Lilly's Story: Production Internship in Chicago

This is Lilly!

Lilly is a student from North Carolina State University who joined the ArtBound Initiative program and secured an internship at Big Shoulders Digital Video Productions in Chicago. Big Shoulders works with clients around the world through video and audio production, equipment and crew rentals, editing, and more to create custom productions for each job. Read more about her experience below!

Could you describe what your day-to-day looks like?

I had a 10 week internship with Big Shoulders Digital Video Productions in Chicago. Big Shoulders works with clients around the world through video and audio production, equipment and crew rentals, editing, etc. to help create custom productions for each job.

I was originally a production intern – hired to help with the on-set portion of productions – but I ended up working more in pre-production and scheduling. This focus on pre-production meant I was in the office more managing incoming phone calls, organizing emails, making call sheets, helping other employees keep track of each stage of various productions, performing unique tasks to make pre-production easier for others, and shadowing different members of the company.

How do you think this internship will impact your career?

I think this internship has allowed me to become a lot more knowledgeable on the complete path a project takes from initial idea to finished project. I loved being able to see all sides of the process and track the evolution of projects as they went through the different stages of production.

I think this experience and newfound knowledge will make me stand out when applying to entry-level jobs in the entertainment industry. Plus, I was able to make great connections with my co-workers. Everyone there is passionate about the industry, making them great people to keep in touch with and potentially work with again.

How did ArtBound Initiative help you the most?

I think all the prep work I did with ArtBound Initiative made me feel very prepared when starting my internship. I especially valued the one-on-one Zoom calls I was able to have with industry professionals before even starting the interviewing stage of getting an internship. Having real people take the time to talk to me alone made me realize that I am on the right track.

Plus, their encouragement helped me feel as though I could work through any nerves I was facing and truly go for what I want. This was very inspiring and motivating, not just before the internship, but during as well. If there were days where I did not have much to do, thinking about how pivotal internship experience was for them helped remind me to make the most out of the situation.

ArtBound Initiative has helped make getting started in a competitive industry feel a lot less confusing and scary.

Check out her intern takeover video below:

This internship gave me a complete understanding of how a project evolves from idea to final product - and the confidence to stand out in the entertainment industry.

Lilly

Production Internship | Big Shoulders Production

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Interested in the program but don't know where to start? Check your eligibility here!

ArtBound Initiative is a fee-based global internship program for creatives. We prepare students for their careers through an online coaching curriculum and by helping them secure an internship in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Austin, London, Berlin, Melbourne, Sydney, and Virtually. With an expansive network of leading creative companies, our program provides access to creative industries that are notoriously insular.

Read more about ArtBound Initiative Chicago Internships here.

Questions? Contact us at info@artboundinitiative.com