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Mellinger Lands Television and Digital Media Production Internship with Traverse City Film Festival

Ferris State University students gain valuable work experience through internships. Internships also can confirm or redirect career decision-making, provide marketability, develop people skills and enhance classroom learning. Many academic programs require one, but the experience is encouraged regardless to provide students with a better understanding of what will be expected of them in the workplace.

Many students are participating in myriad internships this summer. Meet: Shannon Mellinger

Shannon MellingerShe is: A senior from Vicksburg, majoring in Television and Digital Media Production

Internship: Mellinger is spending her summer as a Graphic Design Post-Production intern for the Traverse City Film Festival. The Traverse City Film Festival is an annual film festival that brings filmmakers from around the world to Northern Michigan in late July to early August.

Mellinger is completing this 12-week unpaid internship soon.

Her Favorite Experience: So far, Mellinger’s favorite experience is getting to see all the films, as well as meeting new people.

“One thing that’s also cool is I learned how to work a digital projector,” Mellinger said. “I could probably go into most movie theaters and know how to work their equipment.”

What she is looking forward to: Mellinger is excited to continue to learn more about skills that are involved with her major, as well as improve on some of the skills she has learned in the classroom.

Core Value: Ferris’ core values that Mellinger believes her internship emulates are “Learning,” “Collaboration” and “Opportunity.”

“You are learning something new every day, whether it’s about my field of study or not,” she said. “Also, I can say that I have worked for a film festival.

"I know what it takes to pull it off, I learned a lot, and I can handle a lot more now from my experience with the Traverse City Film Festival.”

Her future plans: Once Mellinger graduates in December, she hopes to complete another internship out in California or Michigan.

“Eventually, I want to move out to California. I would like to be a cinematographer, but I honestly would do anything on a movie or television set,” Mellinger said. “I would love to do camera work for documentaries; that’s the thing I would most like to do with my future.”