For the past 6 months I have interned at Rots FilmWerk as a direct assistant to the creative producer. On a normal day, I would start with morning meetings that are about all sorts of things that are relevant to the tasks of the week. For example, we could discuss the designs I worked on the day before, our strategy to attract NGOs for collaborations, and supplies needed for the guerilla marketing campaign. But before we get into my experience throughout this internship, it might be helpful for you to know more about the company and my role at it.
The Company
Rots Filmwerk was founded in 2006 by Esther and Hugo Rots as a platform for artists to create daring and opinionated films. Their collaborations have produced award-winning films, two of which were nominated for the Palme d’Or at Cannes and others premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) and Toronto Film Festivals, leading to the conquest of 5 Golden Calves. Currently, Rots Filmwerk is working on the pre-release of Dan Geesein’s eco-drama science fiction film ‘Sputum,’ as well as the financing of his next film entitled ‘A Fucked Up Tribute to Motherly Love’, recently presented at the Cannes’ l’Atelier.
My role
Throughout this internship, my tasks mostly revolved around being a multi-faceted assistant to the Creative Producer, Dan Geesin. As Dan worked on the pre-release of the ‘Sputum’ film, I assisted in creating promotional material for the film, consisting of images and animations. Alongside it, I provided a reflective and analytical perspective on his film promotional ideas. In addition, web design was an important part of my role, as I was responsible for making changes and updates to the film’s website.
Other than the pre-release of ‘Sputum’, the director is also working on the pre-production of the aforementioned ‘A Fucked Up Tribute to Motherly Love’. For this project, I aided in researching, mood-boarding, and location scouting. Moreover, I have had the chance to provide feedback and assist on the digital marketing strategy, public relations and communication of Rots Filmwek, which included video producing and editing.
Takeaways
Ultimately, I believe that this job taught me a lot, as it led me to discover the importance of following your creative instincts and not losing track of your end-goal. When it comes to being professional, writing more compelling stories, communication, strategizing and punctuality, I still have a lot to learn and improve upon. Operating in this field requires a deep commitment to the tale you wish to tell. If you can’t stop thinking about a story all day, it’s probably one for you to write. The team’s and the creative producer’s passion for the story have greatly impressed me, and allowed me to reflect upon myself and my choices more than ever, ultimately making me a better creative professional.
My one advice to anyone seeking an internship in this sector is to make sure they will be working on stories they understand, are passionate about, and can bring a lot to. Although I really enjoyed the projects we were working on, I was not completely invested in the narrative, which occasionally made it difficult for me to motivate myself to do the best possible work. Moreover, internships in this industry are often unpaid and quite precarious, so I would not advise a similar experience to anyone seeking stability. Nonetheless, if you are a creative individual looking for your first steps in the industry, such experience could be very beneficial.