Filmmaking internships for high school students are an excellent way to gain basic film skills and get entry-level experience in filmmaking. High school filmmaking internships expose you to the professional world, which looks great on your college application and can boost your career in the entertainment industry.
In this article, we’ll outline the best filmmaking summer high school internships and the importance of taking advantage of these golden opportunities to gain experience in the industry. You’ll also learn about film degree programs and discover how you can master the craft of storytelling during filmmaking internships for high school students.
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Can High School Students Access Filmmaking Internships?
Yes, many companies offer internships for high school students. Although filmmaking opportunities for current students may be difficult to find, you can actively seek them out by participating in film-related extracurricular activities and looking through community art organizations or local colleges with film programs.
For instance, Penn Cinema & Media Studies has a summer program for high schoolers interested in arts and offers a film option. If you are a current student and want to undertake an internship, you need to have strong time management skills, exemplary communication skills, and the ability to juggle advanced projects to meet strict deadlines.
Are There Filmmaking Summer High School Internships?
Yes. Since summer is the longest holiday for high school students, many organizations and industries offer high schoolers internship positions during the summer to help them gain experience in filmmaking. Students can work on-site and remotely to fulfill administrative duties and assist professionals while acquiring valuable events experience.
Why Are Internships Important for High School Students?
- They serve as a guide for career goals: Many high school students are indecisive about their career path. With internships, students can explore numerous career focus options. In the film industry, you can explore different options, from video content and post-production to social media marketing, television ads, and digital design projects.
- You can gain valuable professional experience: First-hand experience of working on advanced projects at production companies will help you develop people skills and get a feel for working in the industry. Experience working for a renowned film festival, at film screenings, or a television series will boost your resume for future career opportunities.
- They provide mentorship and networking opportunities: Internships allow you to meet and connect with people who may later support you in that career field. You’ll build strong communication skills and maintain relationships with professionals who can serve as a reference and recommend you when the need arises.
- They are a step towards financial freedom: Some paid internships have proven to be some of the highest-paying jobs for high school students. Internships serve as marketing assets and are an avenue to make money while honing your skills in a possible future career field. You can use this advantage to save for college tuition and other expenses.
- You can acquire and refine your skills: If you are a novice in the industry, internships will provide an excellent platform to develop basic filmmaking skills and acquire excellent organization skills. You can also refine your prior skills by learning about your strengths and weaknesses from your supervisors and co-workers.
- You can explore your creativity: By immersing yourself in a culture of creativity, you can witness firsthand the power of digital storytelling. Working with other filmmakers can be a great tool for exploring your creativity and may inspire you to create your own video content or enter a film competition.
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Top 10 High School Filmmaking Internships
Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program
- Location: Brooklyn
- Length: Six weeks
- Time Commitment: Full-time, 10 hours daily
The BCAP teens is an avenue for young people to hone strong writing and people skills through film and photography. Participants can explore nature, arts, and culture while building peer relationships through event experience. Students can also build excellent organization skills and earn academic credit. The early bird program fee offers a discount and financial aid is available.
Brooklyn Interns for Arts and Culture
- Location: Brooklyn
- Length: One year
- Time Commitment: Full-time, 10 hours daily
This program is a paid internship that prepares senior students for their future careers by helping them build excellent organization skills and developing them academically and artistically. This is an excellent opportunity to grow their peer and professional network and get one-on-one support for the college application process and application requirements.
Fresh Films
- Location: Online
- Length: Four weeks
- Time Commitment: Two hours daily, excluding weekends
Students unleash the power of storytelling to garner filmmaking experience and build their portfolios. They will acquire professional experience in short film production, digital storytelling, and video content for social media. At the end of the program, a panel of judges will select the best films to showcase, and you will stand a chance to win prizes too.
Hussain College Los Angeles: Summer in the studio
- Location: Online
- Length: Two weeks
- Time Commitment: Eight hours daily, excluding weekends
Hussain College offers an online summer program to sharpen your interpersonal skills as a performer and filmmaker through its one-of-a-kind program. Students can enroll in individual courses or week-long packages within the film department to hone people skills and learn from Hollywood’s top professionals.
New York Film Academy Teen Filmmaking Camps
- Location: Online, US, Europe, Australia
- Length: Two days to six weeks
- Time Commitment: Eight hours daily
This camp provides school juniors with a platform to flourish as visual arts or performing artists through intensive experiential learning. Organizers design each camp to immerse young filmmakers in the art of filmmaking, leaving them with a professional experience that will be helpful in their future career paths.
Reach Honorships-Warner Bros.
