Spring International Film Distribution Internship Successful intern candidates, together with full time staff, will form a team that will work together to perform tasks including, but not limited to the following: 1. Film Market Preparation – Interns will assist in preparing for international film markets and festivals by contacting film sales companies for new project details and preparing reports for international distribution clients. This is a good opportunity to learn about and make contacts in the area of international distribution. 2. Data Entry – A significant part of what we do is data driven so interns will be asked to perform heavy data entry tasks as well as troubleshooting and maintaining our various entertainment related databases and websites. This is a good opportunity to become familiar with the studios, small and mid-sized production companies and box office numbers. 3. Writing - Interns will write script coverage and generate comparables analysis for film scripts for both our client database as well as for potential producing projects. There may also be some presentation creation in word and power point that requires writing and formatting. This is a good opportunity to understand script analysis and aspects of film finance. 4. Research – Many of our projects require significant amounts of research using the internet, hard copy sources and phone inquiries. This is a good opportunity to delve deep into various aspects of film production and distribution. 5. Reception duties – Interns will answer phones, greet clients and guests and perform other clerical tasks. This can be a good opportunity to become familiar with agents and other film finance companies and their employees. Qualifications We are seeking individuals of any race, nationality or gender that meet the following requirements: 1. Personable/positive attitude – we are looking for individuals who are a pleasure to work with and who add to the positive atmosphere of our workplace. 2. Highly motivated/self-starter – we are a small, but active company so candidate should be able to take instruction and then run with a project or task with minimal oversight. 3. Time Commitment - Must be available a minimum of 16 hours per week. Various internship lengths are available. 4. Excellent written & oral skills – many of the required tasks involve writing and communicating effectively with company staff and clients. 5. Microsoft Office Proficient – much of the required tasks involve at least a basic working knowledge of Excel, Word and Power Point. Advanced knowledge of these tools and others such as Photoshop and Visual Basic are a plus. 6. Entertainment Industry or Business Experience – While no prior industry experience is required, it is a strong plus if candidates are currently enrolled in an MFA program with a focus on producing or are an undergraduate Film Studies major. We are equally interested in undergraduate business or MBA candidates with an interest in media & entertainment. 7. Team Oriented – Although the company has been around since 2001 we operate largely as a lean startup with everyone pitching in as a team to get the work done. This means wearing many hats with the reward of learning a lot about various aspects of film production, finance and distribution. 8. Foreign language ability is a plus – Many of our staff and clients are international and multi-lingual.
The 23rd annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) will present Octavia Spencer with the Breakthrough Performance Award.
Presented by Cartier, the Awards Gala will be held Saturday, January 7, at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Hosted by Mary Hart, the Awards Gala will also present awards to previously announced honorees George Clooney, Glenn Close, Michel Hazanavicius and Michelle Williams. The Festival runs January 5-16.
“Octavia Spencer is a consummate actress who seamlessly blends her dramatic and comedic talents, creating performances of uncommon depth,” said Film Festival Chairman Harold Matzner. “As the irascible Minny in The Help, she captures the essence of a woman who deals with life head on, relishing confrontation and serving as a source of courage and humor for those whom she loves. To Octavia Spencer, it is therefore a great honor for the Palm Springs International Film Festival to present the 2011 Breakthrough Performance Award.”
Spencer has most recently been seen starring in Tate Taylor’s The Help. Set in Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960s, The Help chronicles the relationship between three different and extraordinary women who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. Screenplay by Tate Taylor and Kathryn Stockett, based on the critically acclaimed No. 1 New York Times best-selling debut novel by Kathryn Stockett. The DreamWorks Pictures and Participant Media film is directed by Tate Taylor and also stars Emma Stone, Viola Davis and Bryce Dallas Howard.
Spencer’s acting career began with her big screen debut in 1995 in Joel Schumacher’s A Time to Kill, opposite Sandra Bullock. Spencer’s extensive feature film credits include Peep World, Dinner for Schmucks, Small Town Saturday Night, Herpes Boy, Halloween II, The Soloist, Drag Me to Hell, Seven Pounds, Pretty Ugly People, Coach Carter, Charm School, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, Bad Santa, Spiderman, Big Momma’s House, Being John Malkovich and Never Been Kissed. She was recently lauded by Entertainment Weekly online for her comedic timing when she was named to their esteemed list of the “25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood.” Spencer also won Best Supporting Actress from the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association.
Past recipients of the Breakthrough Performance Award include Carey Mulligan, Marion Cotillard, Jennifer Hudson, Mariah Carey, Felicity Huffman and Freida Pinto.
About The Palm Springs International Film Festival
The Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) is one of the largest film festivals in North America, welcoming 130,000 attendees each year for its lineup of new and celebrated international features and documentaries. The Festival is also known for its annual Black Tie Awards Gala, honoring the best achievements of the filmic year by a celebrated list of talents who, in recent years, have included Ben Affleck, Javier Bardem, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Bridges, Danny Boyle, Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood, Colin Firth, Ron Howard, Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, Natalie Portman and Kate Winslet.
The 23rd annual Palm Springs International Film Festival is presented by Title Sponsor, the City of Palm Springs. Renewing and new sponsors, to date, of this year’s Festival include The Desert Sun, Spencer’s Restaurant and KPSP Local 2. Major sponsors include Bank of America, Penfolds, Wells Fargo, Regal Entertainment, Panavision, Chihuly Art Glass, Integrated Wealth Management, Ocean Properties Development, ASI and White-Spark Creative. The Festival’s Awards Gala is presented by Cartier and sponsored by Official Vehicle, Mercedes- Benz.
