frequently asked questions about los angeles internships

1.) When can I begin the process of searching for an internship?

You must be accepted into the Emerson LA program to begin your search on the Emerson LA internship database. The semester before your attendance, you will be given a password so that you can log onto to the database listings. (Passwords are changed once a semester.)
You should not request information about specific intern sites until you have attended the mandatory orientation in Boston.

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2.) When is the orientation for the Los Angeles Program and where is it held?

Sometime after your acceptance, you will receive a packet of information from the External Programs office about Emerson LA and a date for the orientation in Boston. Orientations for the LA Program are held the semester prior to your attendance. Orientations for summer and fall enrollments are held in March. Orientations for spring enrollments are in October. The orientations are usually held on the second floor of the Little Building on the Boston campus. Attendance at the orientation is MANDATORY. During the orientation, you will be given information about the LA Program and the process for finding an internship.

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3.) How do I find an internship?

There are two ways that you may find an internship: the Internship Database (accessible through the LA Program website: http://www.ecla.edu/pages/internships.asp) and the Hot Site Lists that are sent to all incoming students. The Internship Database is password protected. You will receive the password several months prior to your attendance in the LA Program. You may browse the internship database by category or major. There is no contact information on the database. You must e-mail your selections to your internship advisor and we will send you the contact information. The Hot Site Lists will be e-mailed to you over the course of weeks prior to your arrival in LA. They contain lists of intern sites that we wish to highlight for the coming semester. They include internships that are new, popular with students, or are frequently requested. The Hot Site Lists DO contain contact information. This is why it is extremely important to have a working e-mail address! Remember that we use your Emerson e-mail accounts!

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4.) What criteria should I use in my selection process?

Your selections should reflect your academic major, your production and work experience, and your future career plans. Remember that the industry is very departmentalized and you can not do everything. For example, you should distinguish between film and television and the various departments within each (development, set design, editing, audio, marketing, etc.) By choosing selectively and thoughtfully, you will save yourself a lot of stress. Also, contrary to popular belief, it will not hurt your future career plans if you limit your search to a specific area of interest.

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5.) Is there a limit of how many sites I may select from the internship database?

Yes, you must get your list down to FIVE intern sites that you are MOST interested in.

Your choices should reveal some consistency and focus. We will not give contact information for more than five intern sites per student from the database. There is no limit to the amount of internships you may select from the Hot Site Lists. But, in total you should limit your applications to 8-10 intern sites that MOST resemble what you are looking for. There is no need to send out dozens of applications for internships.

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6.) How will I know if my choices are good ones?

When you e-mail your advisor for contact information, he or she will advise you on your choices and perhaps suggest some alternatives, if need be. Also, on file in the Career Services office are copies of student evaluations of intern sites from previous semesters. You should also go on-line to see if the companies that interest you have websites.

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7.) When should I send you an e-mail requesting intern site contact information?

During the orientation in Boston we will assign students their advisors. Generally though, students whose last names begin with A-L are advised by Kerri McManus and those whose last names begin with M-Z are advised by Larry Caldwell You may e-mail your advisor with requests for contact information after the orientation in Boston. Remember that all sites you select are researched. So please do not call on the phone requesting site information. You will not receive contact information until your advisor has checked and confirmed that the site is looking for interns. So please allow a minimum of three days for your advisor to respond. The industry has high turnover and things change daily. We can make alternative suggestions for internships if the ones you selected are not available. If you wish to set up a phone meeting to discuss other issues, please let us know via e-mail.

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8.) Do you want other information about me when I request contact numbers?

Yes, it helps if we know your major and a little about your background. Please do not send your resumes! Just a few sentences about your academic background, your production experience, and future goals helps determine a suitable placement. All internships are open to all majors. However, it does not make sense for an audio major to intern at a film development office because it really would not suit their background and interests.

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9.) How do I apply for an internship?

Usually you e-mail or fax your cover letter and resume to the intern supervisor. We provide e-mail addresses and/or fax numbers and frequently the phone numbers, as well. Please note that we do not provide business addresses. It is not required to put the address of the intern site on your cover letters. You should follow-up with a phone call (whenever possible) to make sure the contact person received your application. If you have not heard back from an intern supervisor after two follow-up phone calls, move on to the next site.

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10.) How soon should I send my cover letter/resume to intern sites?

You may begin sending your cover letter and resume eight to ten weeks before your arrival in Los Angeles; but not before you attend the orientation in Boston. A very few intern sites have early submission deadlines, which we notify you about. However, the vast majority will not respond to your application until a few weeks before your arrival.

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11.) I need help with my cover letter and resume. What do I do?

You should attend a resume writing workshop at the Career Services Office the semester before your attendance at the LA Center. You are REQUIRED to have your cover letter and resume completed before you arrive in Los Angeles. Contact the Career Services Office for information and assistance with your cover letter and resume. Emerson LA does not provide this service!

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12.) What do I do if the intern supervisor calls me back?

