Intership - Film/Tv/Marketing Company

Internship parameters (per U.S. Dept. of Labor + CA law):

You can only legally make it unpaid if ALL of these are true:

The internship is primarily educational (like a class).

The intern is the primary beneficiary (they learn more than they work).

The work does not replace an employee’s job.

The company derives no immediate advantage from their work (you shouldn’t profit off them).

The intern is not guaranteed a job after.

The intern understands it’s unpaid.

If you’re running a real business and having them do real work (research, scheduling, ops, etc.), they must be paid.

What we can do

Option 1 – Paid Internship

Pay at least $17.87/hr (L.A. minimum)

15–20 hours/week

Fixed term (e.g., 3 months)

Add résumé credit, mentorship, portfolio work

This builds loyalty and keeps you compliant.

Option 2 – For-Credit Internship

Partner with a school (community college, university)

Student earns school credit

Often unpaid is allowed because school provides structure

You still need to meet the “educational” standard

Option 3 – Hybrid Fellowship / Apprentice

Pay a stipend (e.g., $1,000/month for 10–15 hours/week)

Label it “training” with clear mentorship goals

Still safest to pay above $17.87/hr for any meaningful work