In the world of Hollywood, the road from script to production is a long one. It starts with the development team that reads the scripts, hears the pitches, and ultimately decides whether a script has the potential to be a successful show. Then, it’s their job to get the network to see that vision.
Zoe Neely ’25 had the opportunity to step into this world last summer. As part of her internship with Apple TV’s original content development team, she reviewed new film and TV scripts, attended a table read, and watched shows in production to ensure they were coming together smoothly.
“Development really spoke to me because my favorite thing to do is watch films and talk about them with people,” Neely said. “In a very simplified way, that’s what this job is.”
Neely’s own journey in entertainment began as an animation student at The School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. She eventually transferred to Hamilton College, realizing that she desired a more traditional college experience and no longer wanted to pursue production. Her love for film and the arts, however, remained, and she found a new artistic outlet through her creative writing major.
Zoe Neely ’25
Major: Creative writing
Hometown: Shaker Heights, Ohio
“It’s the most human thing in the world to want to tell stories,” Neely said. “And this major has helped me learn how to be a good storyteller — how to package thoughts and ideas in a way that really resonates with people.”
The strong writing skills she gained through her major and Hamilton’s communication-focused curriculum also prepared her to thrive in her Apple internship. “Practicing writing is a good way to learn good writing,” Zoe said, emphasizing the importance of the editorial eye when reviewing TV pilot scripts. “Anyone can eventually learn the more technical skills of entertainment with time. But I think there’s a lot more longevity in developing critical reading and critical writing skills.”
Now, interested in pursuing a career in development, Neely is preparing to reenter the world of Hollywood through her post-grad position in the Agent Trainee Program at United Talent Agency (UTA), New York City. Working in a talent agency, Neely says, is a common start for creative executives in the development team — her dream career.
“(Creative writing) has helped me learn how to be a good storyteller — how to package thoughts and ideas in a way that really resonates with people.”
“It’s a really good way to make a lot of connections and learn the ropes of the business,” Neely said.
As an agent trainee, Neely will start out in the mail room, learning the general skills related to assistantship and the entertainment world. When assistant desks open up, she will have the opportunity to apply to and land an assistantship in a specific realm of the entertainment industry, with clients ranging from professional athletes to actors to public speakers.
“I don’t think you could go wrong with any of them,” Neely said. “There are a lot of subsets of entertainment that I could be interested in down the line. Especially with entertainment, you honestly never know what’s going to come your way and what opportunities will arise.”