Screenwriting Internships: Your Launchpad into the Entertainment Industry

Breaking into the entertainment industry as a screenwriter can feel like navigating a maze. With countless paths to success, how do you choose the right one to launch your career? Internships are an excellent first step, but which screenwriting internships are worth your time and effort? This article explores the current landscape of screenwriting internships, helping you make informed decisions about where to begin.

What is a Screenwriting Internship?

A screenwriting internship is an educational opportunity designed for students, often part-time and potentially unpaid. It's not always about working directly with writers, but rather gaining experience in areas of the industry that can lead to writing opportunities. Talent agencies, production companies, and development offices are all potential internship locations for aspiring writers.

Where to Find Screenwriting Internships:

Production company
Development office at a major network
Talent agency

Featured Screenwriting Internships

1. TV Academy Foundation Internships

The TV Academy Foundation (TVA Foundation) offers one of the most diverse and well-rounded internship programs for aspiring TV writers in Los Angeles. With 28 different screenwriting internship categories, applicants can choose from comedy, drama, animation production, children’s programming development, and both live and scripted TV production, among others. Applicants must be full-time students pursuing a BFA or MFA at a college or university in the United States. Fall and Spring applicants are limited to students in the greater Los Angeles area. The TVA boasts a large and growing alumni network, with many testimonials detailing securing their Hollywood dream job within six months of the program.

Conclusion: If you're an aspiring TV script writer seeking hands-on experience in a specific genre, the Television Academy Internship is a perfect choice.

2. Park Artists Group [Remote]

For writers seeking a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood deals, Park Artists Group (PAG), a boutique talent agency, offers a valuable remote internship. While not specifically "writer-centric," agency interns gain insight into what makes a script stand out and how writers can market themselves effectively. This virtual internship provides an education in the various stages of "the booking process." Previous interns rave about gaining a deeper understanding of "the representation side" of the industry from an agent’s perspective, with many intern bosses taking their staff under their wing to help steer them toward their goals.

Conclusion: The Park Artists Group Internship is ideal for writers who don't live in LA, NY, or SF but want to gain hands-on experience and a pathway to establishing themselves in the industry.

3. Atlanta Film Society Internship

The Atlanta Film Society (ATLFS) is a year-round, non-profit media arts organization that specializes in screenings, educational events, screenplay competitions, and the Academy Award® qualifying Atlanta Film Festival held each Spring. Aspiring screenwriters can choose between several screenwriting internship concentrations ranging from screenplay programming for their annual festival, assisting with media/video/tech for their various brand channels, and interning as a content writer for their community relations department. Unlike other comparable screenwriter internships, there’s no requirement for applicants to be currently enrolled in a college or university, and the program even considers High School Seniors on a case-by-case basis.

Conclusion: For aspiring feature screenwriters who don’t want the added hassle of moving to Los Angeles or NYC in order to break in, but still have the same access for a script internship through their annual film festival - this is the ideal program.

4. NBCUniversal Internship Program

NBCUniversal’s internship program offers opportunities in Los Angeles, NYC, and other locations. Eligible applicants must be currently enrolled as a sophomore or higher at an accredited institution pursuing their associate, bachelor's, or graduate degree. TV writer applicants can expect opportunities at networks like Telemundo, Bravo, or even NBC’s outpost in the historic 30 Rockefeller Center. Other positions span departments like digital, production, marketing, development, communications, corporate, technology and more. No matter where you land within NBCU, the program boasts its network and inclusive hiring practices to help interns get situated on a career path that matches their ambitions. The program also provides its interns a paying wage, which basically boils down to: you don’t have to be local to LA or NYC in order to qualify

Conclusion: For screenwriters who want to break into the Industry, but may not have a clear idea of the right path for them - this is an ideal screenwriter internship that can help them get their foot in the door, while laying the foundation for their eventual career track.

Other Avenues for Aspiring Screenwriters

Networking

Networking is a crucial skill for aspiring screenwriters. Don't just focus on professors. Connect with peers, industry contacts, coworkers, and community volunteers. People change jobs and locations, so these relationships can be valuable. Focus on expanding your network effectively. Give people valuable gifts. Volunteer.

Building a Strong Portfolio

To land an internship, focus on experience and talent. Create a strong portfolio with your work, like writings or projects from school or camps. This shows professionalism and helps you stand out. Since experience might be limited, your communication, confidence, and ability to connect with the interview team are crucial. Work on these skills and recognize your strengths. Self-produce a short film so that you can build up your resume and reel now. It can be a short film, documentary short, but this will be a great boost to have at least one or two of your scripts in live action form. Classmates that are into directing and acting can help your stories take shape. Have a clean and concise resume, cover letter, and possibly even a portfolio of your school work.

Contests and Fellowships

Participating in a contest or fellowship program hosted by a network, studio, or organization is a great way to break into the screenwriting industry. Getting accepted into one of these programs-or even moving on to the final stages of the application process-is a HUGE deal. While there are no guarantees of getting staffed or securing representation by landing in a writing program cohort, these opportunities are within reach if you’re accepted.

Here are some fellowship programs:

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Academy Nicholl Fellowship
Austin Film Festival Screenplay and Teleplay Competition
Black List / Women in Film Episodic Lab
Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment New Writers Fellowship
Disney Entertainment TV Writing Program
Film Independent Screenwriting or Episodic Lab
Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest
1497 Features Lab
Fox Entertainment Writers Incubator
Humanitas New Voices
Inevitable Foundation Screenwriting Fellowship
ISA Fast Track Fellowship
ISA Diversity Initiative
National Hispanic Media Coalition Series Scriptwriters Program
NBCUniversal Launch TV Writers Program
Nickelodeon Writing Program
Paramount Writers Mentoring Program
Sesame Workshop Writers’ Room
Sundance Episodic Storytelling Lab

Top Screenwriting Programs

USC: Offers a highly competitive Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program in Writing for Screen and Television, with an acceptance rate of only around 3%. USC's program is renowned for its faculty expertise, industry connections, and the success of its alumni, including many influential screenwriters in Hollywood.
UCLA: Known for its focus on storytelling and script development, UCLA's screenwriting program provides a competitive environment with numerous networking opportunities.
NYU Tisch: Offers a creative and collaborative screenwriting program, benefiting from exposure to the New York film and television scene.
Columbia: Known for its MFA in Screenwriting program, which attracts talented and diverse writers.
AFI Conservatory: Provides a highly selective, hands-on program for screenwriters, focusing on practical experience and industry connections.
Northwestern MFA: Offers a program that fosters collaboration among writers, directors, and actors.

Additional Opportunities

The Black List: A technology startup and a film/television production company whose mission is to identify and celebrate great screenwriting and the people who do it, wherever they may be.
Monkeypaw Productions: Cultivates artistic, thought-provoking projects across film, television, and digital platforms and champions highly specific perspectives and artistic collaborations with unique and traditionally underrepresented voices.
Radial Entertainment: A global entertainment company operating FilmRise and Shout! Studios brands, and a diverse library of more than 70,000 movies and episodes in a wide variety of genres including classic TV, horror, award-winning films, classics, animation creator content, and more.
STARZ: The leading premium entertainment destination for women and underrepresented audiences, and home to some of the most popular franchises and series on television.

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