Summer 2010 Internship

This is a Part Time Unpaid Internship

We are looking for enthusiastic interns for Summer 2010 from various majors including Business, PR, Marketing, Education, English, and Performance Arts, as well as Filmmaking. An interest in learning about the film, television, and multimedia arts industry is ideal. A general interest in movies and filmmaking is also encouraged.

Students may use the internship to fulfill credit requirements for their particular course of study, if they make the appropriate arrangements with their academic institution. We are always looking for volunteers and recent graduates looking for more experience.

Working Environment and Job Functions:
Interns are immersed in a constant learning environment and are involved in all aspects of the organization from maintaining databases, writing professional letters, to helping organize and implement upcoming projects that Steeltown will sponsor or be involved with. Workflow is fairly consistent and doesn’t leave much room for downtime. Each day is sure to present new challenges and tasks as our organization is still establishing its identity in the Pittsburgh region.

Interns are encouraged to work closely as a team on all projects. This is a great opportunity to learn about and participate in the entertainment industry. In return, you will receive:
• college credit (if applicable)
• invaluable experience
• access to Pittsburgh’s entertainment professionals
• a lifetime of contacts
• the opportunity to participate in intern outings and projects (For example, past interns participated in the “Save the Film Tax Credit Rally” downtown, the “Save the Arts in PA Rally” in Harrisburg, free movies in the park, a trip to Kennywood, ice-skating, and the 48 Hour Film Project)

RESPONSIBILITIES:
While our internships are multidisciplinary and all focus on the operations of a nonprofit, interns will be asked to focus on any one of the following: events planning, marketing, video production, video editing, administrative, grant-writing, website design, mentoring at-risk youth participating in our “Youth and Media” program, and business administration.


Interns with own laptops are preferred but not necessary.

Organizational Overview:
The Steeltown Entertainment Project is a 501c(3) organization was founded in 2003 by Carl Kurlander (screenwriter, St. Elmo's Fire; TV writer/producer Saved by the Bell), Ellen Weiss Kander (a former Wall Street lawyer) and Maxine Lapiduss (TV writer/producer Roseanne, Ellen ) as a way to tap into the talent and expertise of entertainment industry leaders who have strong ties to Southwestern Pennsylvania. Together, they recruited a prestigious board of directors, including Anne Lewis, Audrey Hillman Fisher, Kevin McMahon, Bill Strickland, and Lisa Frankovitch. Their objective was to bring attention to this ''incubation'' phenomenon and to create an organization that would provide a return on the region's investment by helping to convert its creative capital into a regional entertainment industry that would allow it to retain its talent.

What we do:
Steeltown accomplishes its mission by educating emerging talent through specific mentoring experiences and fostering economic development by nurturing and seeding entertainment projects that will provide employment and investment opportunities.

By connecting these local resources and entertainment advisors, Steeltown will help to establish Southwestern Pennsylvania as an ''entertainment greenhouse.'' Such a greenhouse will help to market the region in a unique and powerful way, retain and attract talent, especially young people drawn to this business, and help jump start a dynamic industry that, in success, provides timely returns on investment.

Future of our organization:
As it continues to connect expatriates with the Pittsburgh community, Steeltown has launched the Steeltown Film Factory in Fall of 2009 which would ultimately lead to the creation of three short films about Pittsburgh mentored by expatriates in collaboration with the finest of this region's emerging talent.