Interns should expect to spend much of their time completing basic office work or assistant duties. Making copies, distributing documents, answering phones, making coffee and similar basic office support tasks are often what a film intern does. However, even by doing these tasks, interns have a chance to observe the film industry from the inside and learn on the job.
Film interns also perform some office-type duties that touch more closely on the film industry. Research of many types is required on behalf of film production companies. This includes everything from researching history to locations the company may be considering working with. Interns may also have to complete some of the administrative tasks that the day-to-day operation of a film company requires, such as booking locations or securing permits and permissions.
A film intern spends a great deal of her time reading scripts. Film companies get far more scripts than could possibly be produced, and even those eventually produced go through extensive drafts and rewrites. Interns read scripts and provide basic coverage, or notes and analysis, of the scripts that come into the offices of the film company.
Interns might also be called upon to work in the creative side of the film business in other capacities. In addition to scripts, film companies receive an endless supply of resumes, directing reels, samples and pitches. Interns at some companies are given the responsibility of going through all of these materials. The interns are expected to provide feedback on each to a supervisor in the company. Interns might also assist on productions to gain an understanding of the production side as well as the business side of the industry.