Summer Internship in California
Donation protected
Hello, family member/friend/internet surfer! My name is Mark Renkens, and I'd like to thank you for visiting my gofundme page and considering helping a broke college student make his dreams come true! I'm glad you've opted to watch my video/scan my page to see if your money is really worth the goal, but let me tell you, IT IS!
As this is my first real public announcment for the ordeal, YES, I'm going away to California for 2 solid months! While I wish it was for a stay-away-vacay, like any of you, I will actually be over in the heart of Los Angeles as a part of a summer internship program for UCLA! I CAN SEE MY NAME IN LIGHTS ALREADY. But seriously, this was explained to me as the opportunity of a lifetime, a chance to really immerse myself in the industry and learn how to operate, function, and network on a professional level. As any of you who know me personally, all I have wanted for years is to finally be working for the movies and shows, spreading my creativity and knowledge with those who want to take it to the big screen. I've yet to see a better chance than now!
This opportunity doesn't come for free, though, which is why I am reaching out to you. The first thing I hear every time I tell anyone I'm going to CA is, "I hear it's really expensive out there." I wish they were wrong, but after perusing living costs and things as measly as gas or a burger at In-N-Out, it's come to my conclusion that I simply cannot fund this trip on the money I've saved from working part-time at Publix over the past few months. It's a great pleasure to work there, but to be frank, it's not enough. Now, before you think I simply want your money to run off gallivanting on a state-wide trip through theme parks with your hard-earned cash, let me explain where exactly your donation will end up.
With my residency and tuition already being covered by my loving, caring, and heavenly blessed parents, I will have 2 meals covered per weekday by UCLA. They do this purposely so that you, as a networking and developing intern, can use lunchtime to connect with those you are working with, and gain some contacts and overall experience within LA. While two meals a day are NOT available over the weekend, I will have to fend for myself with my own money. I could honestly do the 2 month ramen challenge if it came down to it, but I also would be losing a lot of experience and time spent out in a city I've never been to or explored, and I'd hate for my stomach to be a hindrance towards that. With food being a priority, there are a couple other hurdles to leap!
Flying to CA is a luxury no one can afford in the summertime, especially the average college student, so myself and two other gentlemen participating in the program have opted to make a road trip out of the adventure. With a road trip comes the cheap motel expenses, the "chip in" for gas, and the highly unlikely (please God, don't) car trouble, of which I'd like for us to not encounter. Once out there, the rest of the donations would be a great help in keeping up hygiene (laundry, shower/bath needs, air freshener for sweaty car driving in the summer heat) and other incidental costs, such as my internship requiring a purchase or having to take a taxi the day I miss the Blue Line bus by 20 seconds. Now, I am certain most of you are wondering what exactly you will get in return, if anything at all, from your kind and heartfelt donation. THIS, is the best part.
My fellow intern-mates and I have decided that since this is an experience quite unlike many others, we are going to be making a feature-length documentary about our time getting there, being there, and leaving there, aptly titled "The Interns."
We have a date set up before we leave to get introduction monologues, two wonderful cameras to work with, and a whole West Coast state waiting for us to show up. I plan on setting up a blog to coincide with the making of the film so that all of you who donated can see its progress and how well your donations are being utilized to optimize the trip. The money you donate will only make all of the experiences and adventures I have that much more powerful and true, because I know I truly could not be doing this if it weren't for everyone and anyone browsing this page.
My monetary goal for this gofundme is high, but not unfathomable. There are things that will come up while I'm over there, 2500 miles away from home (or anyone I know, for that matter, so just come visit while you're at it!) that I would like to be prepared for, and the best I can do is ask that YOU help ME. I have dreamt, since I was a little boy, for the day I'd be able to step foot into the film industry and begin making my mark (pun intended), and I'm asking from the bottom of my heart for your last push of help.
Having this trip come together with the help of these donations would enormously increase my gratitude and appreciation of the friendships and family bonds I have created and seen flourish over the years, so please, be a part of this with me. The only thing I ask of you is to consider. Thank you all so so so much for viewing my page, reading my essay (sorry, wanted to hit nails on heads!), and, if so, donating to my cause. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have, and I'd be more than happy to answer them!
