Opportunities

Internships with UMass Film Studies

 

 

During college, immersive internships in your field of study are essential to successful outcomes after graduation. Internships let you try out different career options on a short-term basis. They also help you build the skills, confidence, and professional network that will lead to better job offers after graduation. Some studies suggest that students with internship experience also enjoy higher starting salaries. 

UMass Amherst undergraduate students can earn a total of 18 credits for internships during the course of completing their degree.  Internship credits are earned as general elective credits, and count towards graduation credit totals.  

For your Film Studies internship, credits are registered under FILM-ST 398 Practicum. Film Studies Internships are graded Pass/Fail.
In addition to enrolling in Film-St 398, you'll have to sign a contract through Spire. In the contract, you'll indicate your faculty sponsor (one of instructors on record for FILM-ST 398: Barry Spence, Daniel Pope or Barbara Zecchi), and your internship supervisor. Your supervisor will provide necessary training, weekly supervision, and routine feedback on performance and expectations to your faculty sponsor.
Please note that your faculty sponsor and your supervisor cannot be the same person. Supervisor does not have to be a UMass faculty. 

Students can take 6 credits of internship and 3 of independent study  (or viceversa) as part of the 6 electives courses for the Film Major through BDIC.

For any semester-long internships, the total number of hours worked divided by 40 determines the amount of credits earned. These are the UMass Amherst recommended hours needed to earn credits over the course of a fall or spring 14-week semester: 

Credits
3
6
9

Hours/Week
9
17.5
25.5

Hours/Semester
120
240
360

 

Film Studies students can also serve as undergraduate teaching assistants and gain instructional experience under the supervision of our faculty, or they can collaborate directly in the research project of faculty and gain first-hand knowledge of the procedures through which academic research is conducted. These opportunities are not considered internships and follow different rules.  For more information about becoming an Teaching or Research Assistant, please check the Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship Program in Film Studies, and the Undergraduate Research Program in Film Studies.


What types of internships can I pursue?

The Film Studies Program offers different kinds of internships on campus, and supports internships initiative off campus. Please look below, talk to one of our advisors, and choose what is the best internship for you.  Interns must be Undergraduate Film Studies Certificate students or Film majors through BDIC. 

Recurring Film Studies internships include:  

Film Studies Program Internships 

Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival Internships

Social Media Internships

UMassterclass Podcast

Mount Ida Semester Internship Program  (Internships in the Boston area - on a hiatus 2020-2021)

 



Fall internships
Film Studies intern Jake Quinn

 

FILM STUDIES PROGRAM INTERNSHIPS

The UMASS Interdepartmental Program in Film Studies seeks energetic, detail-oriented, creative, dedicated film students with excellent communication skills for internships (3 credit/9 hrs per week preferred). Responsibilities may include: peer advisingprogram promotion and data gathering; newsletter and website maintanance; video production; film event promotion and support, etc..

Interns will have many opportunities to utilize and improve upon their writing, research, public speaking, technical, organizational and leadership skills through independent and collaborative work. 
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Prof. Barry Spence (Undergraduate Program Director), or Prof. Barbara Zecchi (Film Studies Program Director)

Current resume required! .

 


 

MMFF 2012 interns

MASSACHUSETTS MULTICULTURAL FILM FESTIVAL INTERNSHIPS

Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival Interns will assist in the organization and implementation of the Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival, with a primary focus on publicity. Intern duties may include: participation in the initial Festival press campaign, including contacting local radio, television, and print media, as well as organizing publicity on campus, among the Five Colleges, and within the Pioneer Valley; coordination of weekly Festival publicity, including: design, production, and distribution of individual event posters; researching and contacting appropriate target audiences for individual events; library and archival research for compilation of film notes and documentation for Festival events; web design and graphic design; event-planning; filmmaker and guest visit coordination; and staffing of events. Interns will work closely with Festival staff and will have many opportunities to demonstrate and develop initiative and leadership skills through independent and team projects. Interns will complete regular progress reports.

Interns are usually contracted for one 3-credit Internship (working eight hours per week) for the duration of the spring semester. In addition, interns are expected to staff all events of the Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival. Most events will take place 6:00- 10:00 p.m. Wednesdays, with some exceptions; some events will take place at the Five Colleges. Interns are expected to assist with preparation and clean-up before and after each event, and will serve as greeters and perform other activities associated with staffing each event. Interns may also participate in additional Festival activities including filmmaker and scholar dinners/receptions. Internships during the Fall semester in preparation to the MMFF are also available.

