November at Northwestern!

Volume 16, Issue 3 | November 1, 2021

Alumni News

Alumna Kourtney White ('19), Media Production- Film & Video Track, recently landed a job with Apple TV in LA.

Kourtney:
"I moved to LA at the beginning of September. I started off with a four-day gig helping an Amazon Prime show haul some set pieces from a warehouse. During this time, I was able to make connections and a couple of weeks later was asked back to work in the office as they finished up the show. From there I worked on an HBO show for a bit and then will be starting on another show in November for Apple TV. I was/am an office production assistant which is where you start if your end goal is to become a producer. Office PA's do a lot of things - get lunches, stock crafty, make and print sides, go on runs, and a bunch of other tasks - it mostly depends on the day. Some days you might be doing pick-ups for six hours, other days you might be in the office all day. The days are long, but I absolutely love it and couldn't see myself doing anything else.

My biggest supporter at UNW was Ann Sorenson who was my professor, advisor, and mentor. Moving to California was something I had always gone back and forth on and Ann was always there to listen and to talk through things with me. I'm so grateful for her and her wisdom and guidance! During my time at UNW, I was able to hold leadership roles in the film department (Exec Staff for Northwestern Productions), and doing that for three years helped me to gain the confidence to talk to people and to strengthen my leadership skills and film knowledge.

If you want to work in production, make sure that you network and make connections. If you work hard and your production coordinator or supervisor likes you, then they will probably either recommend you or help you find your next job. That's how I've been able to keep getting work. People notice when people work hard and when people take initiative and that is honestly huge. You don't have to know everything, you just have to be willing to learn and not have to be told what to do every second. It's second nature to me to always be working and always looking or finding something to do. If you want to work in production, work hard, take initiative, and notice things that other people might not notice (ie a cooler that needs to be emptied that someone just left there or printer paper that could be organized, etc.).

I spent a lot of time trying to figure out when and if I should move to California and finally it seemed right for me to go. I didn't have a plan or a job, all I had was an apartment. I knew that it was where I needed to go and knew that I would figure it out once I got there. I would say try whatever you want to do, I told myself if I moved out to California and didn't like it, I could move back home, but at least I could say that I tried. My last bit of advice would be to just try it! Don't rush yourself or feel pressured by other people's timelines, do what you feel like you need to do when you need to do it. It's your life and you can move at your own pace."

Alumna Kourtney White ('19), Media Production - Film & Video Track, recently landed a job with Apple TV in Los Angeles, California.

Kourtney:
I moved to LA at the beginning of September. I started off with a four-day gig helping an Amazon Prime show haul some set pieces from a warehouse. During this time, I was able to make connections and a couple of weeks later was asked back to work in the office as they finished up the show. From there I worked on an HBO show for a bit and then will be starting on another show in November for Apple TV. I was/am an office production assistant which is where you start if your end goal is to become a producer. Office PA's do a lot of things - get lunches, stock crafty, make and print sides, go on runs, and a bunch of other tasks - it mostly depends on the day. Some days you might be doing pick-ups for six hours, other days you might be in the office all day. The days are long, but I absolutely love it and couldn't see myself doing anything else.

My biggest supporter at UNW was Ann Sorenson who was my professor, advisor, and mentor. Moving to California was something I had always gone back and forth on and Ann was always there to listen and to talk through things with me. I'm so grateful for her wisdom and guidance! During my time at UNW, I was able to hold leadership roles in the film program (Exec Staff for Northwestern Productions), and doing that for three years helped me to gain the confidence to talk to people and strengthen my leadership skills and film knowledge.

If you want to work in production, make sure that you network and make connections. If you work hard and your production coordinator or supervisor likes you, then they will probably either recommend you or help you find your next job. That's how I've been able to keep getting work. People notice when people work hard and take initiative and that is honestly huge. You don't have to know everything, you just have to be willing to learn and not have to be told what to do every second. It's second nature to me to always be working and always looking or finding something to do. If you want to work in production, work hard, take initiative, and notice things that other people might not notice (i.e., a cooler that needs to be emptied that someone just left there or printer paper that could be organized, etc.).

