Corporate Responsibility intern Review

I cannot articulate how pleased I am with having completed this placement year at Warner Bros. The opportunity that has been provided to me and the other interns as a ‘first step’ on the ladder into the entertainment industry has been invaluable, as have been the skills and relationships that I’ve made.

The Corporate Communications and Public Affairs team have been the most professional, kind and nurturing group of people I have had the pleasure to work with in my albeit short career. My manager [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyPlacement Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] (Executive Director of Corporate Responsibility) has been a fantastic teacher, mentor and someone who set the perfect example for me to follow in both a corporate and personal environment. I am extremely grateful to now have these people as contacts as they have taught me a great deal and really set the foundations for my future practice and etiquette in future roles.

The intern handover week was a great way to steadily break me in as the successor to the role. As my predecessor was also kept on as a contractor, this really helped me settle in without any jarring feelings. The best way I can describe the handover week is imagining your first time driving after passing your test without your instructor sitting next to you. The team were also brilliant and would answer any questions I had for anything.

Workload varies from day to day. On the days leading up to an event we would be silently expected to put in the overtime, however, the positives outweigh the negatives without question. For example, working to organise an industry masterclass with famous screenwriters for the Warner Bros. Creative Talent Programme in our private cinema downstairs wasn’t the worst way to spend your evening.

Seen as my role was ‘Corporate Responsibility’ I was given a tremendous amount, in the way of dealing with corporate partners such as the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and being given the authority to administer the upkeep of the Warner Bros. Creative Talent alumni, now totalling over 250 members.

The skills that I have learned over the course of this year have instilled in me; discipline, working to deadlines, business etiquette and self-assessment. Upon my return to Loughborough University in September 2018 I will be working towards my degree and dissertation with a completely revitalised and professional approach.

When the team went 'open plan', the conversation dynamic was enhanced to benefit both personal colleague interaction and professional collaboration. The team's group dynamic worked well as each of our personalities complimented each other's strengths and weaknesses. The atmosphere was on one of high standards of work ethic and business conduct, but also accommodating and enjoyable when the time was appropriate.

The placement was meticulously planned and organised from start to finish. The support and continuing investment in the placement interns was beyond what I expected from a company that lies in the competitive and fast paced film industry. The HR and Learning & Development teams offered so many exiting sessions to give us a 'behind the curtains' look at the industry that we have chosen to dedicate our careers to. I will be forever grateful to WB and the company's generosity for this opportunity as it really has cemented my desire to spend the rest of my career involved within this industry.

The Learning & Development team provided us with such a diverse range of sessions from; 'leaving your legacy', 'the art of the CV' and the range of 'Lunch N Learns' (my personal favourites). These sessions introduced us to the executives of the company, from departments including; Theatrical Marketing, The Exec VP and MD of Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden and many more. For someone who is looking to pursue my career into the film industry, this was an invaluable experience for me to learn from them first hand what their roles entail, the process of how films are made and what people expect from you if you so choose to work in their team.

I would return in a heartbeat. The fact that the company has run the intern programme for just shy of ten years proves that investing in young talent is everything. Therefore, the fact that we have had this experience has given us a small taste of what a career in the film industry would entail.

As there were roughly 50 interns that arrive in each annual cohort, the social scene was always going to be thriving. We shared houses, shared nights out and made some great memories together. As budding professionals in the industry, those contacts and networks will be invaluable in years to come.

As we worked in central London, the cost of socialising was never gong to be cheap. As a fresh faced northerner, I had no idea that I would be paying in excess of £6 for a bottle of beer in some areas. I want to say that you get used to the prices but you never really do! I paid around £600 all in for my accommodation in Acton (Zone 2) and I shared with four other interns.

Central London is always busy and the bars/ clubs around the area were lively and abundant. The interns carried on the Thursday night out ritual from last year's group and have made some fantastic memories along the way. Although your wallet/ purse won't thank you for it, you'll definitely remember the year for all the right reasons in years to come.

As I have my sights set on pursuing a career in the film industry, London is the only place to be. I have attended acting classes 10 minutes from Warner House, I have been to film premieres in Leicester Square and I have met more celebrities during this year than in my whole life. The job itself takes care of your social life and 'extra curricular' activities for the most part with all the amazing events we get to go to. Anything else is a bonus!