Final Edition: CCI Internship Diaries Spring 2026 A Behind-the-Scenes Look with Dylan Limp

Photo courtesy of Dylan Limp. This is Dylan during her graduation photoshoot at Chapman University, where she recently graduated.

Today officially marks our final CCI Internship Diaries of the school year. While we’re so sad to see this chapter come to an end and to say goodbye to our seniors, we couldn’t be more proud of everything they’ve accomplished and all that’s ahead for them as they take on the real world.

For our final edition of the CCI Internship Diaries, we’re spotlighting one of these incredible seniors, Dylan Limp! Dylan is a Public Relations, Advertising, and Entertainment Marketing major with a CCI minor, and throughout her time at Chapman, she’s become someone known for her creativity, energy, and passion for everything she takes on.

Whether it was performing in this year’s Theta skit, diving into the chaos of Beetlejuice, or taking CCI Director Dr. Patrick Fuery’s class that she jokingly calls his “witchcraft class,” Dylan has always been the type of person to fully immerse herself in whatever she takes on. Her creativity, curiosity, and eagerness to grow are what make her such a natural fit for the worlds of public relations, advertising, and entertainment marketing. And by the end of this blog, we’ll reveal the exciting opportunity she’s taking on next. One of the things Dylan loves most about Chapman is the close knit community and the people she’s met along the way. Even though the campus is small, it’s filled with incredibly creative and inspiring students who make collaboration feel natural and meaningful. Although Dylan was born in California and later moved away, she always knew she’d eventually find her way back, and now she’s here doing exactly what she loves in sunny California.

But before we talk about what’s next for Dylan, we have to get into her internship experience with the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival, where she worked as an Events Intern. From working alongside creatives to experiencing the fast paced entertainment world firsthand, Dylan definitely has some stories to tell.

What was your experience like interning at Cinequest? What were you doing day to day in your role?

DL: It was honestly such a whirlwind in the best way. I worked with the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival in San Jose, which is a film festival that blends film, creativity, and technology since it’s based in Silicon Valley. This year especially had a big focus on AI and how it’s shaping entertainment, which was really cool to see up close. I was an Events Coordination Intern, and from the moment I got there it was go, go, go. I literally dropped my suitcase at the box office and immediately got thrown into setting up the red carpet. Throughout the week, I helped with everything from putting up posters and setting up event spaces to managing schedules and guiding guests into and out of screenings. One of the most exciting parts was working directly with filmmakers and speakers, especially the AI featured guests. I’d walk them down the red carpet, introduce them to press and photographers, and basically help make sure they were where they needed to be at all times. It honestly felt like being a mini publicist for the night. Every day was different, super fast paced, and sometimes a little chaotic, but in the best way. I really got to see how much work goes into pulling off a live film festival while also meeting so many creative and inspiring people along the way.

Photo courtesy of Dylan Limp. This is her in action during her internship experience.

That sounds like such a meaningful experience. Is there a specific moment during your internship that you’re especially proud of?

DL: Honestly, I don’t think I can pick just one moment, but what stands out most is the networking and connecting people. A big part of my role was being aware of what was happening around me and helping bring people together when there was a potential collaboration. For example, if I met a producer looking for a director, I could think back and say, “I actually met someone who would be perfect for that,” and then go find them and introduce them. It was really cool being that bridge between people and helping those connections happen in real time. What made it even more special is that Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival is such a tight knit, community focused space where connecting people is a big part of the experience. It also really helped me build my own networking skills in a very natural way.

Is there anything from your CCI classes that you saw reflected in your internship, or something you learned in class that you were able to apply?

DL: Definitely. I took CCI 303, Cultural Organization Management, with Grace Hinkley, and even though it was just one semester, it really stuck with me. She taught us a lot about how organizations function behind the scenes, like hierarchy, how things run smoothly, and what it actually looks like to be a strong employee and grow within a company. I found myself thinking about that constantly during my internship. It helped a lot in real time because I would remember things she said in class and immediately apply them, like being proactive, introducing myself to people, staying friendly, and making sure everyone around me was having a good experience. A big part of my role was really that behind the scenes support, just helping everything run smoothly wherever I was needed. I was constantly moving around, fixing things, and jumping in wherever there were gaps. It made me realize how much invisible work actually goes into events like that. You don’t always see it, but it’s what makes everything feel seamless for everyone else. That class really prepared me for understanding that mindset.

What do you think makes CCI stand out compared to everything else offered at Chapman, and what would you say to someone considering it?

DL: Every time I explain CCI to someone, I always call it a “choose your own adventure” minor. It’s one of the only programs where you’re not locked into one path, you really get to shape it around your own interests and where you want to go. What makes it stand out is how flexible and interdisciplinary it is. You can take classes in business, media, entertainment, technology, and cultural studies, and somehow it all ties back to the creative industries. It never feels limiting. Instead, it feels like you’re constantly trying new things and figuring out what actually clicks for you. For me, that flexibility made a huge difference because I was able to mix my interests in PR, advertising, and entertainment marketing while also learning how organizations actually work behind the scenes. And it’s not just theoretical either, so much of it connects directly to real-world experiences, especially internships. And honestly, I always tell people that if they’re even a little curious about creative industries, CCI is worth exploring. It gives you the space to experiment, meet people from different backgrounds, and figure out your own direction without feeling boxed in. It really grows with you instead of forcing you into one set path.

Photo courtesy of Dylan Limp. This is her with her team during her internship experience.

That sadly wraps up today’s story, and what a whirlwind it’s been! As Dylan closes out her time at Chapman, she’s also stepping right into her next chapter after graduation with Panay Films, where she’ll be working as a production intern doing script coverage and gaining hands-on experience in the industry she’s stepping into. We couldn’t be more proud of everything Dylan has accomplished, and we’re so excited to see where this next opportunity takes her. A huge thank you to Dylan for taking the time out of her busy senior schedule to sit down with us and share her experience, insights, and wisdom. And with that, this officially wraps up the CCI Internship Diaries for the Fall and Spring 2025–2026 year. Thank you all so much for reading and following along, we can’t wait to see where all of our students go next.