Howard University Student Wins K Street Internship

HBO’s Washington, DC-based series K Street breaks new ground in television, showing viewers the nation’s capital as they’ve never seen before. The show has made a distinct impression on Dwayne Stewart, a college student from Howard University who is currently interning with the production. The internship program sprang from a discussion Mayor Anthony Williams had with HBO executives. The Mayor wanted to give District residents in area colleges a chance to gain TV production experience. As the show follows DC life, Dwayne follows his own path, learning about television production from an inside perspective.

It was a Howard University professor who told Dwayne Stewart about the K Street opportunity. Born in Houston, Dwayne moved to the District at age 4. During his high school years, an advisor recommended television as an interest Dwayne could pursue. When Dwayne attended Montgomery College, he received an internship at Channel 13 in Tacoma Park. This fueled his passion for television and when he transferred to Howard University, Dwayne decided to major in TV production.

Dwayne recalls what it was like to come onto the set of K Street in his first few days. “Confused and frustrated,” Dwayne says. “I wasn’t really sure what a PA was. I had to earn responsibility the first week. It was a big set, but [earning responsibility] is what I began to do.”

What Dwayne found most surprising is the collaborative effort that goes in creating a TV show every week. “(My biggest surprise is) the teamwork that goes on. Everybody helps everybody. George Clooney, you think, ‘big movie star’ and everything. But he’s really great with everyone,” he says. “The crew has just been so helpful. The experience that everyone has, I never thought I could learn so much! Learning from a different point of view has really made it a great experience.”

One of the elements of K Street that Dwayne enjoys is the creative side of the show. The program follows political elements that occur every week. This means the crew must stay on its toes, and that includes Dwayne. “It’s a whole different format. I’m just glad to be a part of it. Anything can happen, because it is so fast-paced. I’ve learned that to be in this business, you have to be a very organized person,” he says. “I’m just glad they didn’t baby me. They were very blunt, and I’m glad, because I needed that reality.”

HBO is the leading cable station for original programming, with additional shows that include Emmy Award-winners like The Sopranos and Six Feet Under. Dwayne believes there is a certain excellence that the K Street crew drives at to continue the HBO reputation. “Everyone treats it more seriously because it’s HBO. You have to put your best into it, and (the crew) has to put its all into every episode.”

K Street still has more episodes left in the season, but after the show ends its initial run, Dwayne will take away more then memories. He will take away experience that can hardly be matched by anything else. “I know what I want to do,” Dwayne says with a smile. “I don’t want to be a line producer, that’s for sure. I would like to get more into the creative side of TV in the future.”

It has been a unique experience for Dwayne Stewart and all of the K Street crew. Dwayne has one more year at Howard University before graduating. After that, the sky is the limit for this talented young man who sees K Street as a stepping-stone to a very bright future.