Hometown: Fowlerville, MI
Major and class standing: English, Senior
LinkedIn: Lauren Marquette
Where you interned: Michigan Creative – Lansing, MI / Trill Mag – New York, NY (Remote)
What was your internship title and role/responsibilities?
I balanced two internships, one in-person and one remote based in New York.
At Michigan Creative in Lansing, MI, I was a Video Production & Project Management Intern. I worked with the video team to develop scripts, video concepts, and social media campaigns that align with client branding and marketing goals. I also have had the opportunity to learn about production and post-production by getting hands-on experience operating audio, lighting, and camera equipment on shoots. My other tasks include providing miscellaneous administrative support, organizing video assets, and coordinating logistics for video shoots.
For my remote internship with Trill Mag in New York, NY, I was a TV & Film Writer. I pitched, researched, and wrote articles on contemporary TV shows, films, and industry trends. There is a fair amount of independence in this role, so I can develop stories that combine industry research and personal storytelling flair. I also have learned about utilizing SEO to optimize articles for search engines, gained exclusive access to a variety of sources within the entertainment industry, and have been able to take advantage of the provided writing and journalism course that is included in the internship.
How did you obtain your internship? What resources did you utilize to secure your internship?
Michigan Creative:
I emailed MC through their website and asked if they were looking for interns.
Trill Mag:
I applied through a posting on Handshake.
What did your daily routine include?
Michigan Creative:
I am on a hybrid schedule, so some days I’ll go to the office, and others I work from home. It’s really flexible so I get to choose which days I go in. I am also capped at 20 hours per week, so I get to choose how I want to spread those hours out over my week. Early in the week is pretty meeting-heavy, especially in the mornings, but throughout the rest of the day, I have plenty of time to do my assignments. Each week looks different depending on whether there are shoots scheduled or not. Depending on where our projects are in terms of timeline, some days are more focused on pre-production (scriptwriting, scheduling, creating shot lists, client meetings, etc), some are actual production days, and some are focused on post-production (I get to practice editing and complete other tasks to close out the client contracts). Throughout the week, I have several tasks outside of video production that I need to get done (social media posts for clients, internal marketing meetings for MC’s social media, and any extra office work).
Trill Mag:
This is a very independent internship. I put out a 1500+ word article every three-ish week, so how I budget my time during the writing process is up to me. To start I pitch my idea to my editor, they approve/deny it, and then I begin drafting my article. Once my draft is done and meets all of the criteria I have to follow, I send it to my editor again and they will either publish it or send it back to me if there is any revisions needed. After that, I post on social media about my article and add it to several required portfolio sites, and then I begin pitching my next article.
Your favorite experience from the internship?
Michigan Creative:
I have enjoyed getting to learn about the production and post-production stages of video. I have always felt comfortable with the pre-production planning/writing stage, but I made clear to MC that I wanted to learn about the other stages of video production and they have been really accommodating with my goals and are great to learn from. I also had no video experience and they were willing to teach me from scratch.
Trill Mag:
My favorite part of this experience has been getting to write about film and TV and actually have my work published. I like that there is so much freedom to write what I want and that I’m building a portfolio as I do it.
What was your least favorite part of the internship?
Michigan Creative:
Some weeks can drag by a bit slowly if there is not much work to be done. How much experience you get depends on how many contracts the company is signing. Sometimes it’s a bit slow, especially in the late summer.
Trill Mag:
Learning the ins and outs of how to write for them can be difficult because your training is done completely through video tutorials. It can also be difficult to contact your editor at times depending on what time zone they are located in, which can sometimes cause timelines to be dragged out.
What skills did you learn and/or build upon during your internship?
Michigan Creative:
I have learned about lighting, audio, camera functions, how to stage shots and editing software. I have built upon my scriptwriting, planning, and creative strategy skills.
Trill Mag:
I have learned about journalistic writing, SEO, and how to find sources in the entertainment industry. I have been able to polish my writing skills in general.
What did you learn about the industry or your career path as a result of the internship? What are your future plans?
Michigan Creative:
I learned that pre-production/development is where I enjoy being the most during the filmmaking process. I want to continue to learn about production and post-production, but I don’t think I see myself pursuing those paths as much. I still have a lot to learn, but I’m excited to figure it out as I go.
Trill Mag:
I learned that I enjoy knowing the current news and trends in film and TV, but that I don’t want to be a journalist.
My future plans would be to work at a studio/production company doing TV show/feature development, as well as honing my screenwriting skills.
What advice do you have for other students seeking out internship opportunities?
Michigan Creative:
They are a full-service advertising agency that does branding, marketing, web design, graphic design, public relations, and video production, so I would recommend learning as much as you can even if it isn’t the area that you want to specialize in. They also are looking to expand their video team and they would love some video editors/editing interns (who already have some experience). They are great to learn from but don’t expect to have your hand held during this internship.
Trill Mag:
You need to be a self-starter for this internship. Make sure you can handle being independent (having little to no contact with anyone else) and can still get your work done by the deadline.
General advice:
Don’t reject yourself, even if you don’t think you’re the best candidate for the job or that it will never go your way. Always send the email, apply for the job, reach out to that person, etc., and let them reject you. You never know what opportunities might be available to you unless you put yourself out there.
