Finding a Film Internship

Internships are valuable when going into any field. They help you gain experience in a professional environment and see how the industry runs. Within the film industry, they are especially important because the industry is so multifaceted that it is hard to get a true understanding of it until you start working on sets, in production companies, or at studios and agencies. Finding and getting an internship in the entertainment industry can be very difficult, though, as it is super competitive and requires a lot of persistence. But once you find the right internships, they can help launch your career and help you get hired. 

Whether you are a student looking for a film internship, a young professional, or have a budding interest in working in the film industry, here is a guide to how to find film internships. 

Types of Internships in the Industry

There are many different types of internships in the entertainment industry that you could learn from. Almost every department, section, and subsection of the industry will be looking for interns. To get a better understanding of the different roles that you could get an internship in, here is a list of some types of film internships you could get:

1. Production Companies

This may be the most basic, all-encompassing internship in the film industry there is. Often, when production companies look for production interns, these interns get to learn how production companies work, what it is like to be on set, and the basics of running production offices. These internships can include everything from pre-production and development to being on sets helping the crew as a PA or in managerial work. You could work at a scripted or non-scripted production company, or a company specializing in feature films or television. There are many options and paths for interning with a production company, and some may be beneficial for someone who wants to be on set or be a part of physical production. It is also great for people who are unsure and want to get an overview of how filmmaking works.

1. Development and Script Reading Internships

Being a development intern is a very common way that students find internships in the industry. It will entail a lot of coverage. Coverage is reading scripts and then giving a summary and comments on the work. This role is important in the industry because being a script reader and interning with development means that you are the first people to read scripts and decide if they are good enough to be made and passed on to higher-ups. It is a tedious job and may not show any obvious results; however, it can help develop your taste and help you understand what works and what doesn’t in scripts. Other tasks a development intern might do is help development teams create pitch presentations and brainstorm new ideas. This internship can sometimes be the most flexible as there are both in-person and remote development internships. 

1. Agencies and Management Companies

Agents and managers do not only manage celebrities and performers. Many agencies and management companies do a lot more than find their clients jobs; they are constantly pitching their clients, keeping up with the industry and its trends, finding new works that production companies should create, representing directors and writers, and so much more. There are smaller companies and departments within larger companies that will focus on specific areas, such as a writer’s agency representing writers of a certain genre or a talent agency that does only theater contracts. These internships are often the most competitive and popular as most production companies and studios want you to have experience working in an agency and management company because working there gives someone the widest, all-encompassing experience in learning and understanding how the industry works. Larger companies like CAA and UTA have competitive trainee programs for post-graduate students and people interested in becoming managers or agents.

1. Broadcast

If working with live events or streaming is for you, finding an internship in broadcast will have a lot of opportunities for you to learn the most you can about it. Be it sports, local news, or live programming like game shows, there are many opportunities to intern with broadcast companies and learn the nuances of live television. 

1. Marketing and Publicity Internship

Marketing and publicity are all about getting people to connect with your content and promoting it in the best light. If working on how to sell films, television, celebrities, and companies to audiences is appealing to you, there are many internship opportunities in this section of the entertainment industry including film marketing, product placement, copywriting, social media, and entertainment journalism. 

1. Film Distribution Internships

Film distribution is arguably the largest part of the industry because it is how your films and programs get to your audience. There are many internships with distribution companies and film markets that will show you the ins and outs of selling films and how they get distributed. There are a lot of short internships at film markets, like Cannes’ Marché du Film and the American Film Market. Here interns can see exhibitors trying to sell their films to distributors and learn how films are sold and distributed internationally. 

1. Film Festivals

Many film festivals look for interns every year to help them run their festivals. This allows you to see up-and-coming filmmakers and get immersed in the good work that people are doing in the industry. Some tasks they might have you doing are outreach, crowd management, and scheduling. Film festivals happen at all sizes from very local and small to large academy award-qualifying festivals like Cannes and Sundance. Even just going to a festival will show you a lot about the industry and what people are making. 

1. Post-Production 

Working as a post-production intern is the best way for anyone interested in anything related to post-production, editing, sound design, and VFX to gain experience and make connections with professionals in their field. You might be asked to make notes on footage, help process data, or do research. 

1. Animation and VFX

Many awesome internships with animation companies and VFX houses will let you learn from professionals how they create animation and visual effects. Both these follow a very different process from traditional live-action filmmaking.

1. Archival or Film Education

A great way to learn about film history and immerse yourself in film is to be an archival or film education intern. Many universities, museums, and restorative archives look for interns to help with their cataloging and finding new ways to educate people about the history and preservation of film. Some programs include AFI’s archival internship, Harvard Film Archive’s internship, and the Academy’s archives internship. These are also great internships to do if you are interested in film restoration or documentation. 

