Engel Entertainment

Hey guys!
My name's Alexa Tanney, I'm a media studies senior (woo-hoo! the final stretch). I'm currently interning 3 days a week at Engel Entertainment, an Emmy Award winning production company in Manhattan. I'm currently interning in their TV Development department and so far I'm absolutely loving the experience I've had at this company. I've previously interned for Al Roker Entertainment, another TV production company, however I interned primarily in their Production Management and Post Production department.


1. What have you learned about working in the media that you did not know before your internship? Include here processes and procedures, job titles, you never knew of, how companies interact with other companies, and so on.
I previously interned for a different production company that most definitely ran their shift a completely different way. At Engel I feel like I'm getting a more hands on experience. I am learning the details and depths of the development department and the path of creating a Reality TV program to sell to a network. Prior, I had no idea how companies actually sign the talent that they do to create such programs. I've learned about the outreach and casting process for perspective talent, as well as the several hundred pitch ideas that companies receive every month. As an intern, I've been able to read through all of the pitches that come through into the company and see what I personally find interesting or that can be created into a program to sell. I've also been able to sit in on talent skypes and meetings with perspective talent for shows. Here, I've learned how to create a "Sizzle Real" to pitch to a network. The development department researches each perspective talent member intensely to pull together a question sheet. From there, they interview the talent usually via skype and record the entire interview. Afterwards, they replay/rewatch the interview, using editing software to create a shorter, well put together package to show to the President and Vice President of Development. From there, in Development meetings, we watch and discuss what we think will work for a show and which networks may be interested. Currently, Engel Entertainment is working on producing a show for Bravo called "Untying the Knot," which is about couples who are going through a tough divorce. I've been able to see the process of casting couples for said show.

2. Is the internship what you expected? Why, or why not?
The internship is definitely not what I expected because at my last internship I was definitely not as hands on as I am now. Previously, I was doing more clerical work: organizing, scanning, copying, filing. Sometimes I'd have the privilege to transcribe episodes of their hit show Coast Guard Alaska, but that was my extent. At Engel, I'm way more hands on. I'm actually invited to sit in on all the development meetings and am included on all of the development department emails. There's also an application called Basecamp where the development department posts all of their projects and ideas, in which I have full access to, as well.  It makes me a lot happier knowing I'm considered an asset to the company and not just an "Intern". I'm happy to be so hands on, too, because I am graduating in May and looking for an entry level job to start out with.

3. Is there any way you could improve your internship experience? Explain how.
I don't really see anyway that I could improve my internship experience thus far. I definitely feel like I'm getting a great learning experience and I'm entirely hands on. I think that because the development department here is relatively new, everyone is kind of adjusting. All of the people who work here are so friendly and open to asking me to do things or help out wherever they need, which is awesome because I want to do a lot and learn in every way I can while I can still intern!
You guys should totally check out their website if you are ever interested in interning for future semesters, they have tons of other interns in other departments and all of them say they absolutely LOVE working here. They also have hired several interns after their internship is complete.
www.EngelEntertainment.com

(And sometimes there are four legged friends that come in to help work, which makes it all the better!)