NFL Films - Fall 2022 Internship Program (2022 NFL Season)

Winner of 133 Emmy Awards, NFL Films is widely recognized as the most honored filmmaker in sports and is credited with revolutionizing the way America watches football and sports in general. Each year, NFL Films produces more than 600 hours of new NFL programming for NFL Network, ESPN, HBO, Showtime, all major broadcast and numerous cable networks, NFL.com, and content-streaming platforms. Additionally, NFL Films provides audio/visual and engineering support for other divisions of the NFL.

The NFL Films Internship Program is a paid opportunity. Participants in the program have the opportunity to experience one of the most unique learning environments in the television and film industries. The NFL Films Internship Program is known for offering an applied approach to learning. Our award-winning staff is willing to assist and mentor individuals with a serious desire to further their studies and achieve their career goals. Incorporated into the internship program are seminars that cover topics such as navigating the unique employment landscape in this industry, the importance of networking, freelancing, and Q-&-A sessions with executives and former interns. Additionally, we provide time for interns to observe and experience all phases of our operations in film and video production.

The NFL Films Internship Program is not a rotational experience. Interns are assigned to (1) department for the duration of their internship. There are several departments within NFL Films that offer internship opportunities. A description of each position can be found below. We will assign an intern in one position based on their stated interest, course of study, experience, and career path. Please thoroughly read through each department description before selecting your area of interest in our application. 

 

*Please Note: NFL Films does not offer internships in the areas of on-air talent, live event broadcasting, business of sports, sport management, advertising, or public relations.*

The NFL Films Fall 2022 Internship program is Monday, August 29, 2022 – Friday, February 17, 2023. Applicants must be available for the duration of the internship session, at least three full-days a week from Monday through Friday (Full days = 8 hours; Half days are not an option for most positions). This internship is open to current college students and recent college graduates. Students must either be enrolled in a full-time academic program and currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (a minimum GPA of at least 3.0 is required), or a college graduate up to 1-year from graduation date at the start of the internship session.  Academic transcripts (official or unofficial) will be requested. Acceptance is contingent upon the outcome of a standard background investigation.

Students may participate in the NFL Films Internship Program for academic credit. However, receipt of academic credit is entirely dependent upon the policies of the university and is the responsibility of the student. Participants will be paid during the internship regardless of whether academic credit is received.

TO APPLY

Complete the online application and questionnaire. When prompted, please upload both a cover letter and resume.

IMPORTANT

Program Start Date: Monday, August 29, 2022

Program End Date: Friday, February 17, 2023

This position is within the Producers Department and is appropriate for those individuals interested in a career as a storyteller, creative editor, or in a creative Producing role involving the content of a show. Interns in this department will work with our Emmy Award-winning Producers and learn all aspects of the NFL Films-style of storytelling. This position is best for students focused on long-form, documentary- style productions & storytelling in sports. Producers at NFL Films are responsible for the content of the entire production, from conception of the story, including researching storylines and footage, to conducting interviews, editing, and scripting narration, and through to the final edit. Creative Producing interns will have the opportunity to learn from those Producers and contribute to our high-profile programming. They will observe and learn about all facets of the Producing position, including researching the history of a player, team, or story; editing; logging interviews, game footage, and radio calls; and on-location and in-house shoots. Preference is given to individuals with an understanding of editing software and an interest in telling creative football stories through video.

This position is with the Producers Department and is appropriate for individuals interested in a creative career in video editing and storytelling for digital media. Interns in this field will assist with the day-to-day operations of NFL Films’ social media channels. The Social Media team is responsible for promoting weekly shows, making creative use of archival footage, and crafting new video content to enforce the NFL Films brand on social media. The intern will learn how to tell a story with a quick video runtime and limited wordcount, while capturing the audience’s attention and interpreting analytics to curate future content. The intern will assist with tracking the growth of each platform and finding new creative ways to be in the conversation of news, pop culture, and football. Preference is given to students who have experience with video editing software. Candidates must have a desire to keep up with the fast-moving pace of social media. Fluency across multiple social media platforms is required.

This position is within both the Producers Department & Studio Department and is appropriate for individuals looking for a career producing a live, *remote* studio show. Interns will report directly to the show’s Coordinating Producer and work daily with Producers and other production crew. Interns will experience the creative production process that goes into getting “Good Morning Football,” a live daily morning show, on the air. Responsibilities include gathering show topics, researching, and logging footage of weekly press conferences, assisting in the editing of pre-produced segment content, and coordinating live, interactive social media initiatives during air. Preference is given to individuals looking to pursue a career in live or broadcast television production. Experience with ENPS is a plus. “Good Morning Football” is broadcast from a television studio in New York City and this internship position is located at NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, NJ. This position does not involve interacting with talent or any positions inside the actual studio in NYC.

