CI Internship Portfolio

SCHOOL OF CREATIVE INDUSTRIES INTERNSHIP PORTFOLIO

2017 - 2023

Sales Intern, AZURE Magazine

Can you tell us a bit about what you do as a Sales Intern at AZURE?

I learned AZURE’s systems and processes, supported the CEO, provided general administrative support, arranged meetings and followed up with key clients. I also updated client communications, attended client meetings, and pitched new AZURE and Designlines issues to clients.

What did you like best about your internship? Being accepted as an equal part of the AZURE team and being hired on a paid contract following my internship! Also, it was great to work with other interns from Creative Industries who have become some of the closest friends of mine.

What surprised you most about your experience? The most surprising element of my internship experience was the amount of trust placed in interns and the fact that as interns we were treated as part of the workforce. I had heard horror stories of internships and I simply had nothing but positive experiences during my time at AZURE. I found myself wishing I could continue to work for the company once my required internship hours were completed. My time here has been a dream come true, really.

How has what you’ve learned in Creative Industries helped you in your role?

I found the CRI-specific courses were entirely useful, as they prepared me for the workforce and taught me about the industry. These courses broadened my understanding of the creative industries as a whole and helped me gauge how to approach my work in the creative sector.

Alyssa Kissondath Class of 2023

Nicole Finelli Class of 2017

How is your internship with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment enhancing your education?

In the Global Partnership Department at MLSE, I am able to meet a plethora of different professionals. The connections I foster with different people every day have been helpful to my growth as a young professional in the field. This internship has opened my eyes to the creative planning stages of projects. I also sit in on very informative and influential meetings at MLSE, which give me insight and knowledge of business and creative processes related to campaigns for our sports teams.

Global Partnerships Intern, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment

What about Creative Industries is most interesting to you?

The program has done an outstanding job of providing lectures from professionals in the industry. This has given me the opportunity to expand my network and build new connections with credible, experienced individuals that can offer guidance in the field. Through the various business courses offered in this program, I have been able to develop skills in finance, marketing, and different stages in the start-up of a company. These are practical skills that allow me to understand the business side of any company and how it operates to create profit and thrive on its success.

Assist in the development of sales materials

Provide creative expertise for a variety of design projects

Assist with various graphic content using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator

Support sales team through research (industry best practices, sourcing prospective marketing partners, sharing client news, etc.)

Joshua Warriner Class of 2023

Tell us a bit about what your internship entailed. What kind of work did you do?

I assisted the promotions department with email blasts, radio charts, and streaming statistics by updating various charts weekly. I also maintained tour date tracking and took meeting minutes.

What did you like best about your internship?

Promotion Intern, Universal Music

I liked having the opportunity to gain real experience within the music industry and create invaluable connections. I was surprised by how welcoming and friendly everyone at UMC was and how willing everyone was to answer questions, and their effort to get me involved. I did not expect the company to be as welcoming as they were—I was quickly made to feel part of the team.

What are some of the things you learned working with Universal? What are some of your takeaways from this experience?

I believe my success in this internship came from my hands-on experience in the music industry. Every task I undertook in this internship was new to me, so each one was a learning experience. I learned how to use a wide variety of music distribution, tracking, and organizational programs that I had never worked with in the past.

My takeaways from this experience are: I work best in a collegial atmosphere, I cannot work in any other industry, I have a great admiration for Universal Music.

Kaitlyn Mitchell Class of 2023

Tell us about Warner Chappell Music. There is a lot of administrative work when it comes to music publishing. WCM is a music publishing group, so we provide the royalties to the songwriters and composers for each musical piece. Warner Chappell solves the stress of going through each organization for streaming and royalties (such as SOCAN, BMI, and ASCAP for the songwriters and composers and we send them the royalties directly through our software called Tango (WCM Music Publishing). This makes Warner Chappell attractive for songwriters and composers looking for representation.

Music Publishing Intern, Warner Chappell Music Canada

What kind of work did you do there?

I updated charts with WCM’s songwriters, claimed royalties for writers, and sorted and organized files.

Can you describe something you learned this summer that surprised you?

The people that I was working with were very lovely and supportive. And I was given opportunities to attend many events and concerts. I was surprised that the work was all Excel spreadsheet-based or physical sorting of documents.

How has what you learned in Creative Industries helped you in your role?

The courses involving copyright, business of music, and the digital media and music program with Liam Killeen in the summer were all extremely beneficial. My knowledge of Excel, learned in CRI 460: Financial Management for Creatives, was also really helpful.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Part-time, paid

TYPICAL TASKS

Review legal documents

Sort and organize files

Claim royalties for our writers

Web-based research for A&R, Synch and social media purposes

Draft communications with publishing affiliates, rights organizations, writers and co-publishers

Compile data and information from multiple sources and condense into reports and spreadsheets

Assist in seeking copyright information and other data to complete works registrations and resolve discrepancies

General administrative tasks

Tanya Chowdhury, Class of 2018

Can you tell us a bit about some of the projects you’ve worked on at Media One Creative?

I work on photography shoots, then create these photobooks that we then deliver to the clients. I also help out with our social media playbook and am actually creating the branding guidelines for the company. Creating the branding guidelines is really cool, especially because I’m going to get to take a copy with me and use it for my portfolio. I can’t wait to do that because having that name behind you makes you so much more credible. I can say, “Look, I’ve actually done this!”

Sales & Marketing Intern, Media One Creative

What was it like to get a project like that so quickly?

Being given the trust to create something that the company is going to follow even after I’m gone is exciting. It’s a step up from what I expected and it’s put everything I’ve been learning over the past few years into perspective through a real life example.

Do you find yourself using things you’ve learned in school at your job?

Creative Industries kind of makes you a jack of all trades, which comes in handy at the most random times. I know random things like IP law, how to find royalty-free music, or mini hacks of how to easily use Photoshop. I’ll often be working on a problem at work and thinking to myself, “Oh yeah, I learned about this in school!”

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Full-time with honorarium

TYPICAL TASKS

Create photobooks

Develop brand guidelines

Conduct market research

Manage in-house client experience

Create marketing assets

Create and schedule content for Hootsuite and social media posts

Develop structures for email campaigns

Contribute to brainstorms for client pitches

Assist the Sales Manager and Sales & Marketing Coordinator with day-to-day tasks

Raven Wilkinson Class of 2017

Tell us a bit about what On Q does. On Q is a communications company. The organization’s services include marketing communications, media relations, and social media. Within these categories, they provide content creation, influencer outreach, community management, media training, digital advertising and much more. To do this, the team immerses itself in their clients’ worlds, understands the company, story and target markets, and makes the brand stand out in the most unique way.

What did you like about this company?

Social Media Content Creator & Media Relations Assistant, On Q Communications

I think the company is really good at making genuine connections with existing and potential clients. The team is so passionate about their work, that they truly want to create the most success for the people they work with. Another strength is their creativity. The team always looks for new and unique ways to stand out in the media and “go viral.” Brainstorming and ideation is very important to them, and I think assessing all options, no matter how crazy or big is always best for finalizing and going with an innovative idea.

What surprised you most about this experience? Although I had a good feeling about the internship, I was most surprised about how respectful and open everyone is. I had a negative experience working with a team in the past, so this was a very refreshing and positive change. The team welcomes new ideas, we work together, and everyone wants the company and each other to succeed. I am able to try a lot of different tasks and have a variety of responsibilities, and I have really gotten a good glimpse of what the PR industry is like. I am very thankful to have gotten an internship at On Q, and I am so happy that it exceeded my expectations.

How did you use your education in your internship?

I used my knowledge of media relations, blog writing, email writing, and my ability to brainstorm and problem solve during my internship. I used my communications classes to create graphics, my fashion promotion class for external outreach, and my project management class to prepare Gantt charts.

Stephanie Francisco Class of 2018

What’s it like in the marketing department of CTV and Bell Media?

It’s a lot of fun! I’m focused on social media, so I post a lot of show clips on websites, monitor their social media accounts, and do some live tweeting during shows. I also work with the design team who create promotional videos and graphics that I caption and put online. I have a lot of creative freedom around what we post, which is nice. I’m also constantly making GIFs with Photoshop, which I luckily took a class on at TMU!

Are you enjoying your work as an intern?

Social Media & Marketing Intern, CTV/Bell Media

I didn’t think I would like my internship as much as I do, especially because it’s a 9-5 job in an office. But I’ve really enjoyed it, I’ve been able to take on more responsibility, and I’ve learned a lot about social media from my coordinator. I could definitely see myself in a similar role after graduation, maybe at Bell. My favourite part of the job is live tweeting, which we did a lot of during Amazing Race Canada. It’s awesome to interact with the fans and a lot of people retweeted our stuff and replied back, which was cool.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Part-time, unpaid

TYPICAL TASKS

Provide support for traditional, events, digital and social media marketing

Write content, collect assets and assist with the development of editorial and production calendars

Live tweet coverage of shows and events

Post catch-up episodes, video clips, respond to questions on social media

Collect and compile stats

for multiplatform campaign reporting Assist with preparing frequent reports using Facebook Insights, Twitter Analytics, Google Analytics, Hootsuite and Sysomos

Proofread marketing assets

Brandon Ross Class of 2023 Communications Intern, Universal Music

Tell us a bit about what your internship entailed. What kind of work did you do?

I conducted press scans, wrote press releases, built media lists, and on some days did promo events with artists or attended events. At the beginning of my internship I asked a lot of questions and got a lot of guidance from my supervisor. For the first few weeks, I was doing purely administrative duties. Once I learned those tasks, I was able to expand and learn more complex duties (promo days, press release writing, building an international pitch list, etc). Along the way, I had direct meetings with publicists, and garnered a lot of hands on, strong mentoring by listening and learning from them.

What did you like best about your internship?

I really enjoyed the people, company culture, and the overall industry. I was able to sit in on artist live performances, attend concerts, be part of social initiatives and more. There were many social events and people would hang out on the patio during work at lunch, so it was easy to meet new people on different teams. Everyone mingled and I found myself talking and joking quite a bit with very senior colleagues. I was surprised and excited to meet and work with some of my favourite artists!

How has what you learned in Creative Industries helped you in your role?

I gained an understanding of publicity during a PR course through my communications module, and learned more marketing/media efforts in my media business courses. I also used the skills I had developed in WordPress website building, collaborating with teams on projects, and writingrelated work.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Full-time, paid

TYPICAL TASKS

PR writing

Conduct daily press scans WordPress & MailChimp uploading and edits

Build international pitch list Assist publicists with various tasks

Amelia Bennett Class of 2023

Tell us a bit about what your internship entailed. What kind of work did you do?

I assisted in communication and outreach work for the Planet in Focus annual film festival, which takes place in October. This included sending outreach emails and researching potential sponsors, universities and advertising networks for promotion. The work varied from day to day, but these were the most common tasks I worked on. Overall, I learned a lot about cold emailing and general email etiquette, which has been really helpful. I also think I have become more detailed and organized when collecting information as this was a major aspect of my job.

Production & Partnership Coordinator, Planet in Focus

What did you like best about your internship? What surprised you most about your experience? The working environment was fun and casual, and it was great to get to know my supervisors as well as the other co-op student, Dalton, in a professional and personal way. The work was also in person and the office was located in Chinatown, which I liked. I never knew how integral film is to Toronto’s creative sector. This internship opened my eyes to the many film festivals that happen in Toronto. I have a new respect for all the labour and love that goes into fully producing a successful festival. For example, I had no idea that paid and unpaid ad listings were a common way to promote events.

How has what you learned in Creative Industries helped you in your role?

I think my education has been most helpful in my writing and time management skills as it pertains to this job.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Part-time, unpaid

TYPICAL TASKS

Draft outreach emails

Organize data Research companies that could be potential sponsors

Research advertising networks (ex: community calendars, local newspapers) for opportunities to promote the event

Alexandra Tushingham Class of 2018

Can you tell us a bit about Media One Creative and your role there?

Media One Creative is a video agency and production house, so we work with a lot of cool companies on their video and marketing projects. We’ve worked with a wide range of brands from Budweiser to Tim Horton’s and Microsoft. As an Assistant Project Coordinator I’m in charge of a lot of the organization and administrative work that goes into these projects, and I also help out with shoots sometimes. I worked on a Nike and Blue Jays shoot so that was pretty cool!

Assistant Project Coordinator, Media One Creative

What have you learned during your time there?

I learned I love working at a small company. We have about 8-10 full time employees and I know I want to find something like this after school. Media One Creative has a strong TMU connection. A Creative Industries grad who interned here last year is now working here full time in marketing and sales. It’s interesting to see that advancement, using his final years to shape his learning for that role.

Was applying for the internship tough?

The staff at Creative Industries were very helpful. I went to workshops on cover letters and resumes, and they have a job board that lists all the different internships for us, which we could then apply for. I got great feedback and I was able to find this pretty smoothly.

Laura Macmullin Class of 2017

How did you get your internship with Arts & Crafts? Why did you want to intern there?

I applied and interviewed for it! So many artists represented by Arts & Crafts have been favorites of mine for a long time, and it’s a very admirable and important Canadian music company.

Why did you choose Creative Industries?

Artist Management Intern, Arts & Crafts

I hadn’t seen anything like the Creative Industries program and was enticed by the idea of studying the things that I’m passionate about, such as music and film, while also learning about how the industries, as a whole, are changing. I grew up in a pretty small town, and knew for a long time I wanted to experience life in a major city. Moving to Toronto has really helped to define my personality and goals.

Outside of your internship experience, tell us about your experience in the program. I’ve definitely learned to define my work ethic and develop a process for being productive. Creative Industries requires me to think critically about creative work and encourages me to strive for innovation in my assignments. I’ve always tried to choose courses, even my electives, based on what will complement my academic interests but also reflect the work I do in my mandatory courses. I’ve found that because of this, Creative Industries has taught me a lot about my own tastes.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Part-time, unpaid

TYPICAL TASKS

Manage and arrange tour logistics and tour book organization

Oversee sales, tracking, distribution and shipping of artist merchandise

Support the writing and submission of grant applications and closures: Starmaker, FACTOR, OMF, MUCHFact, SOCAN Foundation, and PAC

Oversee SOCAN Monthly submission

Create and distribute press kits

Manage social media and artist websites

Conduct audit of sales

Cindy Tang Class of 2018

Holt Renfrew has given you a kind of custom work experience—can you tell us about that?

Omni Channel Intern, Holt Renfrew

I work in the ecommerce department for three days, and for the other two I’m at the studio that’s in the Holt Renfrew store, shadowing under a stylist and assisting them with product photoshoots. My internship is geared to a huge project that Holt Renfrew is doing right now, which is an app for their sales associates. It will have product catalogues so they can see where the products are in stock, a customer history, and some communications tools in it. In my role, I help get the products and style them for the shoot, then integrate the photos into the platform. Holt Renfrew is giving tech to their associates to help them make customers feel more comfortable. This is very unique.

Can you describe something you learned this summer that surprised you?

How technical fashion can be! School and media can glamourize the process into something akin to art, but in reality, fashion is a lot of hard work and technical processes, especially in retail environments.

Full

TYPICAL

Update product information for the upcoming retail mobile app for their sales associates

Help pull and prepare merchandise for photoshoots

Choose/scout possible products to use in future shoots

Connect with vendors about product information

Follow up with vendors about providing assets to Holt Renfrew’s catalogue

Ciara Heath Class of 2023

Tell us a bit about what your internship entailed. What kind of work did you do?

Web Content Intern, AZURE Magazine

In this internship I curated and updated the listings sections of the website (jobs, events, competitions, spec sheets) including the creation of sponsored posts. I independently managed four social media platforms—Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest—posting both editorial content and social media campaigns. I created and managed the schedule for Spec Sheets Instagram campaigns. And I used Google Analytics, Later and other tools to prepare performance reports for sponsored articles, Spec Sheets and social media packages, as well as monthly website and social media analytics reporting for both AZURE and Designlines.

Can you describe something you learned this summer that surprised you?

I loved being in the office and really being part of a team. The best part, however, was definitely having other Creative Industries interns there. It made me excited to go to work every day and share this experience with them. What surprised me was being entrusted with such significant tasks as a new employee. From my first day they wanted me to contribute to major projects.

Which CI courses were useful during your internship?

CRI 300: Digital Design Studio was vital as I used Adobe Suite a fair amount. GCM 720: Magazine Production and Publishing was perhaps the most useful as I had an idea of common terms in the publishing world and things to remember for layout.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Full-time with honorarium

TYPICAL

TASKS

Contribute to SEO projects

Assist with image editing for online publishing

Post on social media platforms, develop content strategies, prepare analytics reports

Curate content for the listings portion of the website

Research and write blog stories for publication

Upload content to websites

Assist with print and digital magazine tasks

Client emails

Spencer Read Class of 2018 Community Engagement Coordinator, Toronto Arts Foundation

Your internship has you out in the community. Can you tell us about that?

I’m working on the Arts in the Parks initiative, which brings different artistic presentations and performances to parks around Toronto. I’m working with the North York team, representing the Foundation at the events, organizing logistics and volunteers for the day, and making sure people attending know what the program is about and when the next events will be.

I’m also doing research on North York as an area, to find spaces and times to engage with the community and speak to them about the Arts in the Parks program. I speak with as many people as I can, whether it’s individual citizens who are engaged and respected in the community, cultural and community centres, or parks groups.

Has it been a good experience so far?

I like that I can try different things to see what I like. I’m definitely enjoying it quite a bit. Working in a professional environment like this has been very beneficial, learning about the culture in the office and how people work. It’s nice too because the group work in our school projects is similar to what I’m doing here. And I know I’ll receive a good reference on my resume that people will recognize.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Full-time, paid

TYPICAL TASKS

Conduct research around contacts/events pertaining to specific areas in the City

Assist with event preparation

Attend events (communityrelated and hosted by the organization)

Conduct one-on-one and group outreach

Present information about the program to public Coordinate volunteers

Problem-solve and troubleshoot any issues at events

Represent Arts in the Parks

Smiksha Singla Class of 2023

Can you tell us a bit about what you did at TikTok? I reviewed in-app content, contributed to ideation, helped guide content strategy, and collaborated with a variety of cross-functional teams including Content Programming, Partnerships, Marketing, and Product to help improve users’ content experience. I also built over ten microsites for various occasions, for example, Pride, National Indigenous History Month, OVO (Drake concert), Book Tok, etc.

Was there anything you learned this summer that surprised you?

Content Programming Editorial Intern, TikTok Canada

I liked how validated it made me feel about my program. I’ve been working really hard for the past 3 years so it was a great reward for me! I also liked that it showed me the value of creatives in the tech field. I was surprised at how hands-on entertainment tech is and how much of what you see on the app is done by people who work on the app. This internship proved that creatives are needed in tech companies!

How did you use your education in your internship? Business and marketing courses were useful; they helped me understand numbers and not be afraid of terms and number-heavy spreadsheets. Most of my courses have helped me gain confidence to speak my mind. FCD 817: Live Events Supercourse (Mass Exodus) helped me build my resume and add commendable skills to my resume. CRI 400: Entrepreneurship in Creative Industries helped me understand and make a road map for my ideal internship.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Full-time, paid

TYPICAL TASKS

Owning and managing programming master calendars for US and Canada

Making banners for trending sounds, filters, and hashtags

Conducting data analysis for trending sounds and filters

Building microsites for various occasions (eg. Pride, National Indigenous History Month, OVO Drake concert, Book Tok, etc.)

Daniel Goldman Class of 2023

What kind of work did you do at Elevation Pictures?

I assisted in the coordination and development of national publicity strategies for the theatrical releases of independent titles such as “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On”, and various TIFF 2022 selections. I also researched, contacted and worked with national partners/influencers to develop audiences for early promotional screenings, compiled and shared press clippings internally. And I had the opportunity to sit in on and contribute to publicity strategy meetings ensuring coverage for national print/broadcast media and reviews across Canada.

Promotions & Publicity Intern, Elevation Pictures

What did you like best about your internship?

I loved the vibe and energy of Elevation, not to mention, the amazing work they do. I learned so much about the intricacies of film distribution, and all the work that gets done to get a film to market. I so enjoyed being in the office and learning from osmosis.

What surprised you most about this experience?

I was surprised at how casual and laid-back my workplace was. I often felt I was the most dressed up in the office! They have a cordial, fun, relaxed style and everyone gets along - it was lovely. Overall, this was one of the most useful parts of my degree. I gained a lot from finally being able to put the theories that we had learned into practice, and deeply enjoyed being in a workplace and putting my practical knowledge to work.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Part-time, unpaid

TYPICAL TASKS

Attended/contributed to publicity strategy meetings to ensure coverage for national print/broadcast media and reviews across Canada

Researched and worked with national partners/influencers to develop audiences for early promotional screenings

Assisted in the coordination and development of national publicity strategies for the theatrical releases of independent titles and various TIFF selections

Compiled press clippings

Rebecca Zala Class of 2018

Can you tell us a bit about DHX Media and what you’re doing there?

DHX Media is a big, multifaceted media company and they do everything from development to production, licensing, branding, distribution and broadcasting. In the Development Department I review lots of concept pitches for children’s TV. I’m also creating a database of writers that we can work with in the future and a competitive analysis of all the children’s shows coming out in the next few years. And I’m archiving new Degrassi episodes for their website!

What did you like best about this experience?

Development Intern, DHX Media

Learning the ins and outs of how TV is made, firsthand! And getting to see confidential info like scripts, designs, and TV pitches.One of the most exciting things happened in my second week when I got to go to a voice actor audition where a lot of big child actors were auditioning. From my work I knew these people were on pretty major preschool shows like Paw Patrol and Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood.

Have you always wanted to work in children’s television?

At TMU, I took a children’s programming class, and that’s what started to pull me here. I also realized I want some value to my job, and being in charge of what’s going into children’s homes across the country is one of the most important jobs I can think of.

How have you used your education in your internship? Are there any courses that were particularly helpful?

CRI 400: Entrepreneurship in Creative Industries, CRI 540: Marketing in the Creative Industries, CRI 200: IP Issues in the Digital Age, and my RTA classes were all very helpful. DHX is a multifaceted business and it was important for me to understand the significance of strong branding, copyright law, and what makes good content in order to do my duties as an intern.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Part-time with honorarium

TYPICAL TASKS

Review concept pitches

Archive television episodes

Update websites

Write response letters for TV show pitches

Create database of all current and upcoming kids’ shows and films

Update database of children’s writers and genres/agents

Attend auditions

Attend development meetings

Create TV show pitch summaries/loglines

Christine Pham Class of 2018

What kind of work are you doing at Warner Music Canada?

I’m a Digital Sales Intern and part of my job is to populate Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer with playlists. We have curators creating playlists and it’s my job to make sure they get up on these streaming services each week, especially on Fridays when a lot of new music comes out. I’m also running some of their social media accounts, specifically the Topsify brand which is a collection of playlists on Spotify.

Have you learned a lot about the music industry through your internship?

Digital Sales Intern, Warner Music Canada

I’m starting to understand how number driven the industry is. I didn’t know what that actually looked like until I got to Warner. To drive consumption, there’s a formula you need to follow, which is interesting. I’ve been learning what are the best times and how to best phrase things to get the most engagement on social posts. The value of this internship is as much the learning as it is meeting people. Putting yourself out there in a large company like Warner can be kind of intimidating, but I’m really trying to meet people here. I love music, and I see myself in it after graduation.

What are some takeaways or insights you’ve gained from this experience?

Here are three takeaways. 1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; when in doubt, reach out. 2. Always make a strong effort to maintain a good work ethic and high standards. Show up on time, be nice to everyone, approach every task with enthusiasm. 3. The music industry is a very fast-paced environment. Help yourself and others by delivering your work on time, and make sure the quality is there. You can ask for help if completing tasks alone becomes difficult.

Dalton Kroeker Class of 2023

Tell us a bit about what your internship entailed. What kind of work did you do?

My internship involved helping with administrative duties at the Planet in Focus office and liaising between the festival and third parties.

Programming Coordinator, Planet in Focus

What did you like best about your internship? What surprised you most about your experience? I liked the physical space that I worked in, which was a beautiful old building in Chinatown, with great natural lighting and comfortable communal spaces. It was walking distance to a park and the AGO, where I could go on breaks. What surprised me most about this experience was how working quickly became normal and not anxiety-inducing. It took me a long time to start applying to placements because I didn’t have the confidence and was anxious about entering a professional environment. However, after a few weeks the experience became like any of my past part-time work experiences and I no longer felt stressed about coming into work.

How has what you learned in Creative Industries helped you in your role?

Something that CRI gave me that was beneficial for my internship role was the language to communicate in a professional setting. All of my jobs in the past have been service oriented, but throughout my academic career I have become used to communicating both virtually and in real life with working professionals. If I did not have this past experience I would have been very nervous and ill-prepared for how to approach emailing and interpersonal conversations in a formal setting. One course that I used a lot in my internship was CRI300: Digital Design Studio.

INTERNSHIP

Part-time,

TYPICAL

Daniel Mitchell Class of 2018

Why did you choose to work at The Marilyn Denis Show? Can you describe your role?

Production Intern, Bell Media: The Marilyn Denis Show

A few years ago I was in the audience for the show and thought it might be a fun place to work. I’ve had an amazing experience here. Throughout my time, I’ve had the opportunity to try so many different things. My main role is dealing with the audience — putting out calls, organizing members on the day of the show, and organizing audience prizing. I did a lot of segment research for different parts of the show and got to go on some field trips for different shoots. I also sat in on pitch meetings, so I experienced what it’s like building the show segment, watching everyone go around the room and pitch their creative ideas. I’ve really liked all of it.

Has this internship benefited you professionally? Definitely. This internship was really about getting real life experience. I was exposed to so many positions and parts of television. I’ve seen the specific day-to-day jobs of writers, segment producers, set designers and more. Having the Bell name on your resume is also really valuable. As a result of this internship, my verbal communication has become more refined from speaking professionally to audience members daily, in person and over the phone. I’ve learned how to work effectively with others in a professional work environment. Overall, I’m a lot more confident as a person now.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Part-time, unpaid

TYPICAL TASKS

Assist with live broadcasts and all areas of production

Research segment pieces

Assist with audience load-in

Attend field shoots

Manage props

Update databases

Organize prizes

Develop and pitch fresh segment ideas

Communicate with audience, guests and producers

Julia

Landolfini

Class of 2023

What kind of work did you do at AZURE?

I had a hand in all things content related - editing and creating content, managing social media platforms, updating the website and writing blogs. Client outreach, scheduling and creating Spec Sheets listings for client submissions was a big part of the role. I also had the opportunity to interview local designers and business owners for blog content!

What did you like best about your internship?

Content Production Intern, AZURE Magazine

The amount of hands-on experience. I was given tasks that I didn’t think I was capable of doing only to find out they were not as hard as I thought. I realized I’m able to take on larger tasks with little guidance, which has been very rewarding. My resume and network have grown considerably through this internship.

What surprised you most about this experience?

I was surprised at how much trust they put into me as an intern with their brand, as well as how much they care about my learning experience. I was given large tasks to manage on my own, such as writing for the print issue and having my name credited in the web and print publications. While I expected to be given mundane tasks simply to get the experience of a working environment, I truly felt a part of the company and that I contributed to the overall work output.

INTERNSHIP

Full-time with honorarium

TYPICAL TASKS

Research current design events, competitions, jobs openings globally and update calendar

Create Spec Sheets listings for client submissions

Document website, social media and Spec Sheets analytics

Client outreach

Interview local designers and business owners to use for blog content

Write design-related blog posts Format images for web

Elaina Pawelka Class of 2018

What’s your role at Artscape?

Communications & Promotional Intern, Artscape Youngplace

Technically I handle our website, social media accounts, blogs, newsletters and flyers, and I also deal with client and customer service. Often these things go together, so when we get a new exhibition coming in I work with the client to make promote it across our channels and get people to come. However, Artscape as an organization is very horizontal and we all wear many hats. When something needs to get done the whole team works together, so I’ve worked on a bunch of different random projects, which I love. One minute I might be working the back end of our website, then the next I’ll be learning how to build a contract and helping a client set up their space.

Why did you choose to apply to Artscape?

I had my eye on Artscape after I went to an exhibition at Youngplace. When I saw the exhibition wasn’t just in a gallery but sprawling across rooms and floors, and people were bustling all around, I realized how incredible this building is. Seeing people from all walks of life appreciating it is amazing, and it makes interacting with art not as intimidating. I was lucky to get this position because I really wanted it and didn’t apply to many other places!

We do a lot of arts programming, from children’s arts summer camp to hosting artists in our hallway galleries. We also have studios people can rent out for anything — from a conference to a studio to a fitness class.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Part-time with honorarium

TYPICAL TASKS

Respond to clients, renters, general inquiries via phone, email and in person

Update website and blog

Design building flyers for events, exhibitions and programs

Assist with social media channels

Create and distribute bi-weekly e-mails regarding the internal calendar

Administrative duties

Research and write new content for blog

Nicholas Navarro Class of 2018

How did you get in the door at UTA?

Once I got an interview with UTA it went really smoothly from there. I told them I was interested in the legal and business side of music, which they’re really known for.

What does it mean to be on the law side of music there?

Administrative Intern, United Talent Agency

I’m working on the legal side of the deal when bands are working with promoters to play shows. I’m the guy who makes sure everyone understands how much tickets are, how much the band will charge for merch, stuff like that. I also have to track payments, ensure contact info is correct, research artists, venues and promoters... a lot of different stuff. I’m specifically focused on indie and alternative bands in Ontario, working with agents booking campus and private shows. I’ve got to work with really big acts as well, which was cool.

How have you used your education in your internship?

RTA 927 and 937: Business of Music I and II were essential for learning about different deals and legal clauses. Also, CRI 460: Financial Management for Creatives was a huge help with understanding financial statements and the expenses of a show.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Part-time with honorarium

TYPICAL TASKS

Draft, revise and edit contracts for bands to play at shows

Calculate earnings and expenses on tickets and merchandise

Write out all legal details of each show

Assist with all details regarding the contract between the promoter and artist

Social media management (checking and confirming accuracy of online promotional information)

Create spreadsheets and calendars for upcoming projects or events

Create itineraries for managers prior to their show

Update and manage a variety of spreadsheets to organize and analyze data relating to performances and ticket counts

File contracts

Data entry and other general administrative duties

Mikayla Stefani Class of 2018

Can you tell us a bit about your role at eONE?

I work on our national campaigns for the films, so I brainstorm ideas for new campaigns to do with brands, work on the creative process and get artwork approved, and run some online content we publish.

How has your time at Creative Industries prepared you for it?

Marketing & Promotions Intern, eOne

I’ve learned a lot in Creative Industries that’s helped me. Things like strong communications skills, which are key here, especially between teams. The group work in the program really helped me with that. It also taught me how to balance multiple projects at once. The balance between business and art is also a common theme in our classes My understanding of that’s helped me navigate some situations here, especially when working with filmmakers who can be quite protective of their creative vision. I feel much more confident about graduating next year because I feel like I’ve got solid experience and made good connections in the industry I want to work in.

Why did you originally choose the Creative Industries program?

I chose Creative Industries because when I finished high school I didn’t really know what I wanted to do and I didn’t want to limit myself. This degree is so open and there’s a bunch of different paths you can follow. After a couple of years of trying different courses and subjects I’ve started to find my path and it’s led me here. And I’m very happy about that!

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Full-time, paid

TYPICAL TASKS

Project management

Brief creative teams

Coordinate artwork approvals

Organize contest fulfillment

Administrative duties, including scheduling and invoicing

Coordinate promotional giveaways

Create Powerpoints

Update budgets/status spreadsheets

Brainstorm ideas for campaigns

Research brand partnerships

Coordinate and manage online content

Scott Guglielmi Class of 2023

What kind of work did you do at Compass?

At Compass I helped create client lists, uploaded self tapes onto various sites, updated and sent client resumes, acted as a liaison between casting directors and actors and assisted with admin tasks, such as payroll. I really learned that we have an immense responsibility to our clients as agents, and that networking and building relationships is incredibly important.

What did you like best about your internship?

Agency Intern, Compass Artist Management

What surprised you most about the experience? The thing I loved the most about my internship was the work, being so involved in the Toronto side of the industry and the people who I got to work with. The people that I was working with were very lovely and supportive. The internship led to me making several meaningful connections. And after completing my internship, I was hired as a Junior Agent! What surprised me was learning that being a talent agent is a lifestyle not a job. It is very much a lifestyle that requires you to constantly be on the ball for opportunities for your clients.

What have you gained from this internship in terms of professional development and other skills?

I acquired a variety of skills that I will carry with me throughout the course of my career. Specifically, some of the skills I acquired include: networking with casting directors, building and maintaining client relations, providing feedback on self tape auditions, coordinating audition times, working in collaboration with producers and productions and learning how to create and send out invoices. TYPICAL

Quincy Clarke Class of 2018

Tell us a bit about the different areas you focused on during your internship.

Production Assistant, Bell Media: InnerSpace

I worked as a Production Assistant on InnerSpace, which is on the Space channel. Space is actually owned by Bell, so there were a lot of diverse opportunities for me. The most exciting opportunity was probably working on the red carpet for the MuchMusic Video Awards. I got to work with the Entertainment News team creating research packages on the different musicians and actors coming across the carpet. I researched what’s been going on with them, they’re upcoming projects, stuff like that for the hosts so we could capture content that was pretty much streaming live. It was stressful, but really interesting. I also created a research pack for San Diego Comic Con, because InnerSpace had a special episode premiering there, so that was cool.

What’s it like working on the red carpet? It’s pretty hectic! There’s so many people coming down the carpet and you don’t have much time to research, so it’s a bit of a juggling act to decide who we really want to interview and if we can grab them.

Could you see yourself in this industry after you graduate?

Through my experience working at this internship, I could now see myself working in the industry, maybe as a segment producer, where you research and piece segments together for air. Or maybe in marketing working with print, digital and social media promotions.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Part-time, unpaid

TYPICAL TASKS

Pitch story ideas

Media storytelling

Produce and run high volume, large scale events

Monitor social media analytics

Prepare research packs

Complete music cue logs (data entry)

Ingest footage into AVID interplay

Complete tape request with media services

Shadow various roles (segment producers, designers, etc.)

File footage in The Vault

Create blog posts

Administrative duties

David Filippone Class of 2023

Tell us a bit about what your internship entailed. What kind of work did you do?

I worked with the marketing team to help grow the company’s presence on social media by creating postings for different platforms. I also wrote briefs, collaborated on presentations, and conducted research on other film studios and media opportunities.

What did you like best about your internship? What surprised you most about the experience?

Marketing & Production Assistant, The Stratagem Group

I enjoyed learning something new every day about the film industry. Whether it was learning about today’s film industry leaders, the world’s largest film studios and how they function or Stratagem’s workforce initiatives, every day was exciting. Moreover, I loved the people I worked with. I was able to create strong working relationships and friendships with all my colleagues and supervisor. I loved that I had access to high-level executives on a regular basis to ask questions. I was able to create connections for my network, while also gaining valuable knowledge and insight from experienced and successful leaders in the industry. The most surprising aspect was how laid back the work environment is and how much creative freedom I had.

What Creative Industries courses were useful during your internship?

CRI 300: Digital Design Studio and GCM 738: Photoshop provided me with the skills and training to use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and After Effects which were useful for social media and for editing videos of podcasts. My Communications courses were useful in helping me learn how to properly construct business emails, proposals, and reports and how to be concise and articulate when presenting an idea in meetings and presentations.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Part-time with honorarium

TYPICAL TASKS

Researching film industry, studio, and workforce

Create project briefs

Create social media content

Edit PowerPoint slide decks

Updating Excel spreadsheets

Other projects

Emma Lauermeier Class of 2018

What’s it like working on a TV show?

It’s exciting! As a Production Assistant, I got to experience a lot of different aspects of the television industry. I was basically helping everywhere I could, so it changed every day. I would help producers with segments, whether that was researching, or finding props and placing them. I worked with the audience so bringing them in and organizing them, because it’s a live show. I was also in the morning meetings where people would pitch segments for the beginning of the show and I actually had two of my pitches go to air! It’s really cool seeing something you came up with talked about on national TV.

Production Assistant, Bell Media: The Social

How has what you’ve learned in Creative Industries helped you in your role?

In Creative Industries, we’re balancing two different modules throughout our time at university, so we’re not learning the same thing all day and need to be able to multitask. This helped me a lot with my internship because I was able to be given multiple projects at different times and understand what I needed to do quickly.

At the job, there was never just one expected thing each day. I was using all parts of my brain, just like at school. In television there’s the creative side, the production work, the marketing, and more, and being in a program that embraces all those sides of creativity has really helped my ability to execute multiple different projects in a professional setting. It’s important because professionally you need to be able to do this.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Part-time, unpaid

TYPICAL TASKS

Research

Pitch story ideas

Assist loading/unloading audience

Assisting producers with live segments day of Assisting producers with upcoming segments, preparation

Daphne Chan Class of 2018

Can you tell us about Bruce Mau Design and what you do there?

Business Development Intern, Bruce Mau Design

Bruce Mau Design is one of the best design firms in the country. They’ve worked with the AGO, Indigo, Nuit Blanche, Harvard, and UPenn, among others. My official title is Business Development Intern, so a lot of my work is either pursuing potential projects or doing preliminary work before the designers go in and do their jobs. When it comes to design firms and agencies, people immediately think of the visual stuff, but a lot actually goes into preparing to create these things. I do a lot of research, prepare presentation decks and help create concepts. It’s cool because a lot of our business is international. In my first four days of interning, I worked on projects in Berlin, New York, Shanghai and Miami.

Does what you learn in Creative Industries translate to your work at a design firm? When it comes to design, a lot of it is someone coming to you with a problem you need to solve. And it’s multiple clients at a time from different industries — consulting, government, cosmetics, consumer goods. You have to be really good at switching headspaces and focusing on one thing at a time. My time at university, both in the program and outside of it, has been so interdisciplinary, so I’ve been doing this for the last three years.