Determined Penn State student embraces on-site internship opportunity in LA

Editor’s Note: This is the seventh in a series of articles about students in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications completing summer internships.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Building a career in the entertainment and filmmaking industries often requires a wholehearted commitment, and that’s why one Penn State student made what he considered an easy choice regarding his summer internship: He headed straight to Los Angeles.

Cody Leuenberger could have completed his internship doing book and script coverage for the Gotham Group remotely, but, he said, he thought being on site was a better option. And, even with the ongoing writers’ strike slowing the industry as well as the amount of material passed along for script coverage, Leuenberger said he knows he made the right decision.

“There’s so much to figure out about the industry, so many intricacies. So, being here helps,” said Leuenberger, a senior film production major. “When I move out here to start my career next spring, I’ll have to dig in and get working. This is kind of a head start.”

Leuenberger, from Pinehurst, North Carolina, said that book and script coverage amounts to crafting “mini book reports” with a synopsis of each piece as well as comments and critiques. After reading a piece, he passes along his coverage with an opinion to either pass, consider or recommend. If it’s one of the latter two options, someone else will review the piece. If it’s first, the project ends there.

The process has been informative as he prepares for his final year at Penn State, a time when some film production majors put together a yearlong senior film project. He’s among that group this year, and he’s fine-tuning the script for his project while completing the internship and working at a local retail clothing store to help pay his bills.

As an added benefit, interns at the Gotham Group enjoy regular meetings with industry professionals. Visitors so far have included the writer of “Elf” as well as the writer of “The Wolf of Wall Street.” For Leuenberger, who hopes to one day direct and write in Hollywood, the visits have been helpful and highly informative, he said.

He’s committed and determined, traits he has displayed during the internship and as a member of CommAgency, the student-run production agency housed in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. He’s been active as a member of the Delta Kappa Alpha, the film-society fraternity, and will serve as recruitment chair this fall.  

“Cody is a calming presence — he’s there to get the work done — and everyone really enjoys working with him,” said Catie Grant, an assistant teaching professor in the Bellisario College and the director of CommAgency. “He also brings a lot of creativity and isn’t afraid to make suggestions, which many new members can feel nervous about. He jumped right into CommAgency.”

Leuenberger said his Bellisario College faculty members have been consistently supportive and the opportunities available for students at Penn State seem unlimited.

“There are so many films happening,” he said. “Plus, there are a lot of ways to get involved and any film production professor I’ve had has been super helpful.”

An interest in photography in middle school led to music and then a combination of the two, filmmaking, for Leuenberger. His favorite movie — “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” directed by Ben Stiller — further ignited his passion, and he’s found a collegial community with like-minded interests at Penn State.

While he anticipates his senior film, for which he’ll serve as director, he said he envisions filmmaking more as a collaboration than one person’s vision. Leuenberger admits he’s not entirely sure how that happens — that’s why he’s taking the class, after all — but those who know him best think his calm, team-oriented approach will serve him well.

“He’s very hard-working, and frequently offers to help when other projects need some extra hands,” Grant said. “Everyone on his team loved his dedication and enthusiasm.”