2. INTERNSHIPS

DISNEY COLLEGE PROGRAM

I’ve always been drawn to movies, entertainment, and the magic of storytelling. My first hands-on experience came in 2017 when I joined the Disney College Program at Walt Disney World, starting at the Art of Animation Resort before transferring to Magic Kingdom on Main Street at "Tony's Restaurant". While I don’t have photos from my first program, I returned for a second program in August 2019 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, working in operations for live entertainment.

During this time, I contributed to shows like Indiana Jones and Star Wars: Jedi Training, among others. I learned what it takes to put on large-scale performances, manage audiences, and communicate effectively over the radio. With shows seating over 2,000 guests, I had to stay calm under pressure, communicate clearly, and solve problems in real time. I loved my experience at Disney so much that I planned to build a long-term career there. However, those plans were interrupted on March 12, 2020, when all college interns were laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. My next step was returning to BYU-Idaho to complete my degree.

THE BOOK OF MORMON VIDEOS

To complete my degree, I needed one final internship, and it had to be in the field I wanted to work in. Through networking with one of my professors, I landed an interview with a producer of The Book of Mormon Videos. I shared my experience at Disney Parks, and shortly after our meeting, I was offered an internship on season four as a casting assistant.

I took on a variety of responsibilities, including serving as the official buffer for the show’s principal actor. College hadn’t fully prepared me for such an opportunity, but my time at Disney had taught me how to work under pressure and manage large crowds—skills that proved invaluable in escorting the actor to media press, navigating him through multiple locations on and off set, and handling his schedule. From there, I was unexpectedly introduced to a new role that would define my path forward.

Filming that summer was incredibly hot, and 12+ hour days in the heat often led to stress and tension on set. What people didn’t know was that I have a naturally loud voice—a Disney supervisor used to joke saying I didn’t need a microphone to make myself heard. On one particularly chaotic day, over 300 background actors were ignoring instructions. I noticed my actor becoming frustrated, and something compelled me to shout at the top of my lungs, “QUIET PLEASE, THANK YOU!”

For a moment, I froze, unsure how it would be received. Then I saw the Director and Assistant Director from video village. Everyone began to quiet down, and to my surprise, both were okay with what I did. That moment changed everything for me. It wasn’t my place to speak up, but stepping in when it mattered most opened doors I hadn’t imagined—and ultimately led me to where I am today.