Summer 2012 Internship

Week 1 & 2 in the City

I am back! Well, back in New York City.  I started my internship on May 14th at PMK*BNC in the film department.  I love it! I did not waste anytime and I was thrown into the action the first few days.  The first day that I was there, I watched a movie and wrote a synopsis of it for my bosses.  I also created breaks for my bosses for all of the upcoming movies that we are working on.  One of my favorite days was the CW Up Fronts.  The CW is one of PMK*BNC's clients and I was asked to help out at the Up Fronts.  I was asked to help make sure things ran smoothly by escorting the talent from point A to point B and leading them into the green room.  Seems easy enough? But for me, I did not look at this as work, but rather a fun morning.  Who cares that I had to wake up at 6am?  I loved it! I got to meet a lot of my favorite TV stars, and I even got to have a good five minute conversation with one of my favorites!  The first week was great!

The second week of work was short because we had Friday off for Memorial Day.  I was able to write a pitch letter that we even used to send out to magazine editors!  I also attended a screening for "Safety Not Guaranteed" and reported back to my bosses about the audiences' reactions.  Go see the movie when it comes out, its great!  It is starring Aubrey Plaza of "Parks and Recreations" and Jake Johnson from the "New Girl".  I was still working on more press breaks throughout the week, and I ended my week with creating a talent letter for one of my bosses.  He was impressed by my layout and how well I put it together in a short time frame.

I am looking forward to what this summer has in store for me.  Stay tuned for more!

Here is a look at my pitch letter:

For your summer interns! Please share the below advanced screening invitation:

In light of Aubrey Plaza’s internship experience, in the upcoming film, “Safety Not Guaranteed” where she sets off with her boss (Jake Johnson, New Girl) to find a man who places an ad in the classifieds to travel back in time with him.  This got us thinking about other wild experiences like Aubrey Plaza’s crazy internship in “Safety Not Guaranteed.”

As in:

“The Devil Wears Prada”              

·       Andy Sachs balances running a million errands in her 6 inch Christian Louboutin heels that she can barely walk in.

Or in:

“The Proposal”

·       Ryan Reynolds having to marry his pushy, much older boss or otherwise she would be deported.  Seems fair right?

The things that people do for their jobs can sometimes be unimaginable and Aubrey Plaza’s wild internship experience in “Safety Not Guaranteed” proves this.

As you begin your internship, check out Aubrey Plaza’s take on a new one by joining us at a screening on the 30^th at 11am or on the 4^th at 4pm in Midtown.  The first twenty to respond will snag a ticket to the screening.  Please RSVP to Samantha.fetner@pmkbnc.com

Week 3

This week was a little bit quieter than my first two; it was also a shorter week because of Memorial Day weekend.  We are working on a new movie called Oogieloves.  Oogieloves is the first interactive movie for children!  The movie comes out August 29^th and we are working on public relation strategies to make this movie a huge hit.  After picking up Oogieloves popcorn bags from the movie theatres in Times Square, I was able to sit in on a meeting.  During the meeting, we discussed marketing techniques for the film.  One thing that is interesting is that instead of spending money on premiere parties, the money will go towards a charity in NYC.  I spoke up during the meeting and suggested that we work on American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge and create a playroom for children there.  They liked my idea!  After the meeting, I looked up Mommy Bloggers that we could contact and invite them to events.  I created a list of Mommy Bloggers in the tri-state area that might want to attend events that we will put on.  I also continued to put together lists of press breaks of the movies that we are working on.  Putting together press breaks has become a routine for me.  I come in and immediately search for any breaks about any of the movies and then once I have put them together in an organized list, I send it out around to my bosses. 

Week 4

I got to meet Neil Young.  Cool? Yes! I thought you would find that cool.  This week, we worked on the Neil Young movie, “Neil Young Journeys.”  Neil Young and Jonathan Demme were in New York Thursday and Friday completing press days for the upcoming picture.  Thursday, I helped my bosses at an event.  The 92^nd Street Y held a Q & A session that we put together.  I was brought along to see how the event worked and to meet Neil Young!  The Q & A session was a little over an hour and people of all ages attended to listen to Neil Young & Jonathan Demme’s Q&A with Leonard Lopate.  On Friday, I was able to see what a press day was like.  I met my bosses at the Loews’ Regency, where a series of interviews were conducted all day long. Writers from New York newspapers came to interview Neil Young and Jonathan Demme.  When I told my parents I met Neil Young they were so much more excited than I was.  As I let it sink a little bit longer, I really did realize how cool it was to say I was with Neil Young and maybe 10 other people.     

Week 5

This week was filled with movie scripts, lots of them, oh, and a screening too!  This week, I went to the screening of “Eye of the Storm” with Geoffrey Rush, Judy Davis, and Charlotte Rampling.  I had already seen the movie my first week, but I went to the screening to receive feedback from others at the screening.  People enjoyed the movie, and I did too, but definitely not a movie for my age demographic.  The movie is definitely for an older demographic.  I even invited my grandpa to the movie, but he was too cool for me and had other plans, so my mom came along!  I also read two movie scripts this week and wrote coverage on them.  I do not want to release the names of the scripts for confidentiality reasons, however, I enjoyed both of them a lot.  I also watched two movies and I wrote coverage on them as well for the film department.

