Red Carpet Internship

By Mackenzie Payne ‘17

Television arts major Sean Mayginnes ’17 is on the adventure of a lifetime — Bradley University’s Hollywood semester. The Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts program sends students of any major to Hollywood to participate in academic courses and internships in the entertainment industry.

Through the University’s ties to Los Angeles, Mayginnes connected with Bradley alumnus Adam Cohen ’02 and Jim Tanker ‘72. Mayginnes worked with Cohen as a production assistant intern for the 2016 Screen Actors Guild awards, which gave Mayginnes a red carpet experience and a TV credit for his effort.

“The entire experience was surreal,” said Mayginne, a Washington, Illinois, native. “I was able to be within feet of Hollywood’s greatest, walk the red carpet with stars and even talk to a few.”

Cohen has worked on television shows like “The Bachelor” and “Fame,” and has also worked on awards shows like the Academy Awards and the SAG/AFTRA awards.

Jim Tanker is also an experienced Hollywood director working with SAG/AFTRA awards, the Academy Awards, Critic’s Choice Red Carpet Live! and the Grammy Red Carpet Live. Additionally, Tanker is associate director for “Big Brother”, “Undateable”, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Kennedy Center Honors.

In addition to taking classes, Mayginnes is interning at Heroes and Villains Entertainment, where he reads over scripts and handles various office tasks. He’s also a production assistant for “Nerd Talk,” a show available at TheStream.tv.

“Having the opportunity to actually live, work and function in Hollywood is much different than really any other working industry and I am extremely lucky and grateful to have this opportunity,” Mayginnes said.

This semester has helped Mayginnes build his own professional network in L.A., something he knows to be an integral part to securing a future in industry. He has connected with directors, actors and producers who he hopes will be the connections to help him find a way to L.A.

“It’s useful to have a good education to know the background of how things work, but in this industry, having connections in various places is the key to finding work and making your way up the ranks,” Mayginnes said.

Though Cohen didn’t participate in Hollywood Semester while a student, Bradley friends paved the way to his first L.A. jobs as a production assistant for “The Bachelor” and “Fame.”

“In this business it's all about who you know,” Cohen said. “They can get your foot in to door, but once you are in that door it is up to you to make a good impression and keep working and networking.”

Cohen’s success story encourages Mayginnes as he looks to the future.

L to R: Adam Cohen '02 and Sean Mayginnes '17