The Organization

Arts Engine, Inc., a nonprofit organization, supports, produces, and distributes independent media of consequence and promotes the use of independent media by advocates, educators and the general public. By fostering the production and use of independent film, video and new media, Arts Engine connects media makers and active audiences in order to spur critical consideration of pressing social issues.

Big Mouth Films, a department of Arts Engine, Inc., has produced 7 feature-length documentaries that cover topics ranging from the criminal justice system to alternative healing, and has worked with numerous clients in the production of film and video work.  Big Mouth’s films have played at festivals around the world with premieres at the Sundance Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, South by Southwest Film Festival and the Hollywood Black Film Festival.

MediaRights, a project of Arts Engine, Inc., helps educators, nonprofits, filmmakers and activists reach, teach, motivate and activate their communities. It maintains the nation’s most comprehensive, searchable database of issue-oriented programs. MediaRights showcases effective short social issue media through the annual Media That Matters Film Festival, which is streamed online.  It also supports youth media distribution through Launchpad.

To Apply

Interested applicants should email a resume and cover letter to:

Ryann Scypion
ryann@artsengine.net
104 West 14th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10011
tel: 646.230.6368
fax: 646.230.6388

Internships

A minimum commitment of 3 months is required for all internships unless specific projects or immediate needs arise.

The yearly internship schedule is as follows: Dec-Feb, Mar-May, June-Aug, Sep-Nov.

Internships with the production department are on a rolling basis and are dependent upon production needs and the rotation of previous interns.  There are also needs for project specific or short-term interns.

All internships involve the specific duties of the position in addition to administrative tasks delegated by the office manager.

WEB DEVELOPMENT INTERNSHIP

Coders! Techies! Need samples to build your portfolio? Here’s an exciting opportunity to join the technology department at Arts Engine. The scope of work will include,but is not limited to: developing breadcrumb navigations, sitemaps, linkbacks and using publicly available APIs to create dynamic web applications for internal and external use.

Skills Required:

• Must be adept at using Macintosh computers
• Must have some programming experience (computer science majors preferred)
• Experience developing using LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP) is preferred
• Knowledge of HTML, CSS

Learn critical troubleshooting skills & get involved in developing cutting edge web applications with a group of filmmakers and technology experts.

PROGRAMS INTERNSHIP

Internships in the programs department offer opportunities to learn about organizing screenings, doing community outreach and using films as a tool for social change. You will gain hands-on experience from working with community, regional and national organizations, institutions and museums on organizing screenings and events as well understand what goes behind putting together film festivals, conferences, panels and workshops. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to learn about building web content and engaging the public to use social justice issue films.

Depending on your interest, responsibilities may include:

• Research, track and assist with organizing events, workshops, conferences for Arts Engine
• Help with the outreach and promotion of the traveling of current and past Media That Matters Film Festival
• Assist with outreach and partnership building of the film festival
• Research and obtain news items for publication of our monthly email newsletter
• Assist with managing memberships and user activity of MediaRights.org, a project of Arts Engine
• Assist with content development of film information, correcting erroneous entries and researching additional films to add to the database
• Contact independent film distributors and filmmakers to update film profiles, releases, outreach initiatives
• Research and contact educators, community organizations, social just institutions, activists, and filmmakers on outreach, content, networking, and various opportunities

Skills:

• Candidate should have good oral and written communication skills
• Comfortable working on Mac environments and with applications like Word, Excel, internet, Mail, etc.
• Ability to think outside the box
• Ability to multi task while paying close attention to detail
• Experience in a nonprofit environment and strong interest in social justice issues highly desired
• The ideal candidates will be highly motivated self-starters, able to work independently and collaboratively

DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION INTERNSHIP

The internship within the production department offers a unique opportunity to learn about the production of social-issue documentaries from pre through post production. 

Responsibilities

• Dubbing, logging, transcribing and digitizing footage
• Assistant Editing
• PA for shoots
• Planning and organizing travel arrangements
• Publicity and promotion of films for festival circuit
• Graphic design for DVD and poster art for films
• Equipment and edit room maintenance and organization

Skills

• Ability to handle multiple, immediate tasks while paying close attention to detail
• Experience working with cameras, lighting and sound equipment
• Ability to work as a member of a team and independently
• Experience using editing programs; Final Cut Pro or AVID

EDITORIAL INTERNSHIP

This intern would work on several projects including, but not limited to, writing regularly about the intersects of independent film, social issues, and digital distribution; researching and developing content sharing relationships with bloggers and other organizations; and researching current events to craft relevant content and develop pitch lists to send to prospective writers. The ideal candidate would be detail oriented and comfortable working independently on a variety of projects.

Required Skills

• Familiar with using Macintosh computers
• Must be a strong writer (Journalism majors preferred, but will consider any candidate with strong writing samples)
• Must be detail oriented
• Must have an interest in independent film, activism, or new media and distribution
• Experience using content management systems (such as Blogger, Movable Type, or Wordpress) preferred
• Basic knowledge of HTML
• Basic knowledge of Adobe Photoshop

FUNDRAISING AND DEVELOPMENT INTERNSHIP

This internship offers the chance to learn, experience and put to practice valuable grants management and development skills within a media arts environment.

Responsibilities

• Proofing grant applications, grant reports, press releases, and other writing for   grammar/spelling/content
• Researching foundations, other funding sources, and press
• Corresponding with funders and other development contacts
• Data entry, filing and administrative tasks

Required Skills

• Excellent grammar and spelling
• Good writing skills
• Knowledge of Filemaker Pro and Excel

Preferred skills include

• Knowledge of Photoshop and InDesign
• Basic familiarity with development and fundraising

FILM SERVICES INTERNSHIP

DocuClub Program is a film screening series of works-in-progress documentaries. Each month, a filmmaker presents a rough cut of her film. Afterwards, a moderator facilitates a discussion between filmmaker and audience. Constructive feedback from these sessions informs the finished film. Past films that have been screened at DocuClub include Born Into Brothels, The Boys of Baraka, and Metallica: Some Kind of Monster.

Responsibilities

• Sorting out membership database
• Keeping track of RSVPs
• Researching potential partnerships/sponsors for sessions
• Videotaping and dubbing tapes of sessions
• Assisting with newsletter, writing, copy editing
• Dropping off and picking up DVD screeners to screening committee members
• Participate in the selection process for DocuClub screenings

Fiscal Sponsorship Program is a fundraising tool that serves as an alternative to a filmmaker establishing her own 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation. It allows a filmmaker’s non-commercial project to apply for funding from organizations requiring that the recipient have nonprofit status. As fiscal sponsor, Arts Engine, Inc., serves as the nonprofit tax-exempt umbrella organization that accepts and administers contributions made to a filmmaker’s project.

Arts Engine has served as fiscal sponsor for such outstanding films as The Trials of Darryl Hunt by Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg, Favela Rising by Matt Mochary and Jeff Zimbalist, and God Grew Tired of Us: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan by Christopher Dillon Quinn and Tommy Walker.

Responsibilities

• Researching grant/funding resources for filmmakers
• Researching news and updates from fiscally-sponsored filmmakers

A love for and general knowledge of documentary films is highly desired. Must be able to work nights once a month for the DocuClub screening.