TV Internships: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Getting into the world of film and TV is no small feat. The film industry in the UK is highly successful, bolstering the economy and providing opportunities for budding film makers. Of course, with the success of an industry comes competition for those on the lookout for a look in, as creative minds vie to present their art to any and all.

While it may seem that the major TV and film production companies keep their doors firmly closed to the masses, they actually acquire interns in a steady flow of regular recruitment. If you know where to look, then a film internship you can book!

Access your creativity!

Slick and to the point, this company is a minefield of artistic opportunity. Creative Access is the tipping point of discovering talent in a pool of ethnic and gendered diversity, one of the few companies that rise above the rhetoric with action. Here, media reflects society.

Involving a full day induction at ITV studios, enlisting for an internship with Creative Access will turn your creative spark into a full blown passion. Those in training are allowed to grow and expand, supported into full time employment. Whether it’s writing, performing or the other nuts and bolts of technical production, there’s a lot to be learned and discovered here.

Creative access… denied!

While some companies offering internships are raring to open up their doors to everyone, others would rather bolt theirs shut. The good kind recognise that an internship is a starting point, and the bad set a restrictive criteria in what is supposed to be a learning process.

Cue the kinds of film internship that want candidates from specific universities and graduation dates, narrowing their field of choice considerably. This method is a bottleneck of factors that shouldn’t really be considered, and definitely stunts the opportunity to discover some really great candidates further afield. But hey ho – you can’t convince everyone!

Buddies with BAFTA

Some companies just seem impossible to get acquainted with professionally, due to their reputation and sheer size. Would they even want you to stick around when the interning period is over? Will they even notice you’ve gone?

BAFTA opportunities are among the friendliest of faces in the intern arena, dishing out as many opportunities as they can. It’s not all making coffee either, with hands on experiences stimulating the next generation of film fans. Notably, many of their interns frequently stay on, meaning that hard work and loyalty can pay dividends.

Dismay with Disney?

While even the big names make room for newcomers, not all can be quite what film graduates are hoping for. Admittedly, productive internships do crop up by the dozen over at Disney, but for someone who loves film, a focus on desk work probably doesn’t appeal to the imagination.

Working in film and TV is more than crafting the art. In the end, someone has to distribute all the media produced! It’s a tricky trade, full of marketing, sales and business strategies – but when push comes to shove, such roles are vital in the industry. They also hold a great deal of power.

While it might not be quite as exciting as chipping in on a big motion picture, interning at this level with Disney is a great way to peek behind the glossy curtain.

Become a Warner bro?

One of the ‘big six’ American film studios, Warner Bros have done it all. They helped form the cinematic Justice League, sent Harry Potter off to Hogwarts and, with their internships, can propel you to a prosperous future in film and TV.

The UK internships for these entertainment titans typically last a whopping 12 months from July to July, meaning that those lucky enough to get stuck in really get an immersive experience. It’s detailed, it’s lengthy and full of much to gain, setting participants up for future careers in film.

So what are you waiting for? Lights, camera, action!

Inspiring Interns is a recruitment agency specialising in all the internships and graduate jobs London has to offer.