Do internships in the film industry help?

madbean
Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:09:04 +0000

I love maddenmd’s excellent advice. What a wonderfully informative post! The only thing I would add is some additional advice for how to succeed when the student hits college.

Find out what you love to do BESIDES directing/screenwriting. Editing? Lights? When you have an instructor/professor you admire, make it to office hours and talk about what you hope to do in the future, what films you love, and what creative projects you are up to. When you’ve started to get to know him/her (and he/she knows you), express your interest in finding an internship and explain your specific skills/hopes. Do this with the administrators in the Film School office, the TAs, the upperclassmen you meet, and other new friends in your film major. If your major has an industry liaison, or a career rep for film go see them and take advantage of their advice. If you are studying film in L.A. or NYC, check Craig’s List for internship/jobs on short films.

There are many new opportunities that will open up, but it is up to you to go get them. 4 years of undergrad as a film major will be much more professionally focused if you also get in 4 years of professional internships along with the classes, projects, and student films.