Film & Media Production Mentee / Intern (Workplace Mentorship Program)

Company: Lakefront Pictures | Lakefront Creative Group | Lakefront Film Institute

Location: Hybrid (Remote + In-Person in Chicago & Glenview, IL)

Compensation: Unpaid / Educational Mentorship (Academic Credit Available)

Age Requirement: Must be 18 years or older

Commitment: ~15–20 hours/week (3–6 Month Program)

About the Program

The Lakefront Workplace Mentorship Program is a structured, hands-on educational experience designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and professional media production. As a mentee, you will work directly alongside company co-founders and industry professionals across indie feature films, short films, actor demo reels, and commercial/corporate video productions.

This is an unpaid, educational mentorship and workforce development program. Our primary mission is to teach you the operational, technical, and business fundamentals of the film industry—spanning pre-production, on-set production assistant (PA) workflows, post-production media management, and creative marketing.

What You Will Do & Learn (Overview of Responsibilities)

1. Pre-Production & Production Office

   1. Production Paperwork: Assist with drafting and organizing call sheets, location releases, talent agreements, and crew contact lists.

   2. Casting & Wardrobe Prep: Support casting sessions, manage actor sign-ins, help coordinate wardrobe prep, and track equipment checklists.

   3. Administrative Training: Participate in production meetings, take clear and actionable notes, and maintain organized digital project folders.

2. On-Set Production Experience

   1. On-Set Protocols: Learn standard film set etiquette, walkie/surveillance communication protocols, lock-ups, and early call-time expectations (arriving 15–30 minutes before general crew call).

   2. Department Shadowing & Support: Assist key departments including Camera, Sound, Grip/Electric, Art, and Production Design under head-of-department supervision.

   3. Set Operations: Help with staging, gear load-in/load-out, maintaining a safe and clean workspace, and assembling your personal PA kit (hand tools, gaff tape, pens/markers, multi-tool, portable chargers).

3. Post-Production & Media Workflows

   1. Media Asset Management: Learn professional file organization, clip logging, sound syncing, and cloud backup systems.

   2. Editing & Color Observation: Get on the post-production calendar to shadow active editing, sound design, and color grading workflows on real client deliverables.

4. Marketing, Outreach & Business Skills

   1. Social Media Creation: Participate in a rotating schedule creating behind-the-scenes (BTS) clips, stories, and engaging promotional reels using Canva and CapCut.

   2. Outreach & Communication: Learn modern outreach strategies, client follow-up techniques, and how to effectively brand and market your own creative skillset.

   3. Business Insights: Gain exposure to pitch decks, fundraising structures, and line-producing workflows.

Schedule & Format Expectations

• Hybrid Model: A blend of remote tasks and weekly in-person sessions (typically Mondays or Fridays) at our Glenview location or Cinespace Chicago.

• Time Commitment: Approximately 15–20 hours per week.

• Evening & Weekend Availability: Production schedules do not follow a typical 9-to-5. Mentees are asked to provide availability for at least one evening and one weekend day per week to accommodate scheduled shoots and live events.

• Calendar Commitments: All sessions, shoots, and events are scheduled via calendar invites. Once an invite is accepted, it is treated as a confirmed, reliable commitment.

Applicant Requirements

• Age: Must be at least 18 years of age by the start date.

• Reliability & Communication: Prompt communication (checking and responding to your company email, texts, and schedule invites in a timely manner).

• Mindset: Proactive, collaborative, eager to learn, and comfortable asking questions.

• Equipment & Transportation: Access to a reliable laptop, internet connection, and personal transportation for in-person shoot days and training workshops.

• Professionalism & Discretion: Strict adherence to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) regarding unreleased scripts, footage, client materials, and business discussions.

Program Tuition & Investment Details

Because this is a dedicated, hands-on educational curriculum rather than standard employment, participants receive direct instruction, structured software access, and guided portfolio training:

• Educational & Software Program Fee: $1,200 total (Standard payment plan: 3 installments of $400).

• What the Fee Covers:

  • Direct 1-on-1 and small-group mentorship from industry founders and department heads.

  • Formal workshop curriculum, educational materials, and production guides.

  • Access to internal software, collaboration suites (Google Drive, Canva, CapCut, etc.), and cloud storage.

  • Invitations to private networking events, company screenings, and branded team apparel.

• Tuition Flexibility: We believe financial constraints should never prevent dedicated talent from accessing quality mentorship. The educational program fee can potentially be negotiated or adjusted based on student circumstances, financial need, or school scholarship arrangements.

Academic Credit & Compensation

• This is an unpaid educational internship.

• College / University Credit: We fully support students pursuing academic credit. Students are responsible for submitting their institution’s paperwork and survey/grading criteria to ensure Lakefront meets their program requirements.