External Programs, Internships, and Career Services (EPICS)
The MFA Writing for Screen and Stage program has dedicated staff from the School of Communication career office, EPICS, to assist in the development of students’ writing career strategy, career materials, and to provide guidance during their internship searches or developing of their proposal for a summer quarter professional experience. Students have access not only to professional development programs designed specifically for the MFA program, but also to those that EPICS organizes for the SoC, such as career material development workshops, Industry Connects, industry guests, and masterclasses. Students have access to the SoC’s career management system, a database that allows students to search for and apply to SoC-specific internships, practicum opportunities, full-time jobs, and freelance jobs. Visit the EPICS website for the latest events and tools for developing your career materials.
Internships
Professional experiences such as internships provide valuable, hands-on experience that can significantly enhance your career development, build your industry related network (it really is about who you know), and gain in-depth understanding about how the film, media, and theater industries work. Students will have an opportunity to apply for internships at film, theater, or TV production companies in Los Angeles, New York, or Chicago in order to connect with the entertainment industry. Below are some selected companies and organizations that have hosted MFA writers for internships or professional experiences:
- A Red Orchid Theatre
- Alley Theatre
- AMC
- Berlanti Productions
- CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
- Chicago Dramatists
- Chicago International Film Festival
- Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival
- Circle of Confusion
- Comedy Central
- The CW
- David Zucker Entertainment
- Ensemble Studio Theatre
- Goodman Theatre / Chicago
- HBO
- Joey Soloway
- Laugh Factory
- Likely Story
- Lifeline Theatre
- Lionsgate
- Living Room Playmakers
- MACRO
- Maven Pictures
- MGM
- New York Television Festival
- Northlight Theatre
- Open Road Films
- Participant Media
- Phoenix Pictures
- Scott Free Productions
- Second City
- Second Stage
- Showtime
- Sarah Gubbins
- Sundance Channel
- SyFy
- Television Academy Foundation
- Theatre Wit
- United States of Tara
- Victory Garden Theatre
- Warner Brothers