Documentary Research/Production Internship

A small production company with offices in Middletown, Connecticut, The Film Posse’s work reaches audiences across the globe. We have produced films for the PBS series American Experience, NOVA, American Masters and Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?, among others Our first independently produced documentary, Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart, about the late artist/activist Lorraine Hansberry best known for writing A Raisin in the Sun, premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival; debuted on television opening the 32nd season of the PBS series American Masters; and won numerous awards, including a 2018 Peabody Award.

The Film Posse’s internship program gives college and university students learning experiences that extend knowledge they've gained in academic coursework in various disciplines. Each semester-long position allows students to obtain and develop skills that can be used in other industry positions and translate well in other business and academic settings.

Interns at The Film Posse are supervised by associate producers and production assistants as well as by principals—award-winning filmmakers Tracy Heather Strain and Randall MacLowry. Strain, an American Studies graduate of Wellesley College and a Technology, Innovation and Education EdM graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, currently also serves as Associate Professor in Film Studies and Associate Director of the College of Film and Moving Image at Wesleyan University. MacLowry studied film at Wesleyan University under the esteemed film scholar Jeanine Basinger, and has returned to campus as an Assistant Professor of the Practice in Film Studies.

During the course of the internship, which is typically 12-weeks during the fall and spring semesters as well as shorter sessions in the summer, students will learn how non-fiction projects and documentary features are researched, developed, produced, promoted and distributed. Each student is responsible for completing an internship curriculum that includes readings and film screenings to supplement project assignments. Depending on the phase of the projects, by the end of the internship most students will experience how professionals:

During the Spring 2022 semester, interns will assist on three potential projects that are in the development phase and the main focus of the internship for each will be research. Two of the films are independent documentaries and one is a commissioned program for American Experience. All are historically-focused films.

We seek responsible, versatile and resourceful students for our internship program. Candidates must be detail-oriented with strong interpersonal, organizational, analytical, writing and research skills. Requirements include the ability to conduct research in libraries, on the telephone and using the Internet and a basic knowledge of Macintosh computers and word processing software. A familiarity with FileMaker Pro database software, Adobe Photoshop and/or Avid Media Composer is considered a plus. For one project, the ability to swim will be helpful.

The program is designed for students who can make at least an 8-hour a week commitment; hours are flexible. This is a non-paid internship. We prefer that the internship be completed for academic credit, but it is not required.