North High graduate earns prestigious Television Academy internship | News, Sports, Jobs

Avery King.
PROVIDED

A North Fort Myers High School graduate has been selected to participate in the “Getting Real: Unscripted Internship” through the Television Academy Foundation Internship Program.

“Working for the Television Academy is truly surreal,” Avery King said. “I have been watching the Emmy awards for as long as I can remember. Moving to Los Angeles was very difficult and very risky. I’m beyond grateful to have just graduated and get this opportunity. I thank God for giving me this internship and Uncle Jesse from ‘Full House’ for giving me my love of television.”

She attended North Fort Myers High School from 2017 to 2020 — graduating a year early to move to Los Angeles. While a high school student, King was heavily involved in the musical theater program and had been performing in Southwest Florida professionally since she was 8 years old.

“I have always loved television and began pursuing a career as a television actor early freshman year. I traveled back and forth to LA throughout high school. I knew very quickly LA was my end goal,” King said.

She attended California State University Northridge with a major in television production.

Avery King.
PROVIDED

King has applied for the internship multiple times, finally being accepted this year. She said there are more than 2,000 applicants every term, so it was a great honor to be chosen.

“I submitted multiple essays, resumes and even my idea for a new reality TV show,” King said.

The “Getting Real” Unscripted internship is a paid internship for eight weeks where she will be a development intern. She will be working for Bunim and Murray Productions — which has produced Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Vanderpump Villa and The Challenge. Other productions include award-winning nonfiction programs such as Born This Way, Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, Surviving R. Kelly and The Real World.

“Development is the process from idea to production. I will work heavily on television show pitches, developing the show idea and selling the show,” King said.

She hopes to gain a new knowledge from working professionals on how to navigate “this tricky business.”

“I hope to make connections that last my whole career because it is all about who you know. Most importantly, I can’t wait to start working for a production company that makes some of my favorite TV shows and learn how they do it,” King said.

King was one of 40 students chosen by Television Academy from across the country for the 2024 Summer Internship Program. The paid internship provides students with the opportunity to work at top Hollywood studios and production companies.

“I am working toward creating my own female-driven stories for a wide audience,” she said in a prepared statement. “It is my goal to create TV for the whole family that is both appropriate but also entertaining for a multitude of ages. I love the writing and developing process and can’t wait to work in development for the summer!”