<p>I'm a junior at Emerson College. I'm studying Writing for Film and Television. I'm currently in the process of putting together my resume and cover letters for summer '12 internships I'll be applying to. It's really, really important to me that I get an internship because I feel like it would be a huge step forward toward my career. My ideal location would be New York City.</p>
<p>Here are a couple of the shows I plan on applying to: The Late Show With David Letterman, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Focus Films. Other general NBC Production internships as well. Obviously a lot of huge names there, so I feel like I need to separate myself from the pack. So, I've got a couple of questions I was hoping you guys could maybe give me some advice on? It would be a huge help.</p>
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<li><p>The two things all of them ask for are a cover letter and my resume, which I'm currently working on perfecting. My thing is, I have a personal history that I feel could make me stand out from other applicants. When I was 12, both my parents passed away and overcoming that obstacle in my life and becoming a responsible, strong-willed individual despite that would make me shine... but my problem is where would I include something like that (if at all?) I want to make my cover letter as professional as possible and it's not sympathy I want from them... it's just I want a chance to demonstrate my character. Would I do it in a separate (concise but informative) supplement, include it as part of my cover letter, or forget about including it at all?</p></li>
<li><p>This past semester (Fall '11), I took a leave of absence from school to take care of my grandmother, who was there to raise me when my parents died. She was hospitalized for five months, then came home and needed serious assistance. It was something I had to do.. but now there's an obvious unexplained gap of time on my resume. Is there anything I can do to explain the unique circumstances to the places I'm applying to, or am I pretty much going to have to hand in my resume as is without explanation (my resume, even without last semester, is still really good in my opinion).</p></li>
<li><p>Pretty much all of the places say you can mail a hard copy, fax, or email your cover letter and resume. My simple question is: Is one better than the other? I mean, obviously I'm over thinking this a little, but only because it's super important to me!</p></li>
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<p>Thank you in advance to anyone who is kind enough to give me any kind of advice.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t include personal information like that. With big names like that it’s your previous experience that will get you an interview and then, if they ask, you can bring up more of a personal story so they can see who you really are. Honestly, I don’t think they’ll really care if you overcame difficult times and the kid sitting next to you hasn’t ever had to overcome any real hardship whoever has been working at their school tv station since freshman year and knows the ins and outs of what makes it work is going to get the internship. I don’t mean to discredit you AT ALL as i’m sure you have great character but remember this is an internship and they want tedious work done so they don’t really care too much who does it.</p>
<p>I wish you the absolute best and hope everything works out for you!</p>
<p>Rocky5, thanks for taking the time to respond. I totally get what you’re saying… it makes sense. So I should leave the personal info about my past out, and focus on the industry related stuff I’ve done. Makes sense. Any advice on the other two?</p>
<p>For the second one I actually have a similar unexplained gap in my schooling. It hasn’t hindered me so far (going on an interview today!). I’m not sure how you would explain it in a resume or cover letter. Again, in my opinion, it all comes down to experience but I know the anxiety you’re feeling about it. As for the last one I tend to email but I don’t know which one is actually “better.”</p>
<p>I’ve been working in the movies for a while now, and while I don’t interact with writers at all, let me give you my two pence.
Be quick, clear, and to the point. Absolutely no fluff or bull*<strong><em>.
The industry is a place of loyalty and friendship; a family. Generally everyone is pretty awesome, because if some is disliked, they’re simply not hired. There are enough excellent people trying to get into the industry that at the end of the day, the real ultimate deciding factor is who likes you. So above all, become good friends with everyone.
Let me tie my second point into my first point by saying that trying to sell yourself isn’t what friends do, and it’s an excellent way to keep yourself on the outside. Everyone sucks up to the folks above the line, and the last thing they want is another one of those people. Just be cool. Don’t be all buddy-buddy with them until they (in one way or another) invite you to, because respect and hierarchy is a code of the industry. But avoid at all costs any hint of appearing as a starf</em></strong>*r.</p>
<p>Sorry for butting in on the thread but @Ziltoid, do you have any advice for someone who’s looking to get a career in the advertising/public relations/marketing side of film?</p>