As the Obamas leave the White House behind and enter private life once again, after 8 years in the international spotlight (although I don’t expect that spotlight to fade entirely), one question that’s been on the minds and mouths of many is, what’s next for each of them? While it’s not entirely clear what the soon-to-be former POTUS and FLOTUS will tackle next (there’ve been rumors of some kind of media company, but nothing’s been confirmed), we can say with some certainty what 18-year-old first daughter Malia Obama is interested in pursuing – working in the film/TV industry.
We’ve actually known of her interest for a few years now, since it was first revealed that she’d worked as a production assistant on the set of Halle Berry‘s Steven Spielberg-produced sci-fi series “Extant,” and landed an internship on the set of Lena Dunham’s HBO series “Girls,” also working as a PA (production assistant).
It was announced last year that she plans to attend Harvard University, but beginning in the fall of 2017, waiting until her father leaves office to begin her college career. Both of her parents attended law school there. Malia is taking a gap year before beginning her pursuit of a college degree. Harvard actively encourages admitted students to do so.
Announced today, Malia’s gap year will see her intern for Hollywood super producer Harvey Weinstein at The Weinstein Company. She’s expected to begin work in the New York office of The Weinstein Co. in February, after the family’s Palm Springs vacation.
It’s not said in which specific area of the Weinstein Co. (an influential mini-studio) Malia will work, or what part of the film industry she’s most interested in pursuing. But she couldn’t have picked a more formidable player in the business to essentially shadow than Harvey Weinstein – an opportunity that I’d say many her age would love to have.
Hollywood is an industry in which many do start from the bottom – as interns and production assistants, as Malia is doing, for example – eventually picking a specific path of interest and treading it. Maybe that’s what Malia is doing here. DeVon Franklin is just one famous example of a executive who got his start as an intern and worked his way up the ladder.
In a January 2014 profile of President Obama by David Remnick for the New Yorker, it was revealed that Malia was an aspiring filmmmaker. Maybe her plans are to complete her undergrad studies at Harvard, and then attend a top grad film school like NYU. Maybe in another decade or less, we’ll be writing about Malia Obama being in contention to direct some high profile studio flick.
Although Malia’s Harvard major hasn’t been made public yet; but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s something in the visual arts.
