Pleasant Home’s Marie Josey hopes to one day join the likes of Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, Tim Burton, Oliver Stone, Charlie Chaplin and Martin Scorsese.

She got her first taste of California living and the film industry this summer, thanks to the People to People Ambassador program.

From July 15 through July 24, Josey joined with other teenagers from the United States and across the world in Los Angeles.

“When we got there we mostly dealt with the film industry,” she said. “We got to go back stage at Universal studios, do some filming. We went to the Walk of Fame and to the Dolby Theatre where the Oscars are held.”

Highlights of the trip included:

• Gaining firsthand, professional perspectives as students worked with instructors from the New York Film Academy;

• Shooting footage in the midst of the action on one of the back lot sets at Universal studios; and

• Sharpening acting skills during improvisation workshops with the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.

“I did meet a lot of people,” she said. “We actually stayed at UCLA and that was fun. We got to stay in the dorms and go down to the cafeteria.”

Josey said her favorite part was the theater.

“It was amazing,” she said. “This was my first time in California. I’m really interested in the film industry.”

The rising sophomore said she plans to major in film.

“I haven’t decided yet where I want to go to college,” she said. “I’m keeping my options open, but it will probably benefit me more to go somewhere in California or New York.”

Josey said she’s been interested in film her entire life.

“I grew up with movies,” she said. “But I didn’t become serious about it until a few years ago. I would like to be a film director.”

She’s the daughter of Sharon Josey and the granddaughter of James and Eunice Grimes.