Alan Llavore | Office of Marketing and Communications | (909) 537-5007 | allavore@csusb.edu
For a moment, Tyra Webb couldn't quite believe where she was.
The recent Cal State San Bernardino graduate had just been escorted into the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, surrounded by red carpets, cameras and some of the people who bring television's biggest stories to life.
“I felt so nervous,” Webb recalled. “Everything was so gorgeous – the red carpet, the people on it, the people taking pictures.”
But after posing for a group photo with her fellow Television Academy Foundation interns, something shifted.
“I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I belong here,’” she said with a smile.
It was a remarkable moment for someone who, just a few years earlier, wasn't sure whether her love of writing could become a career.
Webb, who graduated from CSUSB in May 2026 with a bachelor's degree in English and a concentration in creative writing, spent the summer working in script development through the Television Academy Foundation's highly competitive internship program. Selected as one of just 50 interns from thousands of applicants nationwide, she gained firsthand experience in the entertainment industry, developed relationships with industry professionals and discovered possibilities for her future she hadn't previously imagined.
And the journey that brought her to Hollywood began, in many ways, at CSUSB.
From watching stories to writing them
Growing up, Webb was more likely to be found watching television than playing outside. She was fascinated by the stories unfolding on the screen and the seemingly glamorous world behind them.
By high school, that fascination had evolved into an interest in writing, particularly poetry. But it wasn't until she transferred to CSUSB from Moreno Valley College that she began seriously considering storytelling as a career.
Through courses in fiction, nonfiction and critical theory, Webb discovered new ways to think about stories, characters and the messages writers communicate.
“They really expanded my mind and way of thinking,” she said.
The experience challenged her to look beyond the words on a page and consider how stories connect with audiences. Today, she draws on those lessons when developing characters, writing dialogue and exploring different genres.
“I still apply the things I learned to my writing,” she said.
Outside the classroom, Webb joined CSUSB's Yotie Film Club, where she gained hands-on filmmaking experience, including participation in film workshops that explored filmmaking concepts and opportunities to gain insight into the collaborative process of film production.
Working with fellow students taught her the importance of collaboration, communication and being open to different creative perspectives – skills she would later use in a professional production environment.
“You're not the only one who's working,” she said. “You’ve got to include other people's opinions, too.”
She also completed an internship with Riverside-based Inlandia Institute, gaining experience in book reviewing, social media and promotional materials.
Together, those experiences helped Webb see how her interests in writing and storytelling could translate into professional opportunities.
Taking a chance on Hollywood
Still, breaking into entertainment wasn't something Webb took for granted. Like many aspiring writers, she wrestled with self-doubt, sometimes questioning whether her work was good enough.
“Am I a good writer? Am I not a good writer?” she recalled asking herself.
Financial considerations also weighed on her as she considered a career in an industry known for its uncertainty. But rather than allowing those concerns to stop her, Webb kept writing, researching opportunities and looking for ways to gain experience.
When she discovered the Television Academy Foundation internship program, she decided to take a chance.
“I may have a shot,” she remembered thinking. “Just go for it and see what happens.”
She didn't make that leap alone.
Webb turned to several CSUSB resources to strengthen her application, scheduling multiple appointments with the Career Center, the College of Arts and Letters Professional and Career Readiness Center and the Writing Center. There, she received guidance on developing her résumé, writing cover letters and communicating the skills she had gained through her education and campus experiences.
At first, even asking for help felt intimidating. “I was nervous,” she admitted. But she kept making appointments, learning how to present her qualifications and growing more confident with each visit.
One of her strongest supporters was Sunny Hyon, a professor of English who encouraged Webb to pursue opportunities and continue developing her writing. Through Hyon's mentorship, Webb came to an important realization about navigating the transition from college to career: “I wasn't alone in this, and I do have support,” she said.
Webb also learned an important lesson about presenting herself to prospective employers: Qualifications matter, but so does personality.
“Put your personality in your writing,” she said. “You still want to put a little bit of yourself” into explaining why an opportunity interests you.
Her preparation and persistence paid off when she was accepted into the Television Academy Foundation's summer 2026 internship program.
Finding her voice in the entertainment industry
Through the internship, Webb worked with Sandstone Artists, a production and talent management company in North Hollywood, where she got an inside look at how television and film projects move from ideas toward production.
Her responsibilities included evaluating scripts, books and comics, researching intellectual property and potential creative collaborators, and participating in development meetings with industry professionals.
One particularly challenging assignment involved researching potential collaborators for a children's television project, including screenwriters, actors and directors. The process required extensive research, creative problem-solving and collaboration with her team.
It also gave Webb an opportunity to put her CSUSB education to work. The critical thinking and analytical skills she developed in her English courses proved especially valuable as she evaluated stories and considered their potential for different audiences. And the collaborative experience she gained through Yotie Film Club helped prepare her to exchange ideas and contribute to discussions with colleagues.
Perhaps most importantly, Webb discovered that her perspective had value.
During an earlier conversation with Hyon, Webb recalled how one of her industry mentors was surprised to learn that she hadn't attended film school because she was so impressed by Webb’s writing.
“I was really flattered,” Webb said.
The experience reinforced something she was beginning to understand: Her background in English, combined with her creativity and willingness to learn, had prepared her to contribute in an industry she once knew only from the outside.
The internship also introduced Webb to professionals and fellow interns from across the country. She attended networking events, connected with writers and other entertainment professionals, and began building relationships she hopes will continue throughout her career.
Her accomplishments earned her another distinction. She was selected as one of just 10 interns to participate in the Television Academy Foundation's Bob Bennett Future Leaders program, which “cultivates and empowers the next generation of leaders in the media and entertainment industry,” according to the website.
And as her understanding of the industry grew, so did her ambitions.
Webb began thinking beyond writing scripts to the possibility of producing her own projects and bringing her stories to the screen.
“I know I have this capability of producing,” she said.
A spark that keeps growing
For Webb, the summer's experiences represented more than professional accomplishments. They were personal milestones, too.
Her family initially had concerns about her traveling to Los Angeles for the internship, particularly the challenges of transportation and navigating an unfamiliar industry. But their perspective changed as they saw how much the experience meant to her.
After picking her up from one of the internship events, Webb's mother noticed something.
“I see the spark in your eye,” her mother told her. “I'm proud of you.”
It was the same kind of excitement Webb remembered feeling as a child watching television, only now she was beginning to find her own place in the world that had captivated her.
Today, Webb continues to pursue opportunities in entertainment, applying for positions, writing fellowships and other internships while building her professional network. She is also considering earning a Master of Fine Arts degree.
She knows the path ahead won't always be easy. The self-doubt hasn't disappeared entirely, and she recognizes that establishing a career in entertainment takes persistence.
But she has learned something about herself along the way.
“I'm a go-getter,” she said, reflecting on her determination to keep pursuing her goals.
For other CSUSB students wondering whether their own ambitions might be too big, Webb offers advice shaped by her experiences in the classroom, on campus and in Hollywood.
“Use the resources. They're there, and they're free,” she said. “Don't listen to the doubt in your head. At first, I was scared to do it, but I did it.”
Most importantly, she encourages students to recognize the possibilities ahead of them.
“Don't play small,” she said. “If you see it, and you envision it, you can do it.”