Don’t just watch a film get made. Help carry its ripple into the world.
Empathy: The Pursuit of Joy — A Hero’s Journey is a global impact documentary exploring how story, music, science and the Dalai Lama’s enduring ripple of compassion can help people regulate, reconnect and rediscover the joy of being human.
Approximately 60% of principal photography is complete. Our filmmakers, scientists, musicians, contemplative leaders and impact partners are now preparing for the film’s next chapter—including additional production, post-production, an original “Music Is Medicine” soundtrack, an Indiegogo campaign and a global audience-engagement initiative.
We are seeking several curious, creative and highly motivated interns who want meaningful, hands-on experience helping an ambitious documentary cross the finish line.
This is not an internship where you will spend the semester watching other people work. You will receive mentorship while contributing to real projects that may become part of the film, trailers, campaign and global impact strategy.
Internship Tracks
Applicants do not need experience in every area. Please tell us which one or two tracks best match your interests and abilities.
Editorial and Post-Production
- Organize, label and log documentary footage
- Review interviews and identify compelling story moments
- Help prepare selects and editorial string-outs
- Assist with transcripts, archival research and footage tracking
- Create early assemblies of short-form content
- Support the development of teasers, trailers and fundraising reels
- Assist editors with project organization and media management
Experience with Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Frame.io or similar software is highly desirable.
Social Media and Digital Storytelling
- Help develop a social-media content calendar
- Create and adapt posts for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn
- Edit short-form videos, reels, interview excerpts and behind-the-scenes content
- Write captions that reflect the film’s voice and mission
- Research relevant conversations, artists, organizations and cultural moments
- Monitor engagement and help identify the content that resonates most strongly
- Support artist, scientist and partner announcements
Experience with Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud, CapCut or other digital-content tools is helpful.
Newsletter and Community Engagement
- Help develop and produce the film’s newsletter
- Turn production updates, interviews and research into engaging stories
- Maintain and thoughtfully segment email lists
- Assist with supporter communications and calls to action
- Research potential community, university, nonprofit and cultural partners
- Help grow an audience around empathy, music, science and human connection
Experience with Mailchimp, Constant Contact, Substack or similar platforms is helpful.
Crowdfunding and Indiegogo Campaign
- Help build the film’s Indiegogo campaign
- Research successful documentary and social-impact campaigns
- Assist with campaign storytelling, page structure and creative assets
- Help develop supporter rewards and contribution levels
- Create campaign emails, social posts and promotional calendars
- Coordinate updates and communications during the campaign
- Track campaign engagement and identify opportunities for growth
Experience with crowdfunding, fundraising, digital marketing or grassroots campaigns is welcomed but not required.
Events and Impact
- Help develop screenings, community conversations and special events
- Research venues, festivals, universities and partner organizations
- Assist with invitations, RSVPs and event communications
- Support event logistics and production schedules
- Help develop audience surveys and engagement materials
- Capture photographs, short videos and behind-the-scenes material when appropriate
Los Angeles Production
- Assist during selected local documentary shoots
- Support production scheduling, call sheets and location preparation
- Help organize releases, production documents and interview materials
- Assist with behind-the-scenes documentation
- Help coordinate equipment, contributors and production logistics
- Participate in occasional in-person meetings, events and screenings
Some production days may involve evening or weekend availability. These dates will be communicated in advance, and all working time will be paid.
What You Will Learn
Depending on your track, interns may gain experience in:
- Documentary development, production and post-production
- Interview review and story construction
- Editorial workflows and string-out preparation
- Trailer and short-form video development
- Social-impact entertainment
- Crowdfunding and grassroots audience building
- Newsletter and social-media strategy
- Film events, screenings and community engagement
- Collaboration with filmmakers, scientists, musicians and cultural partners
- The process of taking a feature documentary from production through release
Who Should Apply
We welcome students, recent graduates, emerging filmmakers, career changers and self-taught creators.
Strong candidates will be:
- Deeply interested in film, music, empathy or social impact
- Reliable, organized and comfortable meeting deadlines
- Strong communicators who respond promptly and professionally
- Able to work independently within a remote team
- Curious and willing to receive feedback
- Respectful when working with sensitive stories and cultural material
- Comfortable learning new platforms and workflows
- Available for occasional in-person activities in the Los Angeles area
A degree is not required. We care about your creativity, judgment, reliability and desire to contribute.
Compensation, Hours and Credit
- Pay: $20–$24 per hour, depending on relevant experience and assigned responsibilities
- Schedule: Approximately 10–15 hours per week
- Term: 12-16 weeks, with the possibility of extension
- Location: Primarily remote, with occasional Los Angeles shoots, meetings and events
- Job type: Paid, part-time, temporary internship
- Academic credit: Available when approved and arranged through the intern’s school
- Film credit: Successful interns will receive an appropriate production credit, consistent with their contribution and the written internship agreement
Academic or film credit is offered in addition to hourly compensation.
Please submit:
- A résumé or brief description of your experience
- A short note explaining why this film interests you
- Your preferred internship track or tracks
- Your weekly availability and ability to attend occasional Los Angeles activities
- Links to any relevant editing, writing, social-media, design or film work
- The software and platforms you know
Professional samples are not required. Student, personal and self-directed work is requested.
Help us complete a film designed not simply to talk about empathy—but to help people experience it.
Pay: $25.18 - $30.32 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Los Angeles, CA 90060
