Hello everyone! I am Sathya Jeyakumar, a rising junior in the College of Business Administration and Frederick Honors College at the University of Pittsburgh. I am currently pursuing a Global Management Major and Theatre Arts Minor along with a Certificate in Leadership and Ethics. My overarching career goal is to be a filmmaker and to bring the stories I have in my mind to life on the big screen.
As a Global Management major, it is vital to have vast knowledge of various parts of the world, it’s culture, philosophies and history. These three elements are what often shape into a country’s business and social fabric. By understanding these nuances, I will be better equipped to enter a professional workforce on a global scale. My internship in Seoul, South Korea serves as the first step towards achieving a vast understanding of the world since exposure to global environments is not something that can be replicated by staying in one country or city, which is why I am beyond excited for this opportunity and experience.
I am headed to Seoul, South Korea as a part of the International Internship Program. For two months I will be working as a Digital Marketing Intern for TooSix Media Group, a multi-lingual boutique voice casting agency for clients in animation, documentary, education, gaming and narration recording projects. Some of their biggest clients include Samsung, Toyota, and Amazon. My primary responsibility will be to script, shoot, edit and produce narrative videos and other content for TooSix Media Group’s various social pages. These social pages include TooSix Media Group’s four YouTube Channels, two Instagram accounts, TikTok and Facebook pages. The application of my creative and technical skills in a professional setting that values cross-cultural collaboration and multimedia storytelling is something that greatly excites me. Through this internship, I will get a hands-on experience in dealing with international clients, interpreting international creativity, and producing content aimed towards a different country .
My professional goals during my IIP in Seoul are:
1) Improve my soft skills such as communication, teamwork, problem solving and adaptability.
2) Form interpersonal relationships with my colleagues.
3) Network myself within the Korean independent film scene and produce a short film.
These goals are essential in order for me to grow professionally and personally. Each of these objectives is a stepping stone toward becoming a well-rounded global professional. There will definitely be challenges in my pursuit of achieving these goals. These challenges are normal as adapting to a new work culture is tough, but I am more excited by the growth that comes from navigating new and unknown situations.
I plan to find some way or another to engage with local filmmakers, and attend screenings or festivals such as the Seoul Independent Film Festival. Producing a short film in Seoul will help me gain international experience and explore narratives influenced by the zeitgeist of a city like Seoul. The language barriers I may face or the cultural differences that exist cannot stop the universal bridge that is filmmaking.
My personal reasoning behind choosing this program is that I always had a deep admiration for Korean films and society. Films like Parasite, Memories of Murder, and Old Boy have heavily influenced me as a person as well as a filmmaker. This is what led me to want to experience Korean society in some way. Hence why I decided to dedicate two months of my life to living and working in Seoul. These films contain thematic depth, social commentary, and a cinematic style that has given me confidence and inspiration in being more intentional and daring in my own work.
The other reason I chose to go abroad is that by traveling to a new country one can gain great knowledge and wisdom. And by travel I do not mean going on vacation to Aruba or Bali but to go somewhere and make an effort to integrate yourself and understand the local way of life, the philosophies that drive them, and taste the local cuisines. I hope that by living in another country for two months I can augment my knowledge, wisdom, and improve my way of living. Travel, in this sense, is a crash course in humility and perspective. It makes you focus on listening more than speaking, and observing before assuming. This internship means more to me than just being another line on my resume or a requirement for my major, it is a defining chapter in my life that I hope will push me to think broader and create more meaningful stories.
