How to find entertainment internships at smaller companies

It’s time for summer internship applications! If you (or a college student in your life who would benefit from a quick forwarding of this newsletter) are looking for an internship this summer, you probably know to check the major studios’ and networks’ careers pages for their formal programs. Working for one of the big players in town is a great experience, but working at a smaller company can be a great experience, too. At a smaller company, you’ll likely get more one-on-one time with your supervisor and more creative, higher-level responsibilities. And if you’re interested in a niche area of the industry, you may want to spend the next few months getting hands-on experience at a smaller firm dedicated to that niche.

But where do you find these roles? Most smaller companies don’t have careers pages on their websites, if they have robust websites at all!

Some job boards will get postings from smaller firms – entertainmentcareers.net, tracking-board.com, trackingb.com, and Hollylist are good places to start. The UTA joblist is also a good resource – you can find it on The Anonymous Production Assistant blog or through contacts in the industry. (Note: we are not affiliated with these sites; we are sharing them as a resource but cannot vouch for particular postings, paid subscription tiers, or other content you may find on them).

Another great place to look is on tracking boards or social media. We recommend you search on your platform of choice for groups or accounts to follow with a simple keyword search. A good place to start is Film and TV Production Jobs & Internships on Facebook, but there are many others, often organized around locations or affinity groups. Check out The Hivemind Unified for additional resources and groups that may suit your particular career interests and community affiliations.

You can also ask your college career center for introductions to alumni in the industry. Alums from your school may work at small companies who are open to hiring interns, even if they don’t have a formal program. If there’s a company you’re particularly enthusiastic about, but you don’t have any leads, you can see if anyone in your network can introduce you, or send a cold email explaining your interest and inquiring if they have any internship opportunities available – they may say no, because internships can be complicated to supervise, but they may also be happy to make space for an enthusiastic student.

If you’ve had internships before, you can also reach out to your former supervisor and let them know what you’re looking for this summer. They may have a good lead for you, or be willing to send your resume along to their network with a great recommendation (assuming, of course, that you were an excellent intern!). 

Keep in mind that smaller companies tend to hire later in the semester and can even bring someone on once the summer’s already started, as they tend to have less formal programs and flexible timelines. It’s okay if the process takes a little longer with a little more sleuthing – it can be well worth the wait!