Great! They’re interested! Tell them that you would like to set up an interview during the first week you will be in Los Angeles. Schedule an interview for a date after your move-in day. Once you arrive in Los Angeles you should call back the intern supervisor and confirm the appointment. Do not accept an internship over the phone. Always interview first. Please note: DO NOT schedule an interview during the second mandatory ORIENTATION held in Los Angeles. The LA Orientation is held in the Oakwood Apartment Clubhouse at 3 PM the day after you check-in.

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13.) What do I do if no one responds to my cover letter/resume?

Contact your internship advisor – Kerri McManus or Larry Caldwell. We can give you additional contact information. But, before we do, you must have done the following things: called the intern supervisor to check that they received your application, given the supervisor a reliable phone number where you could be reached, and clearly indicated when you planned to arrive in LA in your cover letter.

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14.) Can I set up my own internship at a site not currently listed on the LA Center internship database?

Yes, but you must contact us to make sure the internship meets with our approval. We will call the intern supervisor and discuss the internship guidelines of the LA Program.

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15.) Do I have any other paperwork to complete once I secure the internship?

Yes, you must complete the LEARNING AGREEMENT, which you will receive during orientation in Los Angeles, along with your student handbook. The Learning Agreement is a contract between the student, the intern supervisor, the professor for the internship course, and the LA Center. The Learning Agreement is due two and a half weeks after your arrival.

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16.) Are there academic assignments involved in the internship class?

Yes, the concept of this program is to fully integrate theory and practice, so of course there is an academic component to the internship course. You will be assigned a professor and you will meet as a class three times during the semester/term. You will be required to complete an essay for your Learning Agreement, turn in weekly journals and complete a final project. The final project usually evolves from your internship experience; for example, you may complete a portfolio of some of the work you did at your intern site with an additional creative piece (such as a script treatment.)

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17.) How many hours can I work at the intern site and for how long?

FALL & SPRING STUDENTS
For 4 units of internship credit, you must intern 16 hours per week.
For 8 units of internship credit, you must intern 24-32 hours per week.

SUMMER STUDENTS
For 4 units of internship credit, you must intern 20-24 hours per week.
For 8 units of internship credit, you must intern 32-36 hours per week.

The student and the intern supervisor will decide how to schedule those hours. You have two weeks maximum to find an internship after your arrival and you must remain at the intern site for the ENTIRE SEMESTER. You may not leave early, take a non-school holiday vacation, or work additional hours per week so that you can conclude the internship before the semester ends.

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18.) Can I intern for longer hours, if I want to?

There are many reasons why we do not recommend working longer than the required hours. Your Learning Agreement stipulates the specific hours you can intern per credit unit. You are not receiving academic credit for any additional hours, so technically the site would be in violation of the minimum wage laws if you did. We will discuss the other problems with interning additional hours at the orientation.

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19.) How many credits can I receive for an internship?

Students may intern at ONE intern site for 4 or 8 units of credit ONLY.

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20.) Can I do two internships?

No, you will not be permitted to take part in two internships through the LA Program. Previous experience has shown that students are often overwhelmed by such a commitment. It is best to put your energy into one good internship and stay focused! Also some companies do not approve of students interning at two sites because of confidentiality issues and competition between production companies.

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21.) Can I expect to get paid?

No, intern sites are not required by law to compensate students with wages as long as the interns are enrolled for academic credit. Very, very few intern sites pay interns. However, many will provide a free lunch, a small stipend, and gas money for an occasional errand.

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22.) Can I expect to intern in production on a film set?

This is not a realistic expectation. That does not mean that students have never gotten on a film set through the LA Program. They have. But, it’s usually a combination of luck and timing. Film productions do not necessarily correspond with the semester system. Many films are shot on location, not in LA. And as an intern, you are not an employee and therefore not bonded, insured, or a member of a union. That makes it pretty tough to get on a film set. On the other hand, television/video production is more readily available for “on set” internships.

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23.) Should I focus on the big name companies?

Many students have the mistaken notion that well-known companies will look better on their resumes. But, that’s just not the case. People in Hollywood are more concerned with WHAT you’ve done than WHERE you have done it. Often smaller companies offer many more opportunities and experiences for an intern; whereas, a larger company may place you in a specific department and limit your exposure to other areas of interest.

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24.) The company where I want to intern asks for a letter verifying that I'm enrolled for academic credit. What do I do?

We will provide you with a letter of verification; but not until the first week of classes, so that we know you are officially enrolled in the internship course and you have agreed to that specific internship.

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25.) Do you know of specific internships that are more likely to lead to a job?

We have no internships that will “guarantee” an intern a job at the conclusion of the semester. California law specifically states that unpaid internships must be part of an educational curriculum and that students are not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of training. Your reward for completing the internship course is academic credit from Emerson College. However, there is no better way to receive hands-on knowledge, meet people who might help you in your future career, and become acquainted with the Hollywood entertainment industry than through doing an internship in Los Angeles.

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