I spent a lot of time trying to figure out when and if I should move to California and finally it seemed right for me to go. I didn't have a plan or a job, all I had was an apartment. I knew that it was where I needed to go and knew that I would figure it out once I got there. I would say try whatever you want to do. I told myself if I moved out to California and didn't like it, I could move back home, but at least I could say that I tried. My last bit of advice would be to just try it! Don't rush yourself or feel pressured by other people's timelines, do what you feel like you need to do when you need to do it. It's your life and you can move at your own pace.

Note from the Faculty

A chill is in the air, and the smells of the season breakthrough the hustle of the semester—hot apple cider, hints of bonfire smoke, dry leaves, and buttery baked goods.

It’s November: soon it will be Thanksgiving. A time where we can step back and take stock of all the ways God is working in our lives and practice gratitude, even as we’ve struggled through some difficult times these past two years.

Perhaps last year it was tough to be thankful, in the face of everything that happened in 2020. Or maybe it forced you to be more intentional about being thankful in the face of whatever struggles you found yourself in.

Wherever you were at last Thanksgiving—as we return to it this year, being reminded of the value of taking the time to be thankful can bring new life and reinvigorate us.

Recognizing God’s providence in our lives requires us to be humble, but also to be comforted in the assurance that it’s not all up to us.

A wonderful thing about living in a climate with seasons like Minnesota is that the seasons echo the repetitions of our calendar—remind us that it’s time to reflect and be thankful.

One of the things we know about effective communication is that people need repetition to make messages really stick.

Important messages are worth repeating.

Needing reminders, needing repetition, isn’t a sign of weakness or inattention. It’s a sign that we’re human, and we respond to stories when they’re told effectively. We just have to be listening.

As we notice those small rituals of fall—the cozy blankets and mugs of hot chocolate or cider—let them be a reminder of where we are: on the doorstep of gratitude.

Professor Eric Netterlund, Ph.D
Assistant Professor of Communication

Featured Student

Raeann Goetz ('24)
Media Production, Film & Video Track
Public Relations

What are your plans for the future?

My plans for the future definitely involve writing. I would love to write for TV and internet content. My dream company to work for would be Rooster Teeth, a media production company that makes a bunch of goofy internet videos, as well as well-known TV shows such as RWBY and Red vs. Blue.

What opportunities have you had at UNW?

I've had a lot of great opportunities here at UNW. As a film major, I've gotten to help so many people on their projects both for class and outside of class. Most recently I was the assistant director on an awesome music video for a musician outside of Northwestern.
Also for the film program, this year I hold the position of one of the executive staff for the Northwestern Productions workshop. I helped lead the 24-hour film challenge that we held a couple of weeks ago, and I am also the leader of the marketing team for the Five16 Film Festival.
Another great opportunity I've had is on the other side of campus in the music & theatre department. I hold the position of communications director for the Symphonic Band. Every week I design and send out a newsletter to the band, and I also help run the social media pages.

What is your favorite thing about UNW?

I think the greatest thing about UNW is the community. It definitely is the most basic answer, but it is so true. Because of this community, I have grown so much in my faith, and Jesus truly is in my life every moment of every day.

Featured Alumni

Jamie Anderson ('20)
Communication Studies

Where has life taken you after UNW?

I graduated in May 2020, right during the hiring crisis at the height of COVID. It was a long journey to find a job I felt utilized my skills and was a good stepping stone in my career. I freelanced, waitressed, and did some temp work until I finally landed my current position in March 2021 as the Administrative Assistant and Communications Coordinator for the North American Council on Adoptable Children in St. Paul, MN. We are the leading experts in post-adoption, foster, and kinship care in North America.

What advice do you have for current students?

Don't be discouraged if you don't land your dream job right after graduation! Job hunting can be exhausting and often disappointing, but don't give up. You WILL land that job eventually, and in my experience, God had me wait a long time to find the perfect job for my current season of life. I'm so glad He had me wait - I now see that the other jobs I applied for wouldn't have been as great a fit for me as the one I have now.