Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Gould.
Hi Danielle, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Woodland Hills and am proud to be a self-identified valley girl. Growing up, I always gravitated toward entertainment but didn’t know what I wanted to do. For a long time, I thought I wanted to be a marine biologist. Eventually, I learned it was more science than just swimming with sea turtles (a devastating realization for young Danielle). In high school, I took a trip to New York City, fell in love with it, and knew I wanted to attend college there. High school was also the point at which I developed a love of film and comedy. My interest in the entertainment space eventually led me to pursue a degree in Film & Television at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. I’ve had the fantastic opportunity to write, direct, and produce several student films at school. I am also a proud member and President of both the Tisch Undergraduate Student Council the Delta Kappa Alpha professional cinema fraternity. In addition, my interest in comedy led me to an internship at SNL in Lorne Michaels’ office. I have learned so much and appreciate the opportunity to learn from such an institution.
As I approach my final semester at school, I also approach the existential dread of post-grad life ambiguity. As I look forward to the unknown future, I can’t help but look back and feel incredibly grateful for the support and opportunities provided by my school, my friends, and especially my parents. They have supported me in every sense of the word, and I owe them everything.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Like every student (and human on the planet), Covid threw a wrench in my plans and expectations of my college experience. It was challenging to continue the pursuit of remote classwork and internships in a field that heavily values in-person work.
With that being said, I am grateful this was the extent of the pandemic’s effect on my experience and the health of those close to me was not affected. NYU developed a strategy to get us back on campus as soon as possible to regain a “normal” experience in subsequent semesters.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
To date, I am probably most proud of landing my internship at SNL. It was a longtime goal and took a lot of hard work to get there (and wishing on stars and coins thrown into fountains… not that I am superstitious, it worked…).
I think what sets me apart from others is the hundreds of rejection letters that you don’e see. The dozens of unanswered LinkedIn messages. Unreturned cold calls. I truly believe in creating your own luck by putting in effort to create opportunities. I am also a bit obsessive regarding career advancement and I’ve tried to channel that into positive action steps that inch me toward a goal. It’s all part of the process, and although it’s far easier said in hindsight, it’s essential to trust in that process and remember what is in (and out) of your control.
Moving forward, I would love to continue in the comedy space, producing or writing and ultimately showrun for television or produce features.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Let someone else tell you no — you never know who can help or give you the information that will help you get to your next step. On the same note, it’s important to remember to give back and help others along their way too.
It’s cliche, but I wish I understood that everyone has their own path and that you can’t be late for your own life. In the digital age, it’s so easy to compare yourself to others and spend hours going down the LinkedIn rabbit hole of unhappiness. Be patient.
Also, be kind to everyone and remember to write thank you notes!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellejgould/
