How To Find a Film Internship?

Answer 1

Finding a film internship can be challenging and exciting. Success in this endeavor depends on location as well as experience. There are a broad variety of film internships because the industry is very broad, but in general these internships can also be competitive.

In general, there are more film internships located in places where many films or TV shows are made. Los Angeles and New York are good places to look for such internships, but there are also smaller film and TV industries in most major cities, notably in Austin, Texas. To find available internships, look on career or internship websites such as CareerFinder or Internships.com. Students often have success finding internships through universities because many have job and internship databases that are specifically set up for students. Craigslist is also a viable resource in a search for a film internship.

Experience also plays a big role in getting a film internship. In general, interns usually go in to an internship with basic knowledge of how to use a camera such as a Sony HVR. Knowledge of exposure, framing, white balancing, and using a tripod are usually skills that employers expect interns to have. Also, basic knowledge of different types of microphones can be useful depending on the internship. The editing software FinalCut Pro is also an industry standard and most employers like interns to have a knowledge of that. Knowing Avid is also a plus. Often, familiarity with software such as Flash and AfterEffects is also sought after -- it generally depends on the company offering the internship.

There are many types of film internships available depending on the interest of the person looking for the internship. Many production companies look for production interns, editing interns, and the like. At large companies it is more likely that the interns start out doing office work before working their way to production status, while at smaller companies interns generally start off doing production work. Film Festivals and film societies are also great places to intern, especially because they have such a wide range of contacts that are available to network. Many large companies, no matter what their industry, also have some sort of promotional film department and offer internships.