SMU Success Story: Olivia Thomas
Posted on: Oct 01, 2024
Olivia Thomas is a Los Angeles native who studied film and television at Boston University. After landing her first big production role at Warner Brothers through Staff Me Up, she’s advanced her career at an impressive rate working in development at Hello Sunshine and now Skydance Media. We had the opportunity to speak with Olivia about her inspiring journey.
How did you get started in the industry?
I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I went to college. I went to the College of Arts and Sciences at Boston University. I took one film and TV class there and I absolutely loved it, so I took a bunch of film and TV classes, mainly in producing because, I like working on that type of stuff, developing TV shows and movies for that.
I interned at Theo James’ production company during COVID. They weren’t used to taking interns and not a lot was happening in the industry, but I got to read a bunch of scripts and help. The summer after I graduated, I interned at Legendary Entertainment in Features in Burbank.
How did Staff Me Up help your career?
My friend from school was the first to tell me about Staff Me Up and said it’s a really great place to find jobs that you might not find just like on big company websites. It was great because I didn’t really know what I wanted to do or how to initially find work in LA.
I was exploring opportunities mostly in creative or production. I came across an anonymous posting that was for a lower-level job. The description said they need somebody who is organized. I applied and got an email letting me know they were interested in my resume and that the position is for Warner Brothers Television. I was beyond excited. I don’t know how I lucked out. I interviewed and met a lot of people and the next day I got the job.
I’ve since used Staff Me Up to look for other job opportunities, and recommended it to others as well. If it wasn’t for that first job at WB on SMU, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It gave me an invaluable foot in the door.
What advice would you give to someone looking for production jobs right now?
With the state of the industry, a lot of people are feeling really low right now. I think what really helped me in the past was just applying for anything and everything, especially if you don’t exactly know what you want to do or you’re really open to working in a variety of different departments’, projects.
I worked there for two years. It was the best experience. After that, I went to Hello Sunshine and worked there for a little bit in the creative department. Now I work at Skydance Media Television in the Development Department in Creative. That first experience really helped me. I’ve used Staff Me Up every time I’ve looked for a new job. There’s the best jobs on there. You never know where it could lead.
If you’re a freelancer looking to enhance your career prospects, Staff Me Up helps showcase your skills and connects you with potential employers, increasing your chances of landing your next big opportunity. Create or update your profile on Staff Me Up today and take the next step in your career journey.
Browse thousands of jobs and find your next gig! Sign up or login to Staff Me Up and get on-set today!
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