Recent Eastern Connecticut State University graduate Paulina Palomo ’21 is one of 50 participants nationwide selected for a Television Academy Foundation Internship in 2021. The eight-week paid internship has her working with Endemol Shine North America, a Hollywood-based content production company that produces such shows as “Big Brother,” “The Biggest Loser” and “Wipeout.”

“I feel so honored and lucky to have been one of the people chosen for this internship program,” said Palomo, a theatre major with a minor in television production. “There were many talented students that were applying for this internship so it felt like a slim chance that I would be chosen. It's a great feeling to know that these amazing Television Academy members saw something in me that I probably didn’t see myself.”

Palomo is on a team with five Endomel Shine employees, working to advance current projects via trailer development and brainstorming sessions. “I am also creating a show for my internship project and will pitch the idea at the end of the program.”

Another aspect of the internship is learning how the television industry works through interaction with producers and other professionals. “I have been able to sit in on meetings (virtually) and learn how projects are pitched and developed into actual shows,” said Palomo. “Although I am not physically able to be there and learn on the set of their shows, I have still learned so much about the business through these meetings and tasks.”

The big takeaway from these meetings, according to Palomo, is that professionals need to be multifaceted. She feels prepared with a variety of skills developed as an undergraduate at Eastern, including acting and video production.

“When I was young, my parents loved watching soap operas and movies,” said Palomo. “My whole family loved talking about the way movies were made, which sparked a curiosity in me. Film and television have always been so interesting to me, which is why I decided to pursue it professionally.”

The internship program also includes professional development sessions with leaders in the television industry and customized seminars covering personal brand building and navigating the job market ahead. Interns also become lifelong members of the foundation’s alumni family, giving them access to events and networking opportunities as they build their careers in the industry. 

Established in 1959 as the charitable arm of the Television Academy, the Television Academy Foundation is dedicated to preserving the legacy of television while educating and inspiring those who will shape its future. For more information on the Foundation, visit TelevisionAcademy.com/Foundation