With the end of summer comes the end of the infamously famous Summer internship season. With that said, Marvel's Animation department pulled out all the stops when choosing some quality interns. Example one, Sam Grimes. To put the icing on his internship cake, Sam has given us a glimpse into his experience in the Animation department. Let the eye-opening begin.....
When asked to write about an internship its actually harder then you would think. Once you're at a place for long enough, how do you pick out only a few of the amazing things you're witnessing? Its also no easy task being the worlds best intern, trust me. So where do I start, what do you people want to know? I guess I could just start off with the basics that seems like the best approach.
I was the Animation department's intern, the animation production intern to be exact. This basically means that I was the go to guy for seven other people to use me and throw projects at me at all times. I was here in this beautiful office everyday for three great months. And I don't regret anything; it's a great thing to be able to say that I worked for Marvel Studios. Sure I was an intern, but I mean isn't this how any great job starts? I come from the beautiful land of Chicago, which actually couldn't be more different then California at all. I lived out here last summer so I had a taste of what it was going to be like, but a new house and a new office can change an experience big time.
Working for Marvel has always been a dream of mine; I have been reading comics for about as long as I could hold a book. I never got into DC, Marvel always seemed to speak to me more. I could always count on a Marvel comic to open up my mind, or get my imagination flowing. As I got older, comics helped me as an outlet to geek out and get my creative juices flowing.
When college came around I knew I would have to attend some sort of art school. I loved to write but my bigger passion was film, as it always had been. I can remember going into my towns local comic book store (Comics Galore) and hearing about the live action Spider Man movie, way back in 1991. I remember wanting to know everything about it, most importantly when it was coming out. Film was an amazing outlet for me, with much of my creative mind developed by Marvel Comics and action figures. I even went so far to make a Lego movie staring (a homemade) Punisher and Spider-Man. Maybe one of these days you folks will be lucky enough to see it (as I can guarantee it's Oscar-worthy).
But what does all this have to do with my internship you ask? Well the point I'm trying to make is that when I found out Marvel Studios has internship opportunities I pretty much freaked. And when I found out that I was going to be filling one of these positions I did freak. Finally the pieces were falling into place, who cares if I didn't know a thing about Animation production, I knew the Marvel characters, and better yet I cared about the universe. I figured animation couldn't be that far from film, and as I had worked in TV before, it seemed like an easy enough fit. And I think I've seen every Marvel Animation they have ever done (remember that Hulk theme song from the 1980s cartoon?). The thing we need to make clear is that I'm a fanboy. I want to see these films and TV shows succeed as much as you guys, but I also want to see them follow the comics we all care about. What is so great about Marvel is that the people who work here want that too. They care about the source material; they want to stay true to the comics that we hold dear.
So I jumped in headfirst. I got hold of things that I cared about, I was able to see things you guys are going to have to wait a few years for (and trust me, its worth it). And I was around things that I cared about and didn't mind doing! Plus I saw the "Iron Man 2" footage, so in your face. I mean when you have 40 projects to do in three hours, it might seem like a bad day, but when those projects revolve around the X-Men, Black Panther or The Avengers, they don't seem like projects. I pretty much just took the best class of my life because I got to deal with animated Marvel properties, and I got school credit. What could be better?
I mean I can't say enough about the people I worked for and with. When you leave home for three months to work, it can be a little intimidating. But the people really took me in here, and made me feel like part of the Marvel family. I was ragged on and bruised, but anywhere I know the people well enough to rag back seems successful to me. But make no mistake this is a fast-moving office, with plenty going on, and if you can't roll with the punches (and there will be plenty) then you better get out of the way.
Internships can be a bit much but I loved every minute of my stay here at Marvel. I finally saw what it was like to work on a studio lot and to see the gears moving from the inside. It was a once in a life time chance, that I loved. I made great friends while I was here, and can't wait to see them again when I'm done with school and hopefully working and living in California (Marvel employees: HINT HINT).
So thank you Eric, Cort, Josh, Javon, Adam and Kat. I loved working with you guys, and would love to do it again.
Hero Up!
Sam Grimes.
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Winner: 1st place AND People’s Choice: Darren Montablano (Creative Services/Brand Assurance Coordinator) with “Montablano’s Marvelous Mojo” (recipe to be posted on his food blog: )
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