FOUNDATIONAL

Television Academy Internship alumni Gina PrinceBythewood, left, and Craig Mazin

The Television Academy’s internship program is fostering future Emmy winners

By Brandon Kirby

THE ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES MAY BE BEST

known as the organization behind the Primetime Emmy Awards, which honor today’s best small-screen storytellers. But key to its success is the Television Academy Foundation, which fosters the Emmy winners of tomorrow.

Founded in 1959 as the Academy’s charitable arm, the Foundation’s year-round programming includes the College Television Awards (presented during the pandemic as a virtual summit), a series of oral history interviews with TV greats, and a renowned internship program. The latter is sometimes referred to as Hollywood’s best-kept secret, boasting an alumni list that includes such award-winning writer-producers as Rachel Axler of “Veep,” Kristen Bartlett of “Saturday Night Live” and “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee,” and Martin Bruestle of “The Sopranos.” As the 2021 summer internship kicks off this month with 50 students from around the country, Backstage spoke with Jodi Delaney, the Foundation’s executive director, about its relationship with the Emmys and how it’s paving the way for TV’s next generation.

What is the Foundation’s role within the Television Academy and the Emmy Awards?

I love the harmonious relationship between the Academy and Foundation, which represents the full circle of a creative career. While the Academy honors and recognizes excellence in the creative arts, the Foundation establishes the pipeline to enter the industry where careers are built that bring the best of storytelling to our screens.

It’s always exciting when Foundation interns actually take part in the Emmy Awards, as well. Historically, we’ve been able to put current internship class members behind the scenes at the Emmys shows—both the telecast and the Creative Arts Awards—and even onstage as trophy presenters.

What is the Foundation’s mission, and how has that mission changed over the years?

Our mission has always been to educate and inspire the next generation of TV leaders, while also preserving TV history through our online archive of interviews. For the past several years, we’ve also made diversity and inclusion a distinct priority, which has only made our mission and programming stronger. Our last five intern classes have grown to include approximately 60% students of color and 75% women, so we are very intentional in our goal to truly advance diversity in the TV community.

Why is the Foundation’s Summer Internship Program considered Hollywood’s best-kept secret?

The Summer Internship Program provides a unique, immersive, and hands-on approach to career development for students. It’s a very competitive program that has helped establish the careers of some dynamic storytellers since its inception in 1980.

Students from across the country have a special opportunity to be placed with a top-notch host company, and about 40% of our interns end up getting hired by their host companies. Their successes speak for themselves. Also, students who participate in our programs become lifelong members of the Foundation’s alumni family, giving them access to industry events and networking opportunities.

What are your favorite success stories?

How much time do you have? I’m so proud of all of our alumni. There are now over a dozen Emmy winners among them, so it’s hard to know where to begin. Gina Prince-Bythewood blew us away with her work last year on “The Old Guard,” and of course there are the distinguished careers of Craig Mazin [of “Chernobyl”] and Janet Lin [of “Bridgerton”].

Last year, we set up a new online platform called the Friends and Alumni Network so [alumni] could continue to network with and mentor the next generation coming up. That’s probably my favorite “success story”—that we’ve built a network of highpowered talent dedicated to providing access to the industry for students who wouldn’t normally have it, and helping nurture their careers with a lot of depth and heart.