ARTICLE:Fox Searchlight should have paid interns, judge rules

[MatthewShiner]

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/fox-searchlight-should-have-paid-interns-judge-rules-6C10292323

It may take awhile, but this could seriously effect theaters who rely heavily on interns.  I have seen this slowly coming over the past 13 years . . . although I hope theaters can figure out a way to provide a positive, education atmosphere for young theater-makers, the abuse needs to end.

[dallas10086]

Long overdue. Disappointing yet unsurprising that it took losing millions in court costs for a turn around in policy.

[ejsmith3130]

I am all for paying interns- especially when they are just filling the gaps where real employees should be. But I also can not ignore the amazing benefits I gained from my own unpaid internship during college. I did not have the resume or experiance at the time to have actually worked in the capacity that I did on the production at the local equity theatre. I learned so very much that I would not have from professionals that I wouldn't have otherwise been able to make connections with. I can trace all of my paid work for the next several years back to connections I made on that internship. I was unpaid, but I got college credit (something addressed in the article) and feel that what I recieved was beyond what I could have acheived without it.

It is interesting too that when you read all of the advice articles on linkedin and other job sites, internships are in the top reccomendations on how to get ahead in any business. I had a friend who worked 4 internships in PR, and didn't find a paying one until the last one. She still had to spend 6 months finding a job- and it ended up being a job created because the company couldn't find an intern to do the job.

What do we say about all of the internships in theatre that pay a flat rate or 100-150 a week and then expect you to work a full show/production/rehearsal schedule. I once worked out that if someone handed me a $20 bill for each show I would come away with more money, and that didn't take into account the rehearsals I was attending during the day. Talk about depressing. When this theatre offered me a job extension with almost no pay raise, I did what you have to do at some point and I turned them down, moved home and worked a day job to pay my bills. I think that is the most important thing we have to do as we consider ourselves professionals- you can't continue to work for low/no pay at some point when we have enough experiance and connections. I could afford to make that sacrifice for a little while, but now I demand that I be paid what I am worth. Even though it can be scary, there is no way I won't negotiate for a reasonable wage at this point in my career. If I can't manage to get paid what I think I deserve, than it is time to re-evaluate.

[On_Headset]

I don't want to downplay your experience, but this is an area where I don't especially mind throwing the baby out with the bathwater. For everyone who gets a Super Great Awesome internship, there (anecdotally) seem to be several dozen who spend months doing menial, useless busywork which neither advances their career nor educates them in any way. (This FOX thing is a classic example: we're taking someone who has an MBA and making them assemble furniture? Are you serious?)

[MatthewShiner]

I did not have the resume or experiance at the time to have actually worked in the capacity that I did on the production at the local equity theatre. I learned so very much that I would not have from professionals that I wouldn't have otherwise been able to make connections with. I can trace all of my paid work for the next several years back to connections I made on that internship. I was unpaid, but I got college credit (something addressed in the article) and feel that what I recieved was beyond what I could have acheived without it.

But couldn't you have made those connections by doing the job and being paid $400.00 a week?

I don't think we are going to see the death of unpaid internships - especially in the non-profit sector.  [This article was about an internship for a for-profit company in the movie business.]   I just anticipate that educational departments will have to do a better job in outlining the jobs assigned, making sure there is an education component to the work, and making sure there legality of the position upholds the test. But let's be honest, if you are fulfilling a job they would normally be needing to pay someone for . . . then let them pay minimum wage.

What I do see this changing is the notion of the PA in New York on for Profit Shows . . . and all those internships for profit shows in New York . . . this is where it will have a big impact.

Combine this with the article about the fringe I posted as well . . . let's see there be a minimum wage for theater . . . come on.  It's the way we making a living.

[RuthNY]

Re: Non-profit internships: http://www.blueavocado.org/content/legalities-nonprofit-internships

[Caroline Naveen]

I read the article and was wondering...I've been an unpaid intern for two years and was wondering when it was acceptable/how to ask for a job/paid internship. I don't have a degree yet. I love working at the theatre and I love the people there. I don't want to seem ungrateful for all the education they have given me, and how much they have grown me to do better a job over the last few years. Most of the directors I have worked under have been amazing, and even though the theatre is on a tight budget right now,  they personally give me a nice gift at the end of every show where I work under them. My parents have been pressuring me to find a job, but all the choices I have I would have to pick between that and theatre. I can't have both my family sometimes asks why I'm not getting paid at the theatre already and they kinda have a point. If I'm going to make a career out of this I'm going to have to have to make some money eventually, I don't want to be stuck forever in not getting paid. Pretty soon I'm going to have to face reality. What are some steps I can take to avoid being stuck in the unpaid cycle forever?

~Confused Intern   

[ejsmith3130]

If I'm going to make a career out of this I'm going to have to have to make some money eventually, I don't want to be stuck forever in not getting paid. Pretty soon I'm going to have to face reality. What are some steps I can take to avoid being stuck in the unpaid cycle forever?
~Confused Intern 

When you are approached about the next show or season, just let them know that you love working with them, but you can't continue being an unpaid intern. Have a number in mind too- is working for $100 a show really any different than being an unpaid intern? There is nothing wrong with asking for money. If they can't afford to pay you- they will find someone else who will work for free, and you will move on. You HAVE to be willing to walk. It is so easy to keep doing what you are doing, but there comes a point when it is hurting you and your career aspects. There are companies out there that are willing to pay- it is your job to go out and find them if the one you are at is not willing to pay you.

I had to leave a company and turn down a job offer from a theatre once early in my career because they weren't goign to pay me enough and it wasn't worth the hassle to me. I didn't have a back up theatre job. I ended up moving back home and working a day job unrelated to theatre while I looked for work that would pay me what I knew I deserved. It took a while, but I'm very happy I didn't get caught in the trap. It was more important to me that I was making money and happy, rahter than having a theatre job just for the sake of working in theatre.