MILK STUDIOS
Los Angeles
Grip & Lighting Intern
Equipment Department | Paid Internship | Part-Time | Los Angeles, CA
Position Type: Paid Internship
Compensation: Competitive Hourly Rate
Schedule: Part-Time / Two 8-Hour Shifts Per Week
Location: 855 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038
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ABOUT MILK STUDIOS
Rooted in the intersection of fashion, photography, art, and media, Milk Studios has spent nearly three decades establishing itself as one of the most influential forces in the studio and production landscape. What began as a single studio space in Manhattan's Meatpacking District has grown into a full-service creative ecosystem, supporting thousands of productions each year for the world's leading brands, agencies, and independent artists.
The Los Angeles facility at 855 N. Cahuenga Boulevard houses seven professionally appointed stages alongside dedicated equipment prep, storage, and logistics spaces. Milk Studios' clients range from top-tier commercial photographers and directors to major advertising agencies and global fashion houses — its reputation is built on a standard of execution that clients trust production after production.
Working at Milk means more than filling a role — it means joining a company where creative excellence is the standard, where you'll handle some of the most state-of-the-art equipment in the industry, and where your daily work directly supports productions seen around the world.
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ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP
Milk Studios is offering a paid, part-time internship within our Equipment Department for individuals looking to build a foundation in professional grip and lighting. This is a hands-on learning opportunity designed for aspiring technicians, not a desk job. You will work directly alongside our equipment team, gaining real-world experience with the tools, workflows, and standards that drive high-end commercial and editorial production.
Our interns don't observe from the sidelines. From your first week, you'll be handling equipment, learning systems, and contributing to the daily operations that keep Milk running. By the end of your internship, you will have developed practical, employable skills in grip and lighting equipment operations — the same skill set required for entry-level technician roles at studios and rental houses across Los Angeles.
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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
- Identification, handling, and proper care of professional strobe systems (Profoto, Broncolor) and continuous lighting fixtures (tungsten, HMI, LED)
- Setup, breakdown, and organization of core grip equipment i
- Studio prep and wrap workflows: how stages are turned over between productions efficiently and to client specifications
- Equipment order building: how location orders are assembled, verified, packed, and dispatched for off-site productions
- Inventory management, quality control, and equipment testing procedures
- The logistics of a professional rental operation, including sub-rental coordination and client communications
- Safe loading and unloading practices for cargo vans, sprinter vans, and box trucks
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DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist the equipment team with studio prep and wrap across our six stages
- Support the building and verification of location equipment orders
- Clean, test, and organize returning equipment under the guidance of senior technicians
- Help maintain orderly storage and inventory across multiple facilities
- Assist with equipment room operations and in-studio client requests
- Participate in equipment deliveries and pickups as needed
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WHO SHOULD APPLY
- Students or recent graduates pursuing careers in grip and lighting, cinematography, photo assisting, or studio operations
- Career changers with a genuine interest in learning the technical side of production
- Self-starters who are eager to do physical, hands-on work and aren't afraid of long days on their feet
- Individuals with a basic awareness of grip and lighting equipment (coursework, personal projects, or volunteer set experience all count)
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REQUIREMENTS
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Valid California driver's license
- Ability to lift a minimum of 50 lbs. and stand for extended periods
- Reliable transportation to our facility at 855 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038
- Strong work ethic, punctuality, and a willingness to take direction
- Basic written communication skills (you will interact with clients via email)
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NICE TO HAVE
- Enrollment in or completion of a film, photography, or media production program
- Familiarity with any grip or lighting equipment, even at a beginner level
- Experience driving larger vehicles (cargo vans, box trucks)
- Previous work in any fast-paced, physical, team-oriented environment
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COMPENSATION & DETAILS
- Paid internship at a competitive hourly rate
- Part-time schedule: two 8-hour shifts per week, with specific days and times determined based on mutual availability
- Duration is flexible and based on performance, with the potential to transition into a full-time Equipment Prep Technician role
- Hands-on mentorship from experienced grip and lighting professionals
- Exposure to top-tier commercial and editorial productions
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WHY INTERN AT MILK
This isn't an internship where you'll be filing paperwork or watching from a distance. Milk's equipment department is one of the busiest and most respected operations in Los Angeles, and our interns are embedded in it from day one. You'll build skills that translate directly to paid positions at studios, rental houses, and on-set G&E departments across the industry. Many of our current full-time team members started in exactly this role.
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HOW TO APPLY
Please submit your resume along with a brief note about why you're interested in grip and lighting and what you hope to gain from this internship. Prior experience is not required — we're looking for motivation, reliability, and a genuine desire to learn the craft.
No phone inquiries, please.
Milk Studios is an equal opportunity employer.
Work Location: 855 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038 In Person
Job Type: Internship
Pay: $17.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