- Location: California, Burbank
- Length: Four Summers
- Time Commitment: Full-time, 10 hours daily
Warner Bros. grants internship-scholarship opportunities to graduating high school seniors passionate about the entertainment industry. The honors recipients can work in any of the 60 departments and gain hands-on experience. They are paired with different executive mentors each year to help them build relationships with industry professionals.
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Tisch Future Filmmakers Workshop
- Location: New York City
- Length: 14 weeks
- Time Commitment: Full-time, 10 hours daily
This film department workshop promises to be the next wave in film education by exposing students to the craft of storytelling and developing their editing skills and people skills. This program gives students creative ownership opportunities by requiring them to produce a crew-based documentary, a music video, and technical assignments that they write and direct.
Tisch Summer Online High School Filmmakers Workshop
- Location: Online
- Length: Four weeks
- Time Commitment: Six hours daily
This online summer filmmaking workshop offers intensive professional training on the theories and techniques of filmmaking through workshops, speakers, and mentorships with professionals. Tisch offers the curriculum for this program through the Kanbar Institute of film and television. The program does not require any previous experience in film or digital media.
UCLA Film and Television Summer Institute
- Location: Los Angeles
- Length: Two weeks
- Time Commitment: Six hours daily
UCLA provides high school students a chance to learn the art of cinematic storytelling in this two-week intensive summer program. The film internships equip students with the relevant event experience to create their film projects independently or collaboratively. These interns also get a career edge by observing guest speaker lectures.
University of Southern California Cinematic Arts Summer Program
- Location: Los Angeles
- Length: 12 weeks
- Time Commitment: Full-time, 10 hours daily
Leading professionals in the film department teach students during this 12-week summer program. Students acquire professional experience in digital storytelling, creative writing, animation, editing, and interactive game design. Students with or without previous experience are welcome to apply for class offerings that cover multiple aspects of this exciting industry.
Filmmaking Classes for High School Students
This list of filmmaking classes is for anyone passionate about this exciting industry or who wants to improve their filmmaking skills. Film fans who are curious about the behind-the-scenes of films can also take these classes to understand both the culture of creativity and the administrative experience behind filmmaking. You can also consider online film programs.
- An Introduction to Screenwriting by the University of East Anglia (UEA): UEA designed this online course for new and experienced screenwriters to learn basic script theory and practical exercises for strong writing. Students will employ their understanding of these critical concepts to explore the power of storytelling.
- Film Distribution: Connecting Films With Audiences by Film Distributors Association: This online course teaches students about the pivotal role of film distributors as marketing assets. They learn how to study the target audience, develop marketing materials, and apply their own experiences of film consumption to film distribution.
- The Essential Financial Management Toolbox for Film, Screen, and Broadcast by Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS): This three-week online course equips you with basic film experience. You’ll also understand the financial skills that you need to successfully begin financing a film project or television series. Basic Microsoft Excel spreadsheet skills will help to give you a headstart.
- Introduction to Production Design by Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS): This self-guided course explores the professional experience and core skills that a production designer requires to add visual interest to short films, digital design projects, animations, television series, and feature films.
- Explore Animation by the National Film and Television School (NFTS): Whether you’re an animation expert or enthusiast, this four-week online course will give you the administrative experience to step into the world of stop motion, cel animation, and 3D animation. You will explore techniques and discuss graduate projects by NFTS animation directors.
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Should You Do an Internship in High School?
Yes, you should do an internship in high school. Career development activities like internships are an excellent opportunity for students to earn college credit, build interpersonal skills, strong communication skills, and acquire professional experience. They equip students with new skills and experiences that’ll look good on a college resume and give them a career edge in finding better future employment.
Filmmaking Internships for High School Students FAQ
What do you do in a film internship?
Film interns will work in a film department like post-production or sound design, handling many internship tasks ranging from research to administrative tasks like answering calls and replying to emails. These tasks require strong time management skills and outstanding communication skills. Students may also experience event management processes and communication with sponsors.
How do I ask for a movie internship?
You can inquire about and even get movie internships by cold calling or sending emails to the company of your choice. Your high school, internship fairs, and referrals through a professor are also excellent opportunities. You can also take advantage of events such as film festivals to introduce yourself to professionals in the field and inquire about additional opportunities.
Should I take film studies in high school?
Yes. A class in film study is an excellent opportunity to increase your future success rates. It improves visual literacy, boosts memory, and develops critical thinking skills. It’s also great for personal development. A study on the benefit of introducing film theory proved that watching films boosts the overall mood and attention span of Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients.
Does your grade matter in high school?
High school grades are not a priority in film school, as long as you don’t fail, because film is an apprenticeship trade. Employers and colleges prioritize talent, creativity, technical skills, and strong communication skills over test scores. You will increase your chances of getting into film school with events experience or participation in a film festival.
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