Meet the Intern: Andrea McClain

Tuesday, April 08, 2025

Maria Rouzzo

Hi. I’m Andrea McClain. I’ve lived in the Cleveland Metro Area since late 2021, having moved here from Charlotte, NC. I’m originally from Hickory, NC. I attended Appalachian State University, and I graduated from Queens University of Charlotte with a B.A. in Psychology. My professional background is mainly in IT service management (ITSM) with a company that provides network management and network security services. I took a break from cube life after I had my daughter.

I’ve often been called a serial hobbyist (guilty as charged). These days, free time is rare, but when I can steal a moment, I love baking, bookbinding, editing, drawing, painting, and working with encaustics. I’ve been easing into sewing—something slow and creative that gives my brain a break. At the end of the day, I suppose I just like to learn and create.

I’m excited to be diving into the film world with fresh eyes. While I don’t yet know exactly which direction I want to pursue long-term, I’m especially curious about production and locations. I’m still getting to know the many (many) roles that exist in the industry, and I’m grateful to the Greater Cleveland Film Commission (GCFC) for being such a generous resource for myself as well as the community. I’ve learned so much through their workshops, the newsletter, the resources on their website, and from the internship. I wanted to intern with the GCFC not only to gain hands-on experience, but also because the staff are such great people. I’ve truly enjoyed working with and learning from them.

I probably spent too much time watching TV and movies growing up. To quote Ben Stiller, “TV was my best friend.” He later called this pathetic on Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, but I find it relatable all the same. My taste in movies and TV leans toward sharp writing, rich characters, and a mix of wit, heart, and just the right amount of existential dread. I have a deep appreciation for character-driven narratives, and I like just about anything with a strong voice and something honest to say. Below are some of my favorites (in no particular order).

TV

Apple TV: Severance, The Morning Show, Ted Lasso

BBC: As Time Goes By, Waiting for God, Taskmaster, QI, Black Mirror, Top Gear (‘til Clarkson’s exit), Would I Lie to You?

NBC: 30 Rock, ER, The West Wing, The Good Place, Frasier, Seinfeld, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

HBO: Newsroom, The Sopranos, Righteous Gemstones, Succession, Silicon Valley, The Leftovers, Barry

Fox: The Simpsons, King of the Hill, House, Arrested Development

Netflix: The Kominsky Method, Travels with my Father, Somebody Feed Phil

AMC: Halt and Catch Fire, Orphan Black, Breaking Bad, Mad Men

Movies

Mrs. Doubtfire, When Harry Met Sally, Baby Driver, Forrest Gump, Roman Holiday, His Girl Friday, Inside Out, Up, The Fifth Element, Children of Men, Burn After Reading, The Sandlot, Cast Away, Wall-E, Airplane!, “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,” O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Clockwise

Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

Marbled Paper, 11x17

Paris

Loki, Watauga Lake

Oil on Canvas, 4x4