Forgive me for my absence in the last few days. The combined efforts of finding a job and an apartment have been taking up all of my time.
Which brings me to an interesting question; What do UCLA Directing Students do in the summer? What should they do?
There are a number of options.
1. Don’t get a job/work on their films.
A lot of directors I talked to were planning on doing preproduction on their advanced or thesis films. This often involves leaving LA and travelling to wherever home is. For us first year directors this means continuing work on our six-minute films, getting feedback and refining our cuts.
2. Arts Camp
Many directors opting for paid work that can give them some more filmmaking experience work as mentors (like a camp counselor) at UCLA’s Arts Camp. It pays 10.25 an hour and runs until mid August. There are a variety of classes that can be done. Working at arts camp can help pay the hefty bills that pile up from studying here and also help you get to know some of the faculty and your colleagues. There are also some pretty talented and interesting teachers at the camp.
3. Unpaid Internships
Unpaid Internships are abundant in Los Angeles. Normally what you do is work 2 days a week manning phones, writing coverage, and making small office runs. Writing coverage is basically a book report on a screenplay where you summarize the film and write comments on why you think it’s good or not. Depending on where you work and what you’re doing, an internship can provide contacts and experience, possibly at a production company you hope will produce your work in the future. Writing coverage is an extremely valuable skill to have. Two books I recommend for this are Screenplay Story Analysis and Reading For A Living. Any story experience you can get helps.
4. Paid Internships
A rare breed, but they do exist. Paid internships feel less like jobs and more like scholarships here. Have lots of recommendation letters on hand because these seem to pop up periodically during the year and often during the 12 hour a day on set production quarter.
Three that look particularly interesting.
- The UTA Agent Training Program. Students work in the UTA mailroom and take two hours a week at the agent’s training school. This is an opportunity not only to get deeper understanding of how agencies work, but also to meet future junior agents who may be interested in representing you.
- The Caucus Foundation Summer Internship Program. Students are paid around $2,500 to work a six to eight week full-time internship. They are placed at a company in LA. I have one friend who’s doing this this summer. This requires a decent sized application with recommendation letters and an interview. Prepare early.
- The Academy of Arts and Sciences Summer Internship Foundation. The academy offers a number of paid internships in different areas of television (directing, writing etc.) a big internship, also with a big application
5. Directing work
Some people through contacts or previous employers direct commercials, PSAs or music videos over the summer.One particularly ambitious director is using some money he got from a grant to shoot a feature.
6. Non-Directing work
Working in a law office, at a restaurant etc. Straightforward work that pays the bills.
There are a number of options, but the important thing is planning. Most choice internships go in the early spring. It’s easy to get caught up in production and post-production and forget what the summer will bring.
