Internships

Internships offer an opportunity to bridge the gap between being a student and being a professional. The skills you learn in the classroom will be applied in a “real life” setting that cannot be replicated in standard coursework. Internships are an excellent chance to explore different career avenues while still in school.

All internships are vetted by the internship coordinator and the University to ensure each internship site provides an excellent learning experience while following all state and federal regulations.

Contact the Internship Coordinator, Joel Castellaw ([email protected]) for more Information.

Where do our students intern?

Recently, we have placed interns with the following organizations:

Old Globe Theatre in San Diego
Barbizon Lighting in NYC
Walt Disney Imagineering
Santa Fe Opera
Williamstown Theatre Festival
the Los Angeles Opera
PSPA
KPBS
San Diego Repertory Theatre
Cygnet Theatre
The La Jolla Playhouse
OneProductions
Cinema Verde
Brandetize
Sand Cloud
Injinji
We San Diego
NBC
Zip Launchpad
Encore South Bay

How to get an internship?

What is an internship?

A temporary job assignment with a business or non-profit organization where the intern learns skills and terminology specific to their chosen industry
Should have academic as well as professional component—you should be learning something, not just providing a service; it should be a reciprocal relationship that is based in mentorship

Course Credit:

If you are not getting paid at least minimum wage, you should be getting course credit. Ideally you get both, but at least you should get credit
Must register for THEA or TFM 490; THEA offers 1, 2, and 3-unit options; currently only 3 unit course available on course schedule for TFM
1 unit = approximately 45 hours (2-3 hours/week over the semester); up to 8-10 hours/week over the semester for 3 units
The class entails submitting progress reports and a time log; also requires signing a release waiver and any additional assignments as stated in the syllabus
To sign up for course credit, you must contact the Internship Coordinator for TTF

Who can do an internship?

Any student can, but it is recommended that students wait until junior or senior year; try to secure something before the add/drop deadline of any given term

Where do I find an internship?

Search for an internship just like you would search for a job
- Come talk to the Internship Coordinator and let them know what you are looking for
- Research specific companies you are interested in working for
- Register with Aztec Career Connection through Career Services at SDSU
- Search the CSU Entertainment Alliance job board
- Search industry-specific sites such as:
- Search additional Internship sites:
  - Vault
- Create searches on job sites such as:
- Join Social Media groups dedicated to your profession

How do I get hired for an internship?

Most internships will require that you send a cover letter or letter of interest and a resume
Cover Letter Guidelines:
- Be specific and concise—keep it to one page
- Create a professional impression by using letterhead (templates can be found online)
- Follow this formula to get started, and then tailor your draft to specific internship opportunities:
  - Paragraph one: Greet the employer, and state the position you are applying for. Say something short about yourself, i.e. “I am a highly motivated film editor looking to gain experience working in post-production.”
  - Paragraph 2 (and 3 if needed): Detail SPECIFIC experience that qualifies you for this position
    - Show, don’t tell
    - Ex: Tell: “I have experience stage managing live productions.”
    - Ex: Show: “I have stage managed 4 college productions. This entailed managing casts as large as 20 people, and coordinating as many as 10 backstage crew members.”
      - Numbers, specific examples, etc, challenges overcome—show them what you can do
  - Paragraph 3 (or 4, depending): Explain why exactly you want to work for THIS company (do your research)
  - Closing—Thank you for reviewing my application. Please contact me for any further information. I look forward to speaking with you soon.
  - PROOFREAD—and get someone else to proofread also before submitting

Resume Guidelines:

We are in a creative industry, so look for creative resume templates online
Be concise and descriptive—again, SHOW, don’t just tell
Double check that your contact info is correct
Keep it to 1 page
PROOFREAD—and get someone else to proofread also before submitting

Students