1. Major Studios

Working for a major studio is probably one of the most corporate jobs that you can work in the film industry. They have many different departments that all need interns. These internships will look great on a resume and let you specialize in very specific parts of a large company, like youth television or live-action Marvel. They have many internships that include the categories of internships above and have more structured programs. Major studios include Disney, NBCUniversal, and Warner Brothers. They will all give you valuable insight into how the corporate world of entertainment works. 

1. Production Assistant (PA)

Being a production assistant is not often an internship; it is more of a job. However, it is one of the best ways to start getting on working sets and seeing how professionals work together on a set to create the final product. Some larger studios will have this as part of their internship, or production companies might have opportunities for you to be on set for a few days. These are great opportunities, especially if you are interested in working in physical production like camera, assistant directing, production design, and grip or electric. You can find jobs for this on PA Facebook groups or other job boards like Backstage and Mandy. 

How to Find Internships

There are many places to find internships. A good place for students to start is search engines such as Handshake, which allows employers to post open positions for students to apply for. With that, you can connect with people on LinkedIn who work for companies and in positions that you would like to work in. Reaching out to employers is a great way to show your interest in working with the company.  

Along the same lines, if you find or obtain the contact information for someone working at a company you want to work at, feel free to cold call or email them. It could also be a general inquiry line to the company. Introduce yourself, including what school you go to and why you love their company. Then ask them if they have any upcoming internships that you could apply for. Make sure to express your interest in working for their company. The worst that can happen is that they don’t have any current positions open, but they may remember you expressing interest in their company, which could lead to a position in the future. 

Finally, your network is the best way for you to not only find internships but also get them. Use the network that you already have like your professors, graduated classmates and friends working in the industry, and past colleagues. They might know of opportunities and can give you recommendations. Their word and connections can give you a leg up in getting the internship. 

Things to Keep in Mind When Picking the Right Internship for You 

Not every internship is going to be for you. Knowing what you want out of an internship and your career as a whole will help you pick the right ones to apply to. If your goal is to be an editor, look for post-production internships. If it is to be a writer, look for internships that involve writing, maybe in development or for a writer’s agency. Find internships that are relevant for the job you want and the skill sets that the job requires. 

If you aren’t sure what path you want to take in the industry, that is okay! You might want to look at doing a few different internships in different areas of the industry to learn what you like and what you do not. You can also find internships that are more all-encompassing, like a production internship that will let you float around to different departments. You can take this Film Career Finder Quiz to see if it helps you find a path.

Remember that even if you find an internship that seems perfect on paper, all of these roles will probably include menial jobs and responsibilities. As an intern, you are going to be given the work that no one else wants to do, so understand that this is just part of the process in the entertainment industry. As your career advances, you will be able to climb up the ladder. 

Tips to Get the Internship

It doesn’t end with finding an internship to apply to; securing the internship is the hard part. Remember that networking is key. Ask your connections for help finding opportunities. If it is a genuine connection, they will want to help you. 

Do your research. Know as much as you can about what the program entails and what your job would be if you got the internship. Understand what the company values and wants creatively. This will help you with interviewing and writing a cover letter that relates personally to the internship and shows them that you have a real interest in working for the company.

Build your portfolio. Many internship hiring managers will want to see the work that you have done and see how you could fit with their company, so make sure you have some things to show them. 

Tailor your resume and cover letter to each internship. Do not send the same cover letter and experience to every role because each internship is looking for something different, so show them that you have experience or can do what they are specifically looking for.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. It is always better to apply for more internships. Internships in the entertainment industry are really competitive and more than likely you will not hear back from most. You can also diversify and apply to different areas in the film industry, as skills can be transferable and maybe you have an interest in a different area. The biggest thing is getting your foot in the door, so if that means doing an internship that isn’t quite perfect for you to get the one that is, do it. 

Show genuine interest in their company and their internship program. Hiring managers can tell when you aren’t very interested in the role and won’t want to give the job to someone who will half-heartedly complete their tasks. So show them you genuinely want to work for them.

Your past internships can also help you get the next ones. When interviewing or writing a cover letter, tell them about what you learned in your past internships and how you can apply those skills to the next one with more still to learn. Starting out doing internships at smaller companies is not bad, as it can help you get the next big one. 

Be persistent. Keep applying every semester because it shows you’re interested. Even if you haven’t gotten the internship three semesters in a row, the next time you apply might be the one. 

Finally, make the most of every opportunity you get while making genuine connections. Every internship is an opportunity to meet new creatives and learn new things to help you work your way to your goals. Enjoy the process.

Learn more about Auteurnet and how we can help you build your creative community.