Getting the big break: with the right internship, you can beat the odds and become a success in the entertainment industry - Entrepreneurship

Black Enterprise, Dec, 2002 by Tykisha Lundy

THERE ARE A LOT OF JOKES ABOUT INTERNS WORKING AS OFFICE MAIDS OR GOFERS; THEY "GO for this and go for that" is the age-old popular line. Running to get coffee and lunches and watering the executive's plants, however, have been real experiences for some disappointed students. But snagging the right internship, particularly in the hotly competitive field of entertainment, could significantly heighten your career marketability--and get your foot in the door.

"Internships are so powerful," affirms Wendy Washington, a senior vice president at Universal Records, whose assistant is a former intern for the company. "We get our employees from our intern pool. They know the system. They know how things work and you can't get a better character reference. Interns who work for our company have a better shot of becoming employed here than someone who just sends in an application."

But more than just making great employment connections, interning is a priceless way to gain actual exposure to the intended field and develop skills not taught in school. Here, we've listed a variety of selected internship opportunities in the fields of television, music, theater, and film. Some offer salaries, some provide stipends. And while others only provide college credit, the experience is invaluable.