Week 6

Yesterday was one of my busiest days ever. The alarm went off at 5am and by 6:15am, I was out the door and on my way to Soho.  PMK*BNC’s LA office put on an event for Samsung.  Yesterday, Samsung launched a new phone, the Samsung Galaxy S III.  The event took place at Skylight Studios in Soho.  My responsibilities for the day included dressing the brand ambassadors, and then checking the media in.  I honestly did not mind that yesterday was one of the hottest days of the summer, because I was able to experience the dirty work of PR.  I felt like a real PR girl with my headset and walkie talkie.  Promptly at 9am I was outside checking the media in for the event.  From 9am to 5pm, I was responsible for making sure the media were checked in and accounted for.  I was also given the responsibility of holding onto the master list.  Having never met the LA office before, I was pleased by all of the responsibilities they gave me throughout the day.  I did not feel like an intern, but rather an employee.  After a two hour break, I was back at Skylight Studios for the night event.  Now, not only did I have to have to check in media, but also VIP and general admission.  To say it was hectic, would be an understatement.  Having the responsibility of checking in VIP and media, as well as, general admission was crazy.  I did not want to let people in who were not allowed, but then again, I felt badly when they said a friend of a friend put them on the list.  However, I made sure to stick to the list.  Impressed and happy with all of my hard work, the LA office reported back to my supervisor in the New York office about how hard I worked.  Do not worry though, the hard work paid off when I was able to attend the last hour of the party and hear two DJ's perform (Skrillex and Sebastian Ingrossio).  I also saw Walt Frazier and Steve Nash! 

Week 7

I cannot believe it is already week 7.  I secretly (well, not so secretly anymore) do not want it to end.  This week was a bit quieter than last week.  No late nights at events, however, I did get to read two scripts and watch a movie.  I actually like reading scripts and writing coverage on them because I am able to see another side of PR. I am learning that a PR campaign for a movie can begin with the earliest stages of the script.  By reading the script, you can send little teasers to media outlets about casting and hints of the movie to spark an interest.  The script that I read today, was something that I cannot wait to see.  By reading the script, I was able to create a list and figure out which outlets it might work best in. We also had a lunch & learn this week.  Two weeks ago, it was with Cindi Berger, chairman and CEO of PMK*BNC, and this week it was with Randi Friedman and George Nicholis.  We discussed the bread and butter of public relations.  I really enjoy these lunch & learns because we get to see all different aspects of the company. 


HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Week 8

Hi! I hope all of you had a good fourth! This was a very short week -- only Thursday and half of Friday for me!  I did not do too much this week (the office was dead), however, I did continue to reach out to different outlets that I thought would work for the script I read last week.  I also, watched a movie and gave my input on it to help create ideas for pitching it to outlets.  One thing that I learned this week? I really need to be creative when thinking about which blogs, newspapers, and magazine -- my boss said to me "we have a movie that would appeal to history buffs, middle age men, and an older generation, where do you think we could pitch to?"  I then thought about my dad, middle age, history buff, and thought, why not pitch to real estate magazines and newspapers?  He loved the idea and the creativity! 


I look forward to another week at my internship. 

Week 9

This week was filled with even more movie scripts and movies!  We also had another lunch and learn, where we sat down and discussed crisis communication and management.  We were lucky enough to speak with two executives at PMK*BNC, and they really gave us insight into the business.  One of the executives that we spoke with was vice president of the talent department.  I enjoyed her advice because she began in the film industry and then made the switch to talent PR.  For me, I love the film department.  I love the people I work with and I love that there is no ‘typical’ day at the office.  I am constantly learning from my supervisors and bosses and I am getting a real hands on experience.  I am also interested in talent PR, and it is something that hopefully, one day I can explore.  I worked on different little projects for my bosses throughout the week, including creating a calendar for an event, reading a movie script, and writing coverage for two movies.  I also worked an event for a new movie that we are working on.  I cannot even begin to explain how much I appreciate this internship and the experience that I am getting. 


Week 10


It is amazing how much the internship has picked up in the past few weeks.  I have been working harder than ever these past few weeks.  More scripts, more movies, but that just means more fun.  This week, I worked on more movies and scripts.  I read another script and watched a few movies for my bosses.  I also worked hard on a various media lists pertaining to the different films that we are working on.  I was happy and appreciative when my supervisor gave me the chance to put my writing skills to the test.  She let me draft up a press release for a client as he was announcing a new film.  I really do believe that each week I am given more and more responsibilities, which I really do appreciate.


Week 11


Tuesday was one of my favorite days at work.  I was able to go on set of the new film, "Very Good Girls," starring Dakota Fanning and Elizabeth Olsen.  We are working on the EPK for the film, so I was able to watch an EPK day and see everything that goes into an EPK day.  Once again, I was able to learn another aspect of PR.  I loved it!  I was really appreciative that my bosses let me go on set with them and watch the day unfold.  This was definitely another busy week for me, there were more movie scripts involved, as well as, two more films that I watched.  I have also been helping one of my bosses flip through photographs to send out to websites as exclusives for the films.  I cannot believe that I only have two weeks left of my internship!  


Week 12


Second to last week at my internship and it still amazes me that I only have a week left.  This week, I was able to watch a few movies and write coverage on them for my bosses. I also worked on putting press lists together for a premiere and continued to send out press breaks for the films that we are working on.  My bosses are definitely keeping me busy and on my toes for my last two weeks.  What I like about this internship is that there is no day-to-day schedule.  Everyday there is something different, which definitely keeps it interesting!  I have the routine down for the mornings -- checking breaks, formatting them, and then sending them out around the office.  But after that, I could be doing anything that day -- from reading movie scripts, to creating press lists, watching a movie, or using Cision to search for contacts.  I will definitely miss it around here!