Focus Features, part of NBC Universal, is a singular global company dedicated to producing, acquiring, financing, selling, and distributing original and daring films from emerging and established filmmakers – films that challenge mainstream moviegoers to embrace and enjoy voices and visions from around the world. The company operates as Focus Features domestically, and as Focus Features International overseas.

Focus is offering Internships in a variety of different departments in both its Los Angeles and New York offices. These Internships are unpaid and require documented school credit from a four-year accredited college or university.

Candidates may apply for positions within the departments listed below. When applying for an Internship, please include which department or departments you are most interested in. 

Internships – Departments and Key Responsibilities;

Acquisitions (Los Angeles only)
Acquisitions Interns will learn the basics about tracking independent films and projects, and preparation for worldwide markets and festivals.  They will also have the opportunity to read scripts and evaluate completed films for potential acquisition and distribution.  Duties include scanning scripts, filing, maintaining tracking database, distributing scripts, and general administrative tasks.

Development
Development Interns will handle such creative tasks as reading scripts, providing critical analysis, watching reels and directing samples, writing comments and compiling research for development executives.  The internship will also involve covering phones, copying and scanning scripts, filing and various office duties.  Interns will learn the practices and processes of studio development and production, and will be hands-on in both creative and administrative tasks.

Distribution
Distribution Interns will learn about domestic film distribution and exhibition.  Duties include web-ordering trailers and promotional items, responding to exhibitor requests, calling theatres, and completing research projects.  Administrative duties include maintaining databases and competitive release calendars, answering phones, and filing.

Executive (New York only)
Executive Office Interns gain exposure to all aspects of Focus Features business by assisting the company’s CEO and/or President and their support staff with a range of duties and responsibilities.  The intern is responsible for performing many administrative duties; answering phones, photocopying, maintaining submissions and dailies logs, assembling expense reports, etc.  In addition, the intern will have the opportunity to read scripts, to coordinate specific projects, and to get firsthand exposure to the day-to-day routine of running a worldwide film production and distribution company.

Finance (New York Only)
Finance Interns will support the entire Finance group in daily activities including research, competitive analysis, account reconciliations and participations reporting, filing, scanning, billing, as well as ad hoc projects. Prospective Interns should have an interest in the business of film and some knowledge of Microsoft Excel.

International Sales (New York only)
International Sales Interns will gain a broad knowledge of the international marketplace by helping to coordinate the presentation of our product to our primary international distributors.  As a sales team, we are constantly providing our distributors all over the world with festival and market announcements, scripts, screeners, marketing & publicity materials, and general information regarding Focus films. Interns would have to be organized and adept at filing, compiling lists from our Rolodexes, mass faxing, mass FedExing, script-copying, video dubbing, and proofreading. Speaking foreign languages, while not necessary, is always an asset.

International Servicing (New York only)
Interns will work cooperatively within the department to fulfill such general administrative tasks as duplicating DVDs, preparing international shipments, and updating departmental databases. Interns will have the opportunity to sit in on departmental meetings and attend screenings of international films. Candidates must be detail-oriented and proficient in Microsoft Excel. Interest in the international film marketplace a plus.

Marketing
Marketing Interns will help with the implementation of creative advertising materials for domestic theatrical marketing campaigns. Duties include covering phones, filing and requesting materials, and reading scripts; and helping with positioning documents, completing research projects and other general administrative tasks.

Music/Business Affairs (New York Only)
Interns in the Music/Business Affairs department learn about the soundtrack process, music supervision, composer selection, music licensing, music publishing and how they relate to film production and marketing. Interns in this department are responsible for processing music licenses, filing, scanning, copying, and various research and database projects.  Candidates should be interested in film music both creatively and from a business standpoint.

Operations
Operations Interns lead such companywide initiatives as the Reverse Intern Seminar and Focus Green. Focus Green is a group of socially conscious employees and interns from Focus Features and Focus Features International’s global offices who brainstorm and implement practical ideas for “greening” our lives. The Reverse Intern Seminar is an opportunity for interns to make a presentation to Focus executives on a timely topic; e.g., What is the Focus brand and how can we further that brand with the college audience?; What gets moviegoers in their seats?; Designing a marketing strategy and campaign on one of our upcoming releases, et al. This presentation allows interns to have an audience with Focus’ most senior executives and can shape careers as well as Focus strategy. In addition, Operations Interns work directly with the Vice President of Global Operations, Office Coordinators, and IT Directors on special projects, administrative duties, and technology-related projects.

Physical Production (New York only)
Interns assist the Physical Production staff with the managerial and organizational processes of making a feature film.  Daily tasks include maintaining the talent database, filing of production documents, records organization, and general administrative tasks. Applicants should have an interest in the “nuts and bolts” of filmmaking.

Post-Production
Post-Production Interns will learn about the field’s technology and logistics.  Duties include script analysis, basic editing (Final Cut Pro), and compiling research for executives.  Additional tasks include covering incoming telephone calls, updating department databases, scanning, and filing.

Publicity
Publicity Interns in the busy, fast-paced domestic publicity department will have duties including “breaking” daily press clippings, monitoring Internet coverage, managing and organizing a periodicals library, pitching promotional partners, and overseeing research projects. Candidates should be detail-oriented, motivated, hard-working, and have a desire to learn.

Internships – Mandatory Requirements;

Focus Interns must make a 90-day commitment and receive academic credit for their work. They must commit to at least two full days per week and provide a letter from a four-year accredited college or university stating that they will be receiving credit for their work at Focus Features. Interns must be at least 18 years of age and be a standing sophomore or above. Please note that all Focus Internships are unpaid.

Any Focus Intern candidate should show initiative and be open to learning. Candidates should also be computer-literate, must have in place a reliable way to commute to and from the office, work well in a professional office environment, and – last but not least – have a passion for movies.

Please e-mail your cover letter and resume, specifying the Department that you’re interested in Interning within the subject line, to:

NY.Internships@focusfeatures.com
LA.Internships@focusfeatures.com

You can also apply at http://www.nbcunicareers.com/internships/coasts.shtml