How to Find Work Experience in Media, TV & Film

Calling all future filmmakers, media moguls and Spielberg successors – this one’s for you. Ever wondered what it would be like to call the shots on a bustling set? Or what happens behind the scenes to make memorable TV scenes come to life?

Work experience placements in media, TV and film are designed to answer these questions and more. Although it’s really tricky to get your foot in the door of this industry due to high competition, there are loads of opportunities out there to make your Hollywood dream come true. 

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What will you learn throughout work experience in media, TV & film?

80s movies will make you believe that internships are all about making coffee for the big cheeses. The reality of the industry is very different – a work experience placement in media, TV and film helps you explore this potential career path in a hands-on environment. You could learn things like:

• Behind-the-scenes stuff: How a set works and what different people do. 
• Tech skills: Maybe you’ll get to play with cameras, sound equipment or even learn some basic editing software.
• Creative skills: Brainstorming ideas, writing scripts, storyboarding, conducting audience research or even helping with casting calls.
• Communication skills: You’ll be surprised how much teamwork and effort goes into making a short TV show. You’ll learn how to work in a team and deal with feedback. 
• Networking: Meeting professionals in the industry who could be future mentors or even employers. Making connections is a HUGE deal.

Having work experience on your CV makes you stand out from the crowd when you apply for college, uni, jobs and apprenticeships. It shows you’re passionate and have real-world experience so you can hit the ground running.  

The hottest placements on the market right now

ITV

Have you been watching Love Island this year? If so, you’ll be familiar with ITV’s striking yellow logo and intuitive app. This work experience placement gives you the inside scoop on how TV programmes are produced, including masterclasses with senior programme makers and first-hand behind-the-scenes experience. 

BBC 

The BBC is a classic staple of British television. They host ‘GET IN’ Taster Days throughout the year designed for 16-18-year-olds, although there are a few sessions for those aged 18+. These are full-day sessions located at various sites across the UK. There’s more – the Taster Days also give you need-to-know info about applying for the BBC’s apprenticeship schemes, so don’t miss out!

Channel 4

Channel 4 recently re-launched their Virtual Work Experience Platform, open to anyone aged 14 and over. The platform offers self-guided tasks to help you understand what really goes on behind the scenes in the world of UK TV. In the meantime, you can check out the 4Skills YouTube channel for more info on apprenticeship opportunities. 

NBCUniversal

Yep, we’re talking about the NBC: the American TV network. There are over 90 available spots on the 12-month paid internship, based at the London and Belfast offices. You’ll find internships in a range of fields, including TV programming, production operations and audience development. 

Sony Pictures

Fancy a year-long placement at Sony Pictures’ London office? You could apply for work experience in casting, post-production, film marketing and more. Keep in mind that the Sony Pictures internships include full-time hours, and positions open 4-6 months before the start date. Set your alarms!

Now for the crazy ones…

Hey, there’s nothin’ wrong with dreaming. While the UK-based media, film and TV work experience placements above are super accessible, there’s no harm in setting your sights further afield. Of course, Hollywood is the home of film and TV, and there are loads of super exciting opportunities across the pond. Stick these on your vision board:

• Lucasfilm (Disney Careers): If you’re 18+, why not hop on a plane to San Francisco and apply for one of Lucasfilm’s summer internships?
• Pixar: Pixar has loads of 12-week, US-based summer internships, from animation to technical direction and production management. 
• Netflix: 12-week summer internships at Netflix are hard to come by. They’re available for Stateside university students, and the interview process is tough to boot.  

10 exciting career paths in media, TV & film

There’s more to media than just being a big movie star. Let’s look at 10 other inspiring career paths in a nutshell. 

1. Film director: A creative leader who oversees all aspects of a film’s production, from casting to cinematography.
2. Screenwriter: Wields their pen to craft compelling stories and scripts for movies and TV shows.
3. Cinematographer: The director of photography responsible for a production’s visual look and feel.
4. Television producer: Manages the production of TV shows, ensuring they are on time and stick to the budget.
5. Animator: Creates cool moving images for cartoons, films and video games.
6. Film editor: Assembles the footage into a cohesive and engaging final product. 
7. Sound engineer: In charge of the music and audio elements, which enhance the storytelling. 
8. Broadcast journalist: Researches, writes and presents news stories on television or radio. Kinda like a news presenter. 
9. Camera operator: Captures footage using professional camera equipment.
10. CGI technician: Someone who works on various aspects of CGI, including 3D modelling, animation, texturing and lighting.

Fancy something more long-term?

One thing that’s common among all the media, TV, and film work experience we discussed is that the opportunities are fairly short-term. Most last a few months, maximum. 

If you’re looking for a longer-term, consistent opportunity, why not turn your attention to an apprenticeship? You’ll get the same creative spark and job satisfaction, with the additional stability of a well-paid course lasting a few years. Plus, an apprenticeship gives you something that work experience can’t: highly recognised and valuable qualifications.  

Search media and journalism apprenticeships today to see what’s out there.