Lexy Downes

This past summer, I had the privilege of working as an intern in the Media Finance department at Creative Artists Agency (CAA). CAA Media Finance is the film financing and sales arm of the agency, responsible for packaging projects, securing financing, and brokering distribution deals for independent films. Though the department is small, with about 10 agents and their assistants, it plays a critical role in connecting independent filmmakers with investors and distributors, making it a major player in the U.S. independent film market. The internship was a full-time, in-person experience based at CAA’s Los Angeles office, where I worked five days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This schedule gave me a true sense of the pace and demands of the industry while also allowing me to fully immerse myself in the department’s work and culture.

During my internship, I rotated weekly, shadowing different agents and their assistants, which allowed me to gain exposure to many styles of agenting. My responsibilities included writing script coverage for ~10 feature films each week, analyzing projects for commercial viability, suggesting potential financier matches, and drafting budget estimates. I also listened in on client calls and participated in weekly meetings with my supervisor, who introduced me to the specialized language of film financing, covering topics such as tax rebates, soft money, interpreting film budgets, and more. This direct mentorship was invaluable in understanding the intersection of creativity and business in film representation. As part of my final intern project, I was given a script and tasked with creating a detailed plan for how I would pitch it and match it with potential equity investors. I then presented my strategy to agents in the department, which challenged me to apply everything I had learned throughout the summer and gave me invaluable feedback on how to approach real-world film financing scenarios.

As the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and Venice Film Festival approached, much of my work focused on researching films headed to these markets. I combed through press releases to determine whether projects had sales representation and what opportunities might exist for our department. I also had access to read scripts that later went on to make an impact at these festivals, providing me with unique insight into the qualities of successful projects. Outside of departmental work, I took full advantage of CAA’s collaborative environment by conducting over 25 coffee chats with employees across talent, motion picture, literary, and even music divisions.

I am deeply grateful to the donors of the Carsey-Wolf Scholarship for making this opportunity possible and allowing me to live in Los Angeles to gain such invaluable experience. My summer at CAA was truly magical; it reaffirmed my desire to pursue a career in the fast-paced, challenging, and beautiful world of entertainment. I cannot wait to bring this knowledge and passion back to UCSB for my senior year, where I hope to continue producing films, advising peers on festivals and sales strategies, and championing the power of unique and independent storytelling.