THANK YOU!
Mark Renkens Jr.
As this is my first real public announcment for the ordeal, YES, I'm going away to California for 2 solid months! While I wish it was for a stay-away-vacay, like any of you, I will actually be over in the heart of Los Angeles as a part of a summer internship program for UCLA! I CAN SEE MY NAME IN LIGHTS ALREADY. But seriously, this was explained to me as the opportunity of a lifetime, a chance to really immerse myself in the industry and learn how to operate, function, and network on a professional level. As any of you who know me personally, all I have wanted for years is to finally be working for the movies and shows, spreading my creativity and knowledge with those who want to take it to the big screen. I've yet to see a better chance than now!
This opportunity doesn't come for free, though, which is why I am reaching out to you. The first thing I hear every time I tell anyone I'm going to CA is, "I hear it's really expensive out there." I wish they were wrong, but after perusing living costs and things as measly as gas or a burger at In-N-Out, it's come to my conclusion that I simply cannot fund this trip on the money I've saved from working part-time at Publix over the past few months. It's a great pleasure to work there, but to be frank, it's not enough. Now, before you think I simply want your money to run off gallivanting on a state-wide trip through theme parks with your hard-earned cash, let me explain where exactly your donation will end up.
With my residency and tuition already being covered by my loving, caring, and heavenly blessed parents, I will have 2 meals covered per weekday by UCLA. They do this purposely so that you, as a networking and developing intern, can use lunchtime to connect with those you are working with, and gain some contacts and overall experience within LA. While two meals a day are NOT available over the weekend, I will have to fend for myself with my own money. I could honestly do the 2 month ramen challenge if it came down to it, but I also would be losing a lot of experience and time spent out in a city I've never been to or explored, and I'd hate for my stomach to be a hindrance towards that. With food being a priority, there are a couple other hurdles to leap!
Flying to CA is a luxury no one can afford in the summertime, especially the average college student, so myself and two other gentlemen participating in the program have opted to make a road trip out of the adventure. With a road trip comes the cheap motel expenses, the "chip in" for gas, and the highly unlikely (please God, don't) car trouble, of which I'd like for us to not encounter. Once out there, the rest of the donations would be a great help in keeping up hygiene (laundry, shower/bath needs, air freshener for sweaty car driving in the summer heat) and other incidental costs, such as my internship requiring a purchase or having to take a taxi the day I miss the Blue Line bus by 20 seconds. Now, I am certain most of you are wondering what exactly you will get in return, if anything at all, from your kind and heartfelt donation. THIS, is the best part.
My fellow intern-mates and I have decided that since this is an experience quite unlike many others, we are going to be making a feature-length documentary about our time getting there, being there, and leaving there, aptly titled "The Interns."
We have a date set up before we leave to get introduction monologues, two wonderful cameras to work with, and a whole West Coast state waiting for us to show up. I plan on setting up a blog to coincide with the making of the film so that all of you who donated can see its progress and how well your donations are being utilized to optimize the trip. The money you donate will only make all of the experiences and adventures I have that much more powerful and true, because I know I truly could not be doing this if it weren't for everyone and anyone browsing this page.
My monetary goal for this gofundme is high, but not unfathomable. There are things that will come up while I'm over there, 2500 miles away from home (or anyone I know, for that matter, so just come visit while you're at it!) that I would like to be prepared for, and the best I can do is ask that YOU help ME. I have dreamt, since I was a little boy, for the day I'd be able to step foot into the film industry and begin making my mark (pun intended), and I'm asking from the bottom of my heart for your last push of help.
Having this trip come together with the help of these donations would enormously increase my gratitude and appreciation of the friendships and family bonds I have created and seen flourish over the years, so please, be a part of this with me. The only thing I ask of you is to consider. Thank you all so so so much for viewing my page, reading my essay (sorry, wanted to hit nails on heads!), and, if so, donating to my cause. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have, and I'd be more than happy to answer them!
THANK YOU!
Mark Renkens Jr.
Organizer
Mark Allan Renkens
Organizer
Oviedo, FL
