An intern tells it like it is.

“A Baby Bird in the Spotlight”

By Eric Georgeson


With a teetering economy, a tough job market, an industry notorious for its cutthroat competition, and constantly evolving technology, entering into a career in film can be a frightening thing for even the most self-confident candidate. As the industry stumbles around in the dark trying to keep up with the Jones’, hope for the future comes in small anxiety ridden packages. Fortunately, Tribe Pictures is a ray of light amidst the fog. With over 20 years of experience in both feature and corporate films, Tribe takes a practical approach to film that has garnered them respect from some of the industry’s top clientele. As an intern at Tribe, I had a great perch from which to watch a thriving company in action. After comparing notes with friends about the rigors of being a greenhorn in video and film production, I realize how truly valuable my experience has been. Many of the “larger” agencies and production companies can offer a shiny gold star that might look decent on your resume, but they can also leave you discombobulated and proficient only in the art of gophering and coffee pouring. At Tribe, I got hands-on experience in everything from creative content development and script revision to editing and marketing - in addition to brewing the occasional cup of coffee and taking out the trash. Nestled in a quaint two-story Tudor house in the middle of Chatham, NJ, working at Tribe felt more like going to a second home in the morning than going to work. I was actually nearly sent home on my first day for showing up in a shirt and tie, attire that doesn’t fit with the casual laid-back feel of the place. In the two and a half months I spent at Tribe, I felt like I had been adopted by a family, rather than exploited by a company. I was involved in assisting in the production of the web series GetFitwithAlyson.com, an exciting Internet show created in conjunction with the Nintendo Wii and Alyson Stoner of the Disney Channel, an experience that I know will be valuable as online media moves to the forefront. I also got to associate produce a documentary with a senior producer from 20/20 and drop my two cents into the development of Paraty, an introspective feature film that Tribe is producing about coming to terms with loss and love set in the beautiful backdrop of the coastal town of Paraty, Brazil. With all this experience at my fingertips, I feel confident and prepared as I set my sights on graduating from Colorado State University this fall. And it’s all thanks to mama bird Tribe for helping me learn to use my wings to their full soaring potential… Now it’s back to sorting boxes in the basement. After all, it can’t be all glitz and glamour.