This past month has been nothing but an extraordinary experience. Often, study abroad is associated with leaving for a new country anywhere across the globe. There is certainly a multitude to learn from the rich cultural experiences of other places and people. I never thought I would gain that level of insight within the United…
Author: benasciutto24
My Final Week
I think if I were speaking to myself at the start of the program, there are a few things I wish I was more aware of. The biggest point would be not to burn yourself out. During the program, I interned at HBO from 7am-3pm, did my homework assignments from 3pm-5pm, ate dinner and then…
The Big Decision
One of my main focuses of this program in Los Angeles is to see if this city is the right place for me following my graduation next April. In the entertainment industry, there are two central hubs where most of the work is done: New York or Los Angeles. I grew up in North Jersey,…
Dealing with the Challenges
Being still in the United States, there are less challenges than what other countries might present. Nevertheless, Los Angeles is an extremely vibrant city with tons to do around lots of people. The biggest challenge is trying to estimate the utter size of this city. Anaheim and Santa Monica feel two New York Cities a…
2 Weeks into LA
This study away experience has been eye-opening from three distinct areas: professionally, personally & culturally. Over the course of these two weeks, I have learned a lot about what the film & entertainment industry entails and the career paths within it. The truth is there are no set career paths for the experience I want…
Understanding My Expectations
I have certainly learned a lot during my week and a half in the city of Los Angeles. It fits into my expectations that I laid out for myself ahead of the program – but the spontaneity of this industry and city is what caught me off guard. During our first week, we had 4…
Living in LA!
I have arrived in Los Angeles and living in Santa Monica! I am in an apartment complex with my three roommates. It’s in a real nice area being 30 minutes from the Santa Monica pier and beach and vibrant with places to eat. Our apartment is on the first floor of the complex so it…
My West Coast Goals
I have numerous goals that I hope to achieve through my participation in the Pitt in LA American Film Industry Program. Academically, there are two courses that are key parts of my experience in this program. The first course is The American Film Industry which aims to give a unique exposure to various aspects of…
Heading West – Global Program Introduction: Benjamin Asciutto
I’m so happy to be back on the Pitt Honors Blog for this summer. Last year, I was a Fellow in the Creative Arts Fellowship and produced my first documentary film on the pandemic’s effect on my hometown and what it means for suburbs across America. This summer, I am sticking with my passion for…
My Creative Arts Fellowship Experience
Over the course of this fellowship, I have developed a lot of skills that have helped me in the process of creating this film. One of the most important skills revolved around organization. With a documentary film, there are a lot of moving parts that need to come together in order to create the final…