December 19, 2024, by Arts Placements

Summer of ’24

My Incredible Hollywood journey

Borna Greblo looks back over a summer to remember on the Hollywood Internship Programme

How does one summarise the best summer of their life? I keep thinking about the right words to describe it.  No words can fully capture the emotions and experiences I lived through in the summer of 2024. ‘Grateful’ would be the best choice; let me explain why.

I arrived in London on June 11^th, ready to board a plane to Los Angeles the following day. I knew that I would: a) live with three people I didn’t really know, b) spend two and a half months on another continent, and c) work for Disney Branded Television!

Happily I can say that: a) I became close friends with Gracie, Millie, Niamh, and Max, b) the palm trees and LA weather will forever hold a special place in my heart, and c) I learned so much during my internship from some of the nicest people I’ve ever met.

This summer was special because I was able to experience it with other students from the University of Nottingham. Three of us interned at Disney, but all seven of us explored Los Angeles together, from the Griffith Observatory to Disneyland.

I could write a book about all the memories, but let me share just a few moments from my summer in Los Angeles:

• Calling my parents with good morning messages as they wished me a good night became normal, thanks to the 9-hour time difference between LA and Croatia.
• Seeing the cinema audiences clap after films really stuck with me and made going to the cinema more fun.
• I went on my first-ever solo trip to San Francisco—a milestone I’m really proud of.
• Attending the Wizards Beyond Waverly Place set not once but twice was surreal! It was great seeing the magic behind the scenes.
• Reading scripts, watching rough cuts for Disney Channel shows, and learning about production and post-production were highlights I’ll never forget.

I find it hard to escape cheesy and clichéd lines while writing this, so please forgive me. This truly was an experience of a lifetime. I often thought about 12-year-old Borna, waiting for Fridays to watch new episodes of Austin & Ally on Disney Channel. She wouldn’t believe she’d someday meet the people who worked on the show.  Let alone hear behind-the-scenes stories, and even be given a prop from the set (thank you, Shreya!).

So many people made this opportunity possible, including the Peter Rice Award, which supported my journey. I’d also like to thank the Placement Team at the University of Nottingham, including professors Gianluca Sergi and Kieran Foster. Finally, this summer wouldn’t have been the same without the incredible Production and Post-Production team at Disney Branded Television. I am forever grateful!

Thank you for the incredible memories, summer of ’24.

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