While the validity of online job search websites is always to be questioned, the Entertainment Industry service of CreativeJobsCentral.com seems legit within most standards. It has job postings from L.A., New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, and San Francisco, among others. With job/intern postings such as Entertainment Wirting Intern on TheCelebrityCafe.com, music entertainment internships, and magazine writing internships, a lot of the listings appear worthwhile. However, some of the postings one should be wary of, including things such as “Online Teen Sexpert Intern” or “Striptease Instruction Company” that may fall a bit to the wayside for serious professionals.

Founded by an amazing director? Check. An organization that can take credit for hundreds of award-winning films, kick ass commercials, and successful advertising campaigns? Check Located in film industry’s heart, California? Check again. The Institute for the Development of Enhanced Perceptual Awareness is a media company based in Venice, CA, founded by Scott Gardenhour and Michael Bay. Internships are offered on credit-base only, but for those college students lucky enough to land a position with this company, it will not be long before they are making connections with all the right people to make it in to the industry.

Focus Features has become extremely popular over the past ten years for their edgy films. The company offers unpaid internships for college credit in various aspects of film production, including acquisitions, development, distribution, publicity, operations, and post-production, among others. A once in a lifetime opportunity to make connections with professionals in a thriving multimedia company.

NBC Universal offers internships for college-credit in a plethora of areas in the entertainment industry, from graphic arts and digital media to journalism to production and development. The internships are located on both the East and West coats, and you are able to apply to up to three categories to land an internship. While I am not sure of the likelihood of someone getting chosen (no statistics are listed), it seems like a perfection opportunity to start getting real-life professional experience.

While A. Smith & Co. doesn’t explicitly offer internship opportunities directly on their website, it is possible with further contacting one could land an internship. This company creates a lot of reality TV programming (Hell’s Kitchen, Crash Course, I Survived a Japanese Game Show, etc.) and is a smaller company that more than likely will be able to give high-quality experience to an intern.

The Santa Monica Film Festival is an international film festival that helps new filmmakers showcase their work to the world. It screens features, documentaries, and shorts in downtown Santa Monica. The submission process is relatively easy and self-explanatory, and gaining an award would be a good way to get press for a a film. Additionally, it is a fantastic way to start networking and getting your name and work around the industry.

For the independent filmmaker, Blue Rider Pictures is worth researching. Blue Rider Pictures is an independent film production and financing company based in Santa Monica, California. It has worked on over 118 films, including Rescue Dawn, Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong, Holes, The Flock & Then She Found Me, among others. It has represented an accumulated $687 million in production on films, with budgets ranging from $2 to $42 million. For those in interested in applying for funds, there is contact information listed in order to submit their proposals and films.

Silver Lion Films is an independent film production and finance company based in Santa Monica, California. Co-founded by producers Lance and Conrad Hool, it has over 20 years of experience financing and producing films. Some of its projects include Man on Fire, Flipper, and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles. While there is no explicit contact information for internship inquiries, there are e-mails and phone numbers listed for those interested. Unlike some other film production companies, it appears as though Silver Lion Films does not have a lot of upcoming projects, which may be an indicator that it may not be interested in interns.

Film Bridge International is a worldwide distributor that both represents and produces film and television programs. Based in Los Angeles, some of the work is has represented includes The Butterfly Effect: Revelation, What’s Wrong with Virginia, and Freezer Burn. It has also worked with the National Geographic Society for thirteen years. Contact info is listed and unlike a lot of the smaller based distribution companies, FBI has a variety of upcoming projects, perhaps signaling a good opportunity to seek internships.

Film Garden is an award-winning production company headed by entertainment biz entrepreneur Nancy Miller. The company produces features for a variety of networks such as ABC, FOX, MSNBC, The Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, and the Travel Channel. Ever heard of “The Wedding Story?” – yeah, that would be a sample of a Film Garden original. Their website is very informative, and for those interested in careers/internships with the company, contact information is provided.