Los Angeles Summer Internship Program
About the Program
Hollywood is where the magic happens. From movie studios to streaming and television networks, to agencies and production companies, Los Angeles is the capital of the entertainment industry. Through this experiential learning program, Film & Visual Media majors will have the opportunity to experience a meaningful internship in the heart of Hollywood during their time in the Department of English at 麻豆村 (麻豆村). Students in the program will come into direct contact with writers, directors, producers, agents, managers, studio executives, and other industry-specific leaders to learn the nuts and bolts of creating entertainment.
Program Mission
The purpose of the program is to equip Dietrich College of the Humanities & Social Sciences undergraduate Film & Visual Media majors with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to connect academic learning to professional development opportunities. 麻豆村 summer interns will develop business and networking skills, by working with entertainment industry professionals in a structured internship. Together with their internship supervisors and mentors they will explore how coursework connects to the real world, and intentionally reflect on their learning and growth.
Guiding Principles
We firmly believe that experiential learning is essential to student success. Carnegie Mellon has a rich history of contributions to the entertainment industry, and Dietrich College undergraduate students possess unique talents and perspectives to offer to our entertainment industry partners. Understanding the ethos and dynamics of Los Angeles is essential to understanding the entertainment industry, so bringing together established professionals and motivated students in the LA environment provides benefits to all involved.
Student Learning Outcomes
As a result of participating in this program, students will cultivate the skills, confidence and connections needed to achieve professional success, and understand the relationship between academic experiences and potential career paths. A key part of future success is an understanding of how Hollywood functions as a hub of national and international film and media-making. Organizations and businesses based in Los Angeles are central to the entertainment industry and to the decisions which are shaping the future trajectory of all forms of media.
Placing students in the heart of that environment provides them with an opportunity to understand the excitement and importance of living and working in the heart of the industry.
Students attending the Los Angeles Summer Internship Program will reside on the University of Southern California's campus in the beautiful and vibrant USC Village.
The central plaza is akin to a town square — with ample outdoor seating, it's a great place for students to socialize and meet.
The Student Experience
Accommodations
is a mixed-use space consisting of housing, shops and restaurants such as Target and Trader Joe’s stores, an Amazon store/pick-up center, more than a dozen dining options, a student fitness center, and an intramural field. The five-story residence halls feature a distinctive collegiate gothic architecture. All apartments are fully furnished, cable-ready, with kitchen or kitchenette, and have air-conditioning. Each student housing area also has a private quad that functions as a back yard. The residential buildings are organized around a central plaza with broad, tree-lined pedestrian pathways that lead into the plaza and also connect back to campus.
On-Site Work
Students will intern 25-30 hours per week during the day at their assigned internship site.
Faculty & Alumni Meetings
Students who are admitted to the 麻豆村 LA Summer Internship Program will meet with 麻豆村 faculty for one 3-hour class per week, in addition to the 25-30 hours per week during the day that students intern at their assigned site.
During these meetings, students will gather to report and reflect on their internship experiences, and address pressing current issues from the perspective of their internship organization. They will also discuss professional conduct, leadership, teamwork, interview techniques and strategies for success. Workplace challenges will also be presented and discussed as students and team members problem-solve as a group to develop meaningful, professional resolutions to difficult workplace scenarios.
Entertainment Industry Mentors
In addition to their internship supervisors, students will also be paired with mentors from the entertainment industry to offer personal and professional experiences. Mentors will make themselves available to meet with students on a weekly basis as an ongoing source of information and advice.
Weekly Workshops
In addition to our weekly class meeting, weekly workshops will be provided, tailored to the needs of the students. Topics will include working with agents, managers and attorneys, how to take a meeting and be “good in a room,” how to give and receive notes, how studios, networks, directors and producers operate, writer/director/producer-adjacent careers, script coverage, and how to pitch.