Third-year student ventures into the cinema industry experience

Third-year College of Arts & Sciences student Bea Hammam spent her summer interning with film industry companies, both of which were established by Penn graduates.

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2025 September 13 . 7:52 AM

2 min read

Third-year student delves into film industry experience

Third-year student ventures into the cinema industry experience

Bea Hammam, a student at the University of Pennsylvania, has been making waves in the film industry. Her journey began in the second grade, when she started creating short films, and has since led her to various internships and academic pursuits.

Last summer, Hammam had an in-person internship with Hidden Pictures Media, a film production company founded by Todd Lieberman, a graduate of 1995. This internship was offered through the Arts and Entertainment Career Connections internship program with Penn Live Arts. During her time there, Hammam gained insights into the start-to-finish production process.

Prior to this, Hammam had an online internship with Film Hub, a New York City-based film distribution firm. This opportunity was provided through the summer internship program with the Cinema & Media Studies Department at Penn. In this role, she helped write posts for the company's blog and promoted films in the collection.

Hammam's summer internships provided a behind-the-scenes view of the film industry, supported financially by Penn. Her experiences at Film Hub further expanded her knowledge, as she learned about working with end products and filmmakers.

In addition to her internships, Hammam is pursuing a double major in cinema studies and communications in the College of Arts & Sciences and a minor in consumer psychology. She has also been involved in student theater and film-related clubs at Penn, including Penn Players, Bent Button Productions, and the Wharton Undergraduate Media and Entertainment Club.

Last summer, Hammam took the Penn in Cannes course and attended the film festival in France. The course helped her understand the career path in the film industry, and she is hoping for another Penn-sponsored internship next summer, focusing on production, distribution, development, talent agency, or management.

In the spring, Hammam will return to Penn to take more classes on the business of film. She is also planning to spend a semester in Prague for intensive film production courses.

Hammam's summer internship in Los Angeles was a cultural shift for her. She had a development internship at Hidden Pictures Media, where she read scripts and wrote summaries with her personal critiques. This experience taught her about teamwork and connecting people to projects.

Looking ahead, Hammam is determined to continue her journey in the film industry. Her passion, combined with her practical experience and academic knowledge, makes her a promising talent to watch.