The Lonely Seal internships are deeply rooted in creating meaningful growth opportunities in a positive, encouraging, education-first environment. Contact Internships@LonelySeal.comto apply.
This is an unpaid educational internship. Hammad Zaidi, Founder and CEO of Lonely Seal, has supported and mentored undergraduate and graduate interns since 1997. Many former interns have remained in touch and have continued to turn to Hammad for recommendations, professional references, and career advice years after their internships ended.
Over the years, Hammad has served as an adjunct professor, guest lecturer, symposium panelist, and advisory council member for numerous universities. Lonely Seal has also worked with undergraduate and graduate students through the American Pavilion student program at the Cannes Film Festival for more than a dozen years. These experiences have shaped our belief that every intern deserves patience, encouragement, direct supervision, meaningful feedback, and the opportunity to ask questions about building a career.
We cherish inclusiveness, independent voices, and stories aching to be told. We do not believe in bringing in students simply to give them busywork. Our goal is for every intern to finish the experience with practical knowledge, greater confidence, stronger analytical and communication skills, portfolio materials, and professional insight they can carry into future employment.
THE INTERNSHIP
Working closely with Hammad Zaidi and other experienced senior professionals at Lonely Seal, interns will learn how a film festival evaluates and programs films and screenplays, how a new streaming channel is developed, and how independent projects are prepared and presented to an audience.
Interns will receive supervised, real-world educational experience involving:
• The Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay & Music Festival, recognized as a “Top 100 Best Reviewed Festival” • Lost Pilots at Lonely Seal, our festival and programming initiative showcasing television pilots • The continuing development of Lonely Seal Streaming • The development and possible production of a filmed podcast for Lonely Seal Streaming • Supervised promotional and filmmaker-outreach exercises connected to these projects
FILM, SCREENPLAY, AND TELEVISION-PILOT EDUCATION
Interns will learn how to screen films and read screenplays using written educational criteria. They may prepare sample scores, written coverage, synopses, observations, and recommendations, which will then be reviewed and discussed with an experienced supervisor.
Through this process, interns will learn to evaluate areas such as story, structure, originality, character development, pacing, dialogue, production value, audience, and a project’s relationship to a particular festival or programming goal.
Interns may also study television pilots through Lost Pilots at Lonely Seal and learn how pilot structure, character introduction, world-building, tone, episodic potential, and audience expectations differ from those of a feature film or short film.
Intern assessments will be used as supervised learning exercises. No submission will be accepted, rejected, or programmed solely because of an intern’s evaluation. Final festival, judging, acquisition, programming, and production decisions will remain with Lonely Seal’s experienced senior staff and designated judges.
STREAMING-CHANNEL EDUCATION
Interns will be introduced to the process of developing a new film-streaming channel. Depending on the stage of development during the internship, educational topics may include:
• Programming and audience strategy • Film and television content evaluation • Introductory content-acquisition considerations • Scheduling and curation • Content metadata and organization • Rights, permissions, and delivery requirements • Introductory quality-control considerations • Promotion, audience positioning, and filmmaker relations • The relationship between festivals, independent filmmakers, and streaming distribution
Interns may prepare sample programming ideas, promotional concepts, outreach drafts, research, and presentation materials. Any external filmmaker communication, final promotional material, contractual discussion, programming decision, or operational responsibility will remain under the direction and approval of senior staff.
PODCAST AND PROMOTIONAL EDUCATION
Interns may observe and participate in supervised educational activities related to the development and possible production of a filmed podcast. These activities may include concept development, guest and topic research, episode structure, introductory production planning, sample interview questions, promotional ideas, and post-production discussions.
Interns may also help develop sample promotional concepts for Lonely Seal Streaming. Senior staff will provide instruction, review the work, and retain responsibility for all final publishing and production decisions.
The internship will not be used to fill staffing needs, replace paid employees, replace festival judges, or assign work ordinarily performed by regular employees without supervision. Lonely Seal will not depend upon an intern’s work to maintain its ordinary operations, meet submission-review requirements, or satisfy production deadlines. Any benefit received by Lonely Seal will be secondary to the internship’s educational and professional-development purpose.
SUPERVISION, GUIDANCE, AND FEEDBACK
Each intern will be directly supervised by Hammad Zaidi and/or another senior professional with relevant film, festival, screenwriting, production, streaming, distribution, or programming experience.
We will hold a weekly one-hour Zoom meeting. At least half of that meeting will be reserved for strategy, instruction, feedback, mentorship, and questions about the intern’s developing career. Additional individual guidance will be available as assignments progress.
Interns will receive:
• Clear instructions and educational goals for each major assignment • Written evaluation criteria and examples when appropriate • Regular and productive feedback • Guidance from professionals with relevant industry experience • A midpoint evaluation and a final evaluation • Access to the information, viewing materials, training resources, platforms, and equipment reasonably necessary to complete assigned educational activities • Assistance completing reasonable school learning agreements, evaluations, or academic-credit paperwork
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the conclusion of this internship, students should be able to:
• Apply consistent written criteria when evaluating a film, screenplay, or television pilot • Prepare a clear synopsis and introductory written coverage • Discuss story structure, character, dialogue, pacing, originality, production value, and audience • Explain the basic festival screening, judging, and programming process • Understand the importance of confidentiality, impartiality, conