Intern needs advice
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- BarryP
I'm fresh out of school and interning at a small (and reputable) video production company. The internship is nearly up, but they don't want me to go. They like my editing skill and After Effects knowledge too much (I've probably done over a $1000 worth of work on real projects so far). They can't afford to bring me on as an employee, so instead we have been discussing a possible arrangement:
I could move my G4 and gear into their office (they only have an iMac for me now - and i have a nice editing/FX setup) and I'd have access to their phones, network, dub racks, etc... in exchange for continuation of my intern-type work. They would be allowed to accrue 15 - 20 hours of work from me each week for 'free' and I would have the rest of the time to drum up my own business from their office. I'd likely get first dibs on some of their editing work and a lot of their after effects work.
The end result would be that I would be working in a production environment with many opportunities for paying gigs.
I could suggest that any work that I do on my machine be paid, and that the 20 hours of 'free' work be limited to FedEx'ing and making tape dubs...
There are obviously a number of concerns to be aware of - legal, practical...
Any advice? How about per-hour rates?
Thanks,
Barry the Intern
- SLD0
write up a contract that says you will be paid for the work you do now when they get money, or else your working for 'free'... and the legally binding promise of future money is always better than 'free'
- Nirvous0
Sounds like they get a great deal and you get screwed. Dont try to justify this to yourself. Your going to get soaked.
- BonSeff0
do it til you find a decent gig. just keep in mind they are milking you and you have no loyalty to that. some sort of contract would be smart. just dont paint yourself into a corner.
- BarryP0
Yeah- that's the direction I was headed... shoot for 3 months of it - nothing preventing me from leaving - and aim to be fully-paid (regardless of activity) by the end of that time.
Kind of a hybrid-internship... I guess.
- IloveQBN0
just make sure that in your contract ,you state the equipment you are using is indeed your own. Write down the serial number and include your receipts and any documents that proofs your ownership of the equipment. Since your computer in there property, the burden of proof lies in your hands.
I use to display my paintings in Galleries and restaurants, and this place I was showing in was about to go bankrupt . I went to pick them up and the owner was such a bitch. She said I couldn't take them and that she "owned them" for that period. I had to call the police to get them back. f
Just make sure you cover your ass and not get screwed.
- unknown0
Barry The Intern, you are getting bigtime suckered mate. Go and find your own work and don't let others leach off of your skills mate. Well, you asked so I answered, GOOD LUCK!! ;) This is what I think, well unless you have NOTHING else then good luck with them.
- BarryP0
So, 8 years and 11 months go by ... and hindsight is 20/20.
I did move my stuff into their office and turned the internship into a $25/hr in-house freelance gig. I made enough money to live and became indispensable to their business. When outside projects conflicted with the in-house stuff they relied on me for, they were forced to reckon and ended up hiring me full-time. The business wasn't perfect, but I lived a couple blocks away and lived my life exactly as I wanted to, gaining valuable experience every day. It was the perfect entry into the industry, for me.
Perhaps my only regret: I settled right into that salaried gig and stayed with it for a long time - five years. I had more financial flexibility back then and could have taken more chances in the freelance world to gain a better perspective of the industry. I hunkered down instead. What opportunities did I miss? How could I have grown beyond what I knew and learned in that one little production house?
Regardless, that internship-turned-freelancer-tur... 'gig' gave me everything I needed to advance, professionally. I have since moved to a bigger city and settled into another long-term salaried position (4+ years) and I count my experience in that first job as the ticket that got me here.
I think it's now time to get out into the world and explore a bit more. Next stop freelance? Will update again in another 8 years, 11 months.
Thanks all for your advice!
- mg330
- mg330
I'd just like to take a moment and say TWO-THOUSAND-FUCKING-TWO! is when this was originally posted. That's got to be some kind of record.
- ukit20
The most impressive part is that a guy who never posts here remembered to come back and update his post. *sets clock for 8 years into the future
- CALLES0
Reputable eh? GmbH don't think so. If they are they would have money to pay for freelance. Say no and maybe they cough it up. If you are that good you will get another gig in no time. Specially mentioning your reputable internship at the reputable agency
