Firelight is two separate organizations with one mission: to support communities of color in front of and behind the camera.
Firelight Media, a non-profit artist support organization, is the premier destination for non-fiction cinema by and about communities of color. Firelight Media produces documentary films, supports filmmakers of color, and cultivates audiences for their work. Firelight Media’s key programs include the Documentary Lab, the Groundwork Regional Lab, and the William Greaves Fund. Firelight Media also produces digital short films series in partnership with public media organizations. To learn more, visit firelightmedia.tv.
Firelight Films is a documentary production company founded by Emmy-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson. Firelight Films productions include the Oscar-nominated Attica for Showtime; Crack: Cocaine, Corruption and Conspiracy for Netflix; and The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution for PBS. Firelight Films has several documentary projects in development and in production that are slated for release in the coming years. To learn more, visit firelightfilms.tv.
It is Firelight’s mission to mentor our interns and give them the skills and experience to be the next generation of film, media, and arts administration professionals. Our internship program will give dedicated and driven participants the opportunity to assist our Firelight Media and Firelight Films teams with a variety of projects depending on their area of interest. Opportunities include the production and development of documentary film projects; graphic design and social video production; fundraising and arts administration, and more.
Interns will be assigned to specific departments with specific assignments, and will be expected to complete short- and long-term projects under the direct supervision of our dedicated staff. Please see the different departments that have openings below:
- Production Interns
- Artist Programs Intern
Overall Intern Tasks and Activities
- Orientation – All interns will be invited to attend a group orientation session to learn about Firelight’s work and meet staff and fellow interns across all departments.
- Weekly Check-ins – Interns will be supported via weekly check-ins with department staff.
- Evaluations – Interns will be provided with a mid-term evaluation as well as a final evaluation from their direct supervisor(s) upon request.
- Lunch and Learn – Interns will participate in a series of lunches/meetings about different topics related to documentary production and arts administration.
- Masterclasses with Stanley Nelson – Interns will be invited to attend a series of Masterclasses with Stanley Nelson and other leading documentary filmmakers to gain insight into the field of documentary filmmaking and humanities scholarship.
Internship Opportunities by Department
Production Interns
Production interns (2) work with staff and crew of Firelight Films on upcoming productions and provide general support for the production company. Interested candidates should email internships@firelightmedia.org with “Firelight Internship – Production” in the subject line.
Production intern tasks include:
- Working closely with the Production Manager to learn the ins and outs of setting up shoots; location scouting, researching crew, ordering supplies, tracking shoot expenses, etc.
- Organizing and backing up project drives – strong media asset management is preferred.
- Working closely with archival producers to research, organize, and log relevant photos, articles, and videos into Filemaker database.
- Opportunity to join as a production assistant on local shoots in NYC (tentative).
- Working alongside Office PA to maintain and organize project deliverables which include transcriptions, cast and crew logs, visual cue sheets, music cue sheets, etc.
- Are invited to attend a dedicated Documentary Filmmaking Masterclass with Stanley Nelson.
Artist Programs Intern
The Artist Programs intern will support the Artists Programs teams in all administrative and logistical efforts supporting the coordinators in tasks related to the Artist Programs fellowships, funds, and shorts programs. They will assist in strengthening, organizing, and updating the databases, and systems in place that keep these programs organized. They’ll also be invited to attend team meetings to take notes and learn about the work across the programs. Interested candidates should email internships@firelightmedia.org with “Firelight Internship – Artist Programs” in the subject line. Duties and Responsibilities
- Assist in updating and creating as needed databases, filmmaker and industry guides, master crew list, and other resources used across artist programs.
- Assist the Coordinator in the planning of the Documentary Lab retreats.
- Assist Coordinators in planning and managing Open Calls.
- Assist in coordinating internal meetings across artist programs.
- Assist teams in outreach and field building research as needed.
- Assist in the creation of program timelines and grant reporting.
Skills and Abilities
- Strong interest in non-profit management
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong research skills
- Strong organizational skills
- Interest and commitment to Firelight’s core tenants of diversity and inclusion
- Experience working with artists or filmmakers preferred.
- Proficient in Google Suite (Sheets, Docs, Slides) and Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and familiarity with platforms such as Salesforce, Submittable, Airtable or similar.
- Interest in artist support, partnership building and the documentary filmmaking industry.
- Experience or interest in related artist support, grants, funds, or program management.
- Discretion when dealing with sensitive issues and information
Program Requirements
Interns are given the option to work two or more full days per week (Mon-Fri), or a minimum of 15 hours per week This is currently an unpaid internship but we can provide academic credit or recommendations based on internship performance.
NOTE: Internships will be conducted remotely, as the majority of Firelight staff work remotely from locations across the U.S. Interns who desire to work occasionally on-site at Firelight’s headquarters in Harlem, NYC, or at special film screenings and events should indicate this in their cover letter.
Next Steps
If you’re interested in learning more about documentary filmmaking and arts administration and gaining hands-on experience, Firelight might be the place for you! Send your cover letter and resume to the contact listed for each department. Please write “Firelight Internship” in the email subject and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. For general inquiries about Firelight’s internship opportunities, please write to internships@firelightmedia.org.