One minute you’re in a film editing class and before you can blink your eyes you have not one, but two internships at California Film Commission and another with Fox 11 TV News for the summer.

That is exactly what has happened to Cerritos College student and film major Angel Ramirez.

At Fox 11 and the CFC he will be learning how production works. He said that his love for film began when he was a kid.

“I have always wanted to be an actor, and to have the internships is cool.”

Ramirez explained that although this semester is his first semester in a class with Steven Hirohama, film instructor, that he has been a big help.

“I couldn’t have done this without his help.”

As for the opportunity to begin working at both Fox 11 and CFC, Ramirez commented that he is extremely excited and with what he has learned in the film editing class says that it will be a benefit.

“What I hope to gain is contact, knowledge,” he said, “and also the opportunity for doors to open as well as have a job.”

He continued saying that throughout the class he’s learned pre-production but there is also another goal he looks forward to.

“I would like to direct film for a major movie production company.”

While being at Cerritos for two years but in his first semester as a student of Hirohama there has always been someone else that has turned out to be a mentor.

“At Norwalk High School, Melvin Marin was also someone who has supported me,” he said, “and I still keep in contact with him.”

Ramirez added that when he wrote a letter to Marin about his two internships, that Marin said that it was cool that someone was moving toward a goal.

If that is the goal for Ramirez is to direct films for a major movie company, Hirohama says that it’s great, “but someone who is in film has to have a sense of commitment.”

Hirohama said that during the two-and-a-half years that he has taught at Cerritos, this is the first time that a student has had two internship jobs.

He added that when it comes to apply for an internship a person has to have a positive attitude about what position they are applying for.

“One has to say, ‘I want to be here’ or ‘I’ll do anything’ when it comes to being interviewed,” he commented, “so that is important with any job.”

Hirohama noted that Ramirez is one of two students who have gain internships.

With his film editing class, he says that the class is about the fundamentals of production as well as storytelling.

In addition, “Students who take the class will have to learn the software that is used,” he explained, “and what is learned about the software can be overwhelming.”

As for the two internships that Ramirez has acquired says that it’s great.

Ramirez said, “I have passion for what I do and it’s fun.”

To those students who might be thinking about a film career he said that while passion is one that the person has to be willing to do it.

However, for Hirohama there is another angle that he sees when someone is looking for an internship.

“A person has to be driven, have motivation, talent and luck,” he said.

In other words, what the internship creates is a launch pad for a career that a person is looking for.

“It’s a great start for Ramirez,” Hirohama said.

Faculty and staff are there for guidance, “That is what I’m here for,” Hirohama said, “but essentially it all leads back to the individual, you (the individual) have to make it happen.”