Summer internship teaches Bellisario College student about the magic of baseball

Editor’s Note: This is the 12th in a series of articles about students in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications completing summer internships.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Sometimes life throws you a curveball even during a simple game of catch.

During his first year of college, some friends at Penn State asked Qianyi Wang, who goes by Allen, if he wanted to play catch. Growing up in China, Wang was unfamiliar with baseball, so he thought he’d give it a try. From then on, his fondness for the sport grew, and this past summer the Penn State junior completed an internship with the State College Spikes.

Originally a marketing major, Wang found a passion for production. He wanted to be part of a team that brings entertainment to the masses. He switched his major to telecommunications and media industries and found a home in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications.

“I love making live shows or short films or movies, those kinds of things,” Wang said. “It started out as a hobby for me. I used to make videos and do the editing and share with friends.”

While learning the technical stuff in the classroom, Wang also was appreciating the magic of America’s pastime. He started to regularly watch Major League Baseball games and it didn’t take long to find a favorite team.

“The Dodgers were in the World Series in 2020, so I became their fan immediately,” he said.

Taking a swing at production

Pairing his longtime passion for production with his new interest in baseball made sense. Luckily, Penn State has a baseball stadium — Medlar Field at Lubrano Park — on its University Park campus. Wang started his internship in March working the camera at Nittany Lion baseball games. He continued his role in June with the Spikes. He and a team of interns ran cameras, controlled the switcher, and became a big part of summer fun in Happy Valley.

“It’s like being a director,” Wang said about running the switcher. “You say, ‘Now I’m taking camera one or camera three. You follow the baserunner if he’s stealing. Or if something is happening in the stadium that can catch the audience’s eyes, I’ll switch to that.”

A big part of the internship was rotating through different positions in the stadium and in the studio. Wang said he enjoyed collaborating with the other interns. He said they all started the season “not knowing anything,” but have become a formidable production team over the summer months.

“Allen is a quick learner,” said John Foreman, Wang’s supervisor at the Spikes. “When he first contacted me about the internship, he was upfront about still learning the game of baseball. He has picked up the game very quickly, surpassing my expectations.”

Wang said the experience of taking in a baseball game is a lot different than watching sports in China. He compared it to a neighborhood. He said baseball games are all about friends and fans “enjoying a beer, talking and having a lot of fun.”

“We used dance cams and fan cams and you see people smiling and dancing,” he said. “It’s a really great moment in sports and it gives me a warm feeling. I don't know how to describe it. I am behind the camera, and people are having a great time. I get to be a part of that.”

Learning curve

Foreman said baseball is an unpredictable game that “doesn’t move from left to right.” People running the cameras and switchers need to be ready for anything, and he was frequently impressed with Wang’s preparedness.

“Allen appears to have a natural ability to be ready,” Foreman said. “Whether it was playing a great catch animation on a diving play or following the action on a wild pitch, Allen is prepared.”

Foreman added, “I look forward to seeing him on game days. He brings great positive energy with him every day. You can't get stressed out when around Allen.”

Wang said he learned a lot over the past six months. In addition to the technical responsibilities — audio, camera work, graphics, etc. — he’s learned about baseball, teamwork and working with a director. His favorite part was being behind a camera and enhancing the game experience.

“I like talking with the other camera guys to decide what we want, and learning about what they do so we can make the game more interesting and more fun,” he said. “Even though it’s fast-paced, I really enjoy it. It’s a great experience working with a team.”

As his college career approaches its final innings, Wang said he is focused on gaining as much experience as possible. He has an eye on more internships and more production opportunities, including television. His dream is to work for “Saturday Night Live.”

“That might be the ultimate dream,” Wang said. “I love TV and I love comedies. I don’t know if it’s possible, but I am trying my best to get that kind of job.”

He added that the Bellisario College has been instrumental in uncovering educational and professional opportunities. He has been enjoying the Bellisario Media Center. He said his professors have helped him learn how to use the media center’s equipment, studios and cameras. Wang knows there are plenty more opportunities coming his way, and he isn’t afraid to step up to the plate.

“It’s been a busy summer, but I enjoyed doing this,” he said about being a part of the Spikes game day experience. “It’s such a satisfying feeling.”