(Descriptors: All-22; Xs & Os; Technical & Creative)

This position is within the Producers Department and is appropriate for individuals interested in a career creating content that focuses on in-depth Xs & Os knowledge of the game of football. This position is assigned to the production of a weekly live-to-tape show (“NFL Matchup”) with Producers who are responsible for reviewing and analyzing team coaching tape and producing/editing segments for analysis by on-air talent. Interns will learn to build/edit a studio show with pre-packaged elements in Adobe Premiere. They will have the opportunity for film study, segment creation, and will also learn how to create promotional content for different social media platforms. Interns in this position have gone on to work for film departments and coaching staffs at various levels of the game, as well as producing positions involving football analysis. Working knowledge of multiple social media platforms and editing experience is required. This is a football-based internship with a heavy focus on X’s and O’s and a healthy dose of video editing. A strong background in football beyond a love for the game is required. Individuals applying for this position are required to possess a high level of X’s & O’s knowledge of the game at the college level and beyond and be able to communicate the overall structure of an offense or defense as well as overall scheme, matchup coverage, and play design in detail.

This position is within the Video Post-Production Operations Department and is appropriate for those individuals interested in a career as a technical Editor (online and final edit) or Colorist for post-production. Interns in this department will work with our Editors and Graders to learn all aspects of the video post-production environment at NFL Films. Interns will gain knowledge of how we assemble, color correct, and finish/deliver content to our broadcast partners. Whether it be documentaries both short and long form, b-roll and sound pieces for various studio live shows, as well as several other deliverables (trailers, social media posts, etc.), interns will work with all of NFL Films’ productions in their final stages of completion. Preference will be given to those with experience with the full Adobe Suite (Premiere, After Effects, Photoshop) and Da Vinci Resolve. Interns interested in creative editing (storytelling) should apply to the Creative Producing position offered in this application.

This position is within the Media Services Department and is appropriate for individuals who are interested in utilizing their technical editing knowledge, while expanding their research and communication skills. The National Football League holds the rights to all NFL footage and this department is responsible for compiling and disseminating that footage to companies who have a licensing agreement with the NFL. The intern assigned to this department will assist in researching and gathering material for outside television networks, NFL teams, news stations, and movies/television shows requiring NFL footage. Utilizing our in-house search and database systems, this department chooses aesthetically appropriate shots based on the request to be filled and creates a compilation reel for each job. Interns will also assist the department in completing the department’s additional daily tasks. Individuals requesting this position must have prior editing experience. Knowledge of Adobe Premiere is preferred. This is a video-based position. Please note that this is not an advertising, news media, or public relations assignment.

This position is within the Graphics Department and is appropriate for individuals interested in a career in motion graphic design for television and film. An intern in this department will be gain valuable experience and the ability to upgrade their skills while working with our staff artists. Interns will be exposed to all aspects of the department including designing their own Cinema 4D and After Effects projects. Additionally, students will be working with our artists on projects in Photoshop and Illustrator, motion graphics design, 3D modeling, lighting, texturing, animation and rendering, motion and timing, typography, composition, and color theory. Preference is given to candidates who have 3D graphic design or After Effects experience, competency in Illustrator and Photoshop, and a passion for motion graphic design.

(Descriptors: Compliance; Office-Based; Transactional, Negotiations; Media and Entertainment Law)

This position is within Business Affairs and is appropriate for those individuals interested in a career in sports and entertainment law. Interns in this department will work alongside the Vice President of Business Affairs and learn about production risk and risk management in sports television from a legal, operations, and project management perspective. The Business Affairs intern will have the opportunity to review, draft, and negotiate agreements with outside vendors and agents. Agreements include third-party vendors, narration and talent, locations, and equipment rentals. The intern will also assist with production risk assessments for upcoming shoots and coordinate with Producers, Legal, Insurance, Field Operations, and Project Management to learn how to develop a production risk plan. The intern will attend production planning meetings to understand Business Affairs support needed for upcoming shoots. . Preference is given to individuals currently enrolled in law school, with an understanding of business affairs and/or production risk management.

 

(Descriptors: Administrative; Office-Based; Research & Coordination; Teamwork)

This position is within the Footage Acquisition Department and is appropriate for someone interested in the field of intellectual property, research, and post-production in the sports television world. An intern in this role will have hands-on experience researching and fulfilling requests submitted by Producers to acquire third party footage & photos to be used in NFL Films’ productions. Interns will work closely with Producers, Post-Production Scheduling, Media Administration, Legal, and Project Managers while acquiring and licensing materials for various projects based on set deadlines and budgets. This involves researching various photos or footage Producers would like to find for usage in their shows, communicating with the various departments to get those materials through the system, and following through to finalize and file paperwork (agreements, purchase orders, invoices, etc.). Individuals for this position must have good communications skills to work with many vendors via phone and email, be extremely organized, and be able to work on many projects at one time. Interns in this position must be self-motivated and be able to work well independently, as well as part of a team.

This department is within the Project Management Department and is appropriate for individuals interested in pursuing a career in the management of creative projects from a budgetary and resource management standpoint. The intern will shadow a Project Manager and observe how productions are budgeted, planned and executed. They will take a larger role in the daily office tasks needed to manage various budgets, which includes but not limited to the administrative duties of processing timecards & invoices, creating wrap binders, working in the purchase order system and reviewing expense reports. A successful candidate will be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel, be extremely organized, and self-motivated. A basic understanding of the process and equipment used in television and film production as well as a basic business knowledge are preferred.

This position is within the Player & Talent Relations Department and is appropriate for those individuals interested in a career as a Talent Coordinator or working with athletes at a sports team or agency. The Player & Talent Relations Department is responsible for scheduling and coordinating shoots and interviews for NFL Films programming and works closely our Producers, Directors, Field Operations personnel, and Project Managers. Those responsibilities include maintaining databases and calendars, coordinating travel for individuals coming to NFL Films or to remote locations for interviews, and preparing and disseminating paperwork to all involved in the shoot. Establishing and strengthening relationships with all the NFL Club Members, players, and players’ agents is a key goal of this department. Preference is given to those individuals who have a strong knowledge of NFL players, are highly organized, work well in a team atmosphere, and have outstanding communication skills.

This position is within the Camera Department and is appropriate for individuals looking for a career as a Director of Photography, Cinematographer, sports Cinematographer, Lighting Director, etc. Interns will work with our Emmy Award-winning Cinematographers, gaining knowledge of and experience with high-definition cameras, learning proper care, maintenance, and handling of HD equipment from our extensive inventory, and acquiring real world experience working side-by-side with our crews in the field for various shoots. Interns will learn how to light and shoot NFL Films-style productions and will be given time to light and shoot in various test situations, while receiving feedback from our Cinematographers. Candidates interested in this internship position should have a basic knowledge of on-location film and video production and related camera equipment. Experience filming sports, narrative, and/or documentary-style (within or outside of the classroom) is a plus.

This position is within the Field Operations Department and is appropriate for those individuals interested in obtaining a career as a Production Manager or Production Coordinator. Interns in this department will work closely with Project Managers and Producers on a variety of NFL Films productions. Interns working in the Field Operations department will gain valuable insight into television production by working on all aspects of production specifically from a logistical perspective. A successful intern will assist in making crew calls, on-boarding new crew hires, obtaining filming permits, handling travel arrangements, ordering grip trucks, etc. This person will also help coordinate the production schedule each week. When appropriate, opportunities will be given to observe and assist our productions on-location. Individuals applying for this position should have a basic understanding of film and television production, as well as excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills.

This position is within the Audio Department and is appropriate for individuals interested in obtaining a career in post-production audio, television studio mixing and/or location recording and mixing.  Interns will be exposed to all aspects of audio undertaken by NFL Films. They will work with our Audio Mixers to gain knowledge of audio operations on our shooting stage during live shoots, including setup, troubleshooting, wiring talent, and assisting the studio mixer. Interns will also be exposed to our Sound Transfer department and gain experience with equipment used to transfer our 40+ years of audio from various analog formats to digital files, locating audio clips for various productions, and archiving radio calls from NFL games. In addition, interns will be given numerous opportunities to observe and occasionally assist our award-winning Mixers with talent voice-over recording sessions, sound design, on-location recording and post-production mixing sessions. Priority is given to those individuals studying the art of Audio and all interns will be expected to learn the Fairlight Xynergi DAW, which is used extensively throughout the Audio department.

This position is within the Studio Department and is appropriate for individuals looking for a technical career in a television studio, such as Technical Directing, Audio, Graphics, Lighting, Camera and Audio/Visual Engineering. Our shooting stages serve two main functions and interns in this department will have exposure to all aspects of both: 1) A live television production studio and 2) a shooting stage. Interns will gain valuable experience alongside our crews in the studio, control rooms, tape room, video shading, teleprompter, Engineering, etc. In addition, they will have the chance to experience ENG shoots (commercials, corporate videos, and film-style shoots), which involve grips, electricians, prop artists, and various cameras. Interns will have an opportunity to get hands-on experience with equipment in the studio and will leave this internship with a well-rounded base of knowledge. Preference is given to students who have a general understanding of studio production and technical experience in a studio setting.