USA: Christiaan Hajos (Final Reflection)

Program: UW Creative Careers in Hollywood, Summer

The Creative Careers in Hollywood program ended yesterday evening, and what an experience it’s been. As I’m sitting in LAX, my mind is living in the last three weeks. I’m so glad I went on this study away program. A couple of things surprised me about the last three weeks. 

The first is that there are a LOT of Badgers in Hollywood. Being a filmmaker has been my dream since I was six, but it wasn’t until I was 17 that I decided to actually walk that path. It was my dream so I thought it was unattainable. While filmmaking seems attainable, filmmaking in Hollywood and working at the highest level seemed unattainable until this program, and seeing all the people who were in our shoes and made the leap of faith to Hollywood and now do all sorts of amazing work (from directing indie films, to supervising post production, to editing, to being talent agents etc).

Moreover, I’m amazed at how supportive our fellow Badgers are of us, and of this program. We met with almost 80 industry professionals over the course of three weeks! We learned from directors, writers, producers, creative executives, animators, editors, colorists, sound designers, entertainment lawyers, talent agents, and the list goes on! 

Another thing that surprised me in the best possible way, is how the most meaningful connections I made on this trip were not with any alumni in Hollywood, but instead my peers. Three weeks ago I only knew one of the other 13 students on this trip (my friend Carson!!!) but over the course of these jam-packed weeks we became a close group. As one might expect in a place like Hollywood, we heard the word “networking” a LOT, and it was often in the context of reaching out to people in higher places than you to help advance your career, but importantly, some of our alumni spoke about the connections with the people around you, not above you. Because the reality is that the 14 of us all are passionate about working in the entertainment industry in various ways, and we are each other’s network. Even during this program we supported each other and helped each other as we prepared for our final project: pitching an original TV show. In-between classes we brainstormed our shows together, rehearsed our pitches, and gave feedback. And on the day of the pitch presentation, we had to pitch to five industry professionals, which was exciting but daunting, but I was so glad that in the room were my 13 peers, and the energy was so bubbly and supportive and special. It has been electric to be for three weeks in such a creative environment.

I will have a lot of lasting memories from this experience. Two that I really want to mention, are getting to listen to James Newton Howard play one of the love themes he’s composed on the piano. It was so gentle, the melody sounded like if you didn’t play it delicately enough it would break. He said that he tends to write about what he doesn’t have. That has been replaying in my head over and over again, because two things I struggle with as an artist is that I find that my art imitates art more than it imitates life, and perhaps I am more an admirer of film than a maker of it. And secondly I struggle with being vulnerable with my art and truly letting the audience in. Another memory that will stick with me is academic: getting to see the Pacific ocean and see water as far as the horizon, and running into the waves. 

I’m sure eventually I will miss the adventure, and the sadness will creep in, but for now I’m enjoying the memories as I stave off the boredom of waiting at the airport.