Alright, guys, let’s talk about how I went about chasing those film production internships in NYC. It’s a jungle out there, but I managed to navigate it, and so can you!
First Steps: Getting My Ducks in a Row
First things first, I polished up my resume. I made sure to highlight any and all relevant experience. Even that little short film I made with my friends in high school? Yep, that went on there. Anything that showed I had some hands-on experience, no matter how small, I included it. I made sure my resume was short, to-the-point, and I did my best to fix all the small errors.
The Hunt Begins: Where to Look
Next, I needed to figure out where to find these internships. I started hitting up the usual suspects.
You know, the big job boards. But honestly, I found those to be a bit overwhelming and not super targeted.
- I spent hours scrolling, and it felt like I was just sending my resume into a black hole.
So, I got a little more strategic. I started researching production companies in NYC. I made a huge list of every company I could find, big and small. I mean, everyone wants to work at the big studios, but I figured smaller companies might have more opportunities, or at least be more likely to read my application.
Reaching Out: Making Contact
Once I had my list, I started digging for contact information. Sometimes it was easy – a direct email address or a contact form on their website. Other times, I had to do some serious detective work.
I hit up every email I thought of.
- I crafted personalized emails. No generic “Dear Sir/Madam” stuff. I researched the company, mentioned something specific about their work that I admired, and explained why I was interested in them specifically.
- I kept my emails short and sweet. Nobody wants to read a novel. I introduced myself, highlighted my relevant skills (briefly!), and attached my resume and cover letter.
I sent tons of emails, and frankly, I didn’t hear back from most of them. It’s a numbers game, though. You gotta keep at it. The few replies I did get made all the effort worthwhile.
The Follow-Up: Staying Persistent
I didn’t just send one email and call it a day. Oh no. I followed up. A week or two after my initial email, I’d send a short, polite follow-up, just to reiterate my interest and see if they had any updates. I didn’t want to be annoying, but I also wanted to show that I was genuinely interested and persistent.
The Interview(if you’re Lucky):
After all this work, I actually got a few responses!And I was invited for some interviews.
Most of them were by Video call,Some were in person.
I remember I tried my best to act naturally, and I did some research before the interviews.
I can still remember how nervous I was at that time, but I managed to pass some of them.
The Result:
In the end, after sending out what felt like a million emails, I managed to land an internship that match my expectation! It wasn’t with a huge, famous studio, but it was with a solid company that gave me real, hands-on experience. It gave me the opportunity to do a variety of things,I can learn things in every aspect of the company.
So, that’s my story. It’s not glamorous, and it definitely involved a lot of rejection, but it worked. Keep your head up, keep hustling, and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there!
