The Los Angeles Film Studies Center (LAFSC) internship program offers Olivet Nazarene University film students hands-on experience with the entertainment industry according to its website. It is a blend of educational exposure, applied internship experiences, and guided practice sessions, leading people on the path to Hollywood.
Gabriel Meinert, a senior majoring in multimedia communicaiton with a concentration in film studies said that he discovered the program before starting at Olivet and that it influenced his decision to attend the university. The program is often completed in one’s senior year, and in doing so, it meets academic requirements and allows students to gain industry experience that supplements their coursework.
“‘I learned more in two months there than in four years at Olivet”
-Gabriel Meinert
Photo by Reese Dosemagen
A lot of students find LAFSC long before they arrive on Olivet’s campus. Meinert, a recent participant, explained that he chose Olivet because of the LA opportunity in particular. His mother told him about a school in Illinois that sends students to Los Angeles for a semester. Then, on the spot he decided it was the school for him. Narratives like these are familiar — LAFSC is an attractive program for students who seek industry training outside the classroom. If you want to learn more the LAFSC, check out its instagram page.
How to get started
It is simpler than people expect.
“There were a couple of Zoom meetings with the heads of the program and with other students who were going. That was most of the contact we had until January. As for forms, it was mostly basic things—identification, class scheduling, and making sure everything lined up like a regular semester. It’s basically like registering for classes with a few extra steps,” he said.
Housing
LAFSC also offers residence in the local apartment complexes and for Meinert’s semester the cohort lived in the Park La Brea gated community. Students reside in furnished townhouses or apartments living alongside other program members. Meinert lived in a three-bedroom townhouse with five other guys. Other ONU students lived nearby and there were many students from other universities living there, so an inherent sense of community.
Internship Placements
Students were encouraged to look for their own internships so that placements are based on their interests. However, the program also connects students through alumni and longstanding relationships.
Meinert worked at a professional camera rental house during an internship, where he worked with real-life industry equipment and got to know established filmmakers. He explained that everyone who comes gets an internship and the staff are highly experienced at helping students obtain positions.
Learning from Industry Professionals
Participants take classes taught by people who are working in Hollywood right now—writers, directors, producers, cinematographers. Meinert said he learned more from these instructors in a few months than he had learned in years of traditional college classes.
For example, Meinert said one instructor had written and directed for major television series. The insight and practical knowledge he shared were unlike anything available in a normal classroom. The internship component of the LAFSC program allows students to gain genuine industry experience by working alongside professionals in real production environments. Interns often handle equipment, assist on sets, contribute to creative projects, and build meaningful relationships that can lead to future job opportunities. This hands-on involvement strengthens confidence and prepares students for the fast-paced film world.
