a little while, nobody cared about job titles or deadlines; we were just people laughing, sharing stories, and waiting for the day to continue. Moments like that reminded me that it takes an entire team to create the stories we watch on screen.
Eventually, though, my body reminded me that I needed to slow down. I ended up with heat exhaustion, and our medic sent me home. At the time, I felt guilty about leaving the team, but looking back, I realize I wasn't letting anyone down. What surprised me most was how many people noticed I wasn't myself before I even admitted it. Crew members encouraged me to slow down, drink water, and get some rest. That experience reminded me that taking care of myself is just as important as working hard if I want this to be my career.
The People Behind the Scenes
When people ask me what my favourite part of this experience has been, my answer is always the same: the people.
Before this summer, I thought television was mostly about the cameras, actors, and what we eventually see on screen. What I've learned is that the real magic happens because of the hundreds of people working behind the scenes. Every department depends on the next, and every person plays a role in making the day successful.
I've never worked on a professional production before, but not once has anyone made me feel like I didn't belong. Instead, people have taken the time to answer my endless questions, explain how things work, and encourage me to learn. Whether I was helping the AD department, working with Locations, chatting with Props, or running supplies across set, I always felt like I was contributing to something bigger than myself.
One afternoon, while waiting in a Sprinter van during a lightning storm, I started chatting with one of the drivers. Somehow the conversation turned to Disney, and he told me he had been a Walt Disney World Cast Member back in the 1990s. Out of everyone I could have been paired with that day, I ended up spending over an hour swapping Disney stories. It was one of those conversations you never expect to have, and it reminded me that some of the best moments on a production happen in between the busy ones.
Finding My Community
As the weeks went on, the crew slowly stopped feeling like people I worked with and started feeling like people I genuinely looked forward to seeing every morning.
One of my favourite parts of this experience has been getting to know so many different departments. I've loved helping the Locations team, learning from the Art Department, asking questions to Props, Costume, and Hair and Makeup, and working alongside the AD department with background wrangling and cueing. Every department has taught me something different, and seeing how they all fit together has completely changed the way I'll watch television in the future.
Seeing the background kids arrive every morning full of excitement has become one of the highlights of my day. Every time they run over to say hi, it reminds me not to take this experience for granted.
It's also the little traditions that have made this place feel like home. Every afternoon, someone from Lighting makes me a cup of tea after I've spent hours outside in the heat. The Art Department and I somehow started cheers-ing our Diet Cokes whenever we crossed paths. Lunch has become more than just a meal; it's time spent with the people who've become my support system. Some days we're laughing about the morning, and other days we're squeezing in a quick game of baseball before heading back to work.
The catering team always makes sure I've eaten, somehow knows to save me dessert, and never hesitates to hug me if they can tell it's been a hard day. Those little moments aren't part of anyone's job description, but they've meant more to me than I can explain.
I came into this internship hoping to learn how television gets made. I did that. But I also found something I wasn't expecting: a community. When this production wraps, I'll remember the people just as much as the work we created together.
Remembering My Why
I'll be honest, this summer has been emotional. There were days when I felt completely burnt out. I wanted to help everyone, say yes to every task, and prove that I belonged here. Somewhere along the way, I realized I was spending so much time making sure everyone else was okay that I had completely forgotten to take care of myself.
During one of those weeks, I reached out to my therapist for the first time in over six years. We spent some time catching up, and before our session ended, she asked me one simple question: "What's your why?"
I've thought about that question almost every day since.
My why is bigger than one production. It's the career I'm trying to build, the stories I hope to be part of, and the person I want to become along the way. Whenever the days feel long, or I start doubting myself, I come back to that question. It reminds me that taking care of myself isn't selfish; it's part of building the life and career I want. If this is going to be the first of many productions, I need to make sure I don't lose myself trying to prove that I belong.
Looking back now, I realize this summer hasn't just taught me how to work in television. It's taught me that showing up for yourself is just as important as showing up for everyone else.
Conclusion
One of the hardest parts of this experience has been being away from home. I miss Moose every single day, but knowing he's being spoiled and loved while I'm away makes it a little easier.
I still have four weeks left on this production, and I already know they're going to fly by. As excited as I am to see Moose again, I also know that when I'm back sitting in a lecture hall this fall, part of me is going to miss this life. I'll miss the early morning drives from Toronto to Guelph, climbing into my production vehicle not knowing where the day will take me, afternoon tea from Lighting, cheering Diet Cokes with the Art Department, hugs from the catering team, lunches with my support system, and hearing my radio go off because someone needs a hand. I'll miss conversations in Sprinter vans, production runs that somehow become adventures, and the background kids who get so excited every time they see me.
When I started this internship, I thought I was coming here to learn how television gets made. While I definitely learned that, I gained so much more. This experience taught me to be curious, adaptable, resilient, and to know when it's okay to slow down. More than anything, it reminded me that people build television. Every department, every role, and every act of kindness contributes to creating the stories we eventually see on screen.
As I head into my final four weeks, I'm carrying more than just new skills. I'm carrying the advice, encouragement, and belief that so many people have poured into me. I hope that years from now, when I'm no longer the newest person on set, I can make someone else feel as welcomed, supported, and encouraged as this crew has made me feel.
This isn't just the first television production I've worked on. It's where I stopped feeling like a student and started feeling like I belonged on set.