In any of these capacities, students have the opportunity to gain valuable experience in assisting the Interdepartmental Program in Film Studies in festival curating and public relations, while earning supervised academic credit for their activities. The Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival as a whole represents a valuable educational opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students who will be able to interact directly with a diverse cross-section of film artists and scholars from around the world.

Interns must be enrolled in the Undergraduate Film Studies Certificate program. 

For more information, contact Ian Sedelow and Celia Sainz 


INTERNSHIPS IN SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media
Internships in Social Media

Social Media Internships
The Interdepartmental Program in Film Studies seeks two energetic, detail-oriented, creative students with experience in social media for Social Media Internships. 
Responsibility: Interns will create, post, and expand content on Film Studies’ social media accounts (Facebook and Instagram), and promote it around campus.Content production includes original texts, photography, video, and class trailers. Interns will also keep track of and analyze audience response to various content, and write reports each semester. In the Spring semester interns will actively participate in the UMass Gives campaign as ambassadors. 
Weekly meetings with co-intern(s) to go over daily postings, and bi-weekly with internship supervisor. Interns are expected to uphold current excellence standards and further promote the Film Program profile. 
 The ideal candidates will demonstrate proficiency in social media, writing, communication, teamwork, and time management. They should be able to work in a collaborative yet independent manner. And, of course, they should be passionate about film. Video and photo editing skills are a plus. In order to qualify for this internship students must be enrolled in the Undergraduate Film Studies Certificate program, or must have declared a major in Film Studies through BDIC. 
The Social Media Internship is for 2 calendar years (including summers). The first 6 months Junior interns will be supervised by the Senior interns. Then work independently for a year, and then last 6 months will supervise the incoming Juniors.
The two-year internship is worth 18 credits, 9 credits per year, 9 hours of work per week.
More information about how to enroll in an internship in Film Studies can be found here:
https://www.umass.edu/film/internships-umass-film-studies
To arrange an interview, please contact Ian Sedelow isedelow@umass.edu with your letter of interest, listing your qualifications


 

PODCAST: UMassterclass
 

UMassterclass is the official podcast of the Film Studies program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst! A go-to show for students, filmmakers, and film faculty getting educated, together, on all things film, television, screen media. UMassterclass is written and produced by students in the Film Studies program at UMass Amherst. Interns should have strong interest in the podcasting world. Exceptional research skills with demonstrated understanding of data and digital platforms.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with clear experience in writing engaging conteAbility to manage time with great efficiency, and can operate with little oversight and minimal direction.  Research guests and topics as needed, and share talking points with guests. Collaborate with team members on pitches for new series ideas. Support distribution efforts via social platforms with the communications department as needed.

For more information please contact  Prof. Daniel Pope



New Hall at Newton Campus

MOUNT IDA SEMESTER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AT NEWTON (Temporarily suspended) 

Students spend a semester at Umass Newton Campus and do an internship tailored to their case study for select film organizations in the Boston area (and earn up to 9 credits), while taking online classes (up to 6 credits) at no additional cost. All students take the Internship Cohort Class (3 credits) and explore film in the Boston area with peers!  

  • Beautiful 75-acre campus nestled in the City of Newton
  • Convenient to downtown Boston and surrounding suburbs
  • Ample free parking
  • Transportation from campus to MBTA (Green Line)
  • Spacious air-conditioned single and double rooms
  • Fitness center and recreational opportunities available on campus
  • UMass Dining Service

INTERNSHIP CREDITS: Students will register for internship/practicum course credits either via UMass 298Y or through FILM-ST internship/practicum course (FILM-ST 398) and pay the appropriate fees. To obtain 6 credits students will have to work 17.5 hours per week. For 9 credits, 25.5 hours per week. 

HOUSING: Housing is available in the New Hall at Newton Campus. This residence hall houses 132 students in a combination of single and shared air conditioned rooms. There are shared bathrooms, ample lounge space, kitchens, and a laundry room in the hall.  If you’re currently a UMass undergraduate or graduate student, not only will you get a great rate on a single or shared air-conditioned room, but also free transportation to the MBTA Green Line, access to our complimentary fitness center, fun activities, and even free parking!

Earn credit. Grow your resume/ networks. Work to obtain your Certificate in Film Studies. Join the Internship Cohort Class and explore film in the Boston area. Be supported. Graduate on time.


For more information on internships, please contact Prof. Barbara Zecchi: bzecchi@umass.edu