Third-year student delves into the movie industry landscape

Bea Hammam, a Penn student with a passion for film, is gearing up for an exciting autumn in Prague. But before that, she spent her summer immersed in the world of film production, both online and in-person.

Hammam, who considers herself a connector, honed her teamwork skills at Penn. This ability proved invaluable during her online internship with Film Hub, a New York City-based film distribution firm co-founded by Alan d'Escragnolle, a 2011 Wharton graduate. Hammam assisted in writing posts for the company's blog and promoting films in their collection.

Meanwhile, her in-person internship took her to Hidden Pictures Media, a film production company founded by Todd Lieberman, a 1995 Penn graduate. Here, Hammam got a "start to finish" view of the film production process. She read scripts, wrote summaries, and provided personal critiques.

The summer was a "culture shift" for Hammam, who found the Los Angeles film industry a stark contrast to her East Coast life. However, her experiences in the industry were not limited to just this summer. Last summer, she took part in the Penn in Cannes course and attended the film festival in France.

Hammam's journey in film began in second grade when she started making short films. She has been actively involved in student theater and film-related clubs at Penn, including Penn Players, Bent Button Productions, and the Wharton Undergraduate Media and Entertainment Club.

In the spring, Hammam will return to Penn to take more classes on the business of film. She is hoping for another Penn-sponsored internship next summer, focusing on production, distribution, development, talent agency, or management.

Through her internships, Hammam learned about the career path for the film industry. This was reinforced in a course taught by visiting lecturer Randi Michel, where she learned about artist representation, talent agencies, and the manager producer's job.

Film Hub, on the other hand, focused on dealing with the end product and working with filmmakers. This gave Hammam a comprehensive understanding of the film industry, from production to distribution.

Despite the exciting opportunities she's had, Hammam is looking forward to her fall semester in Prague for intensive film production courses. The autumn, it seems, will be just as eventful for this ambitious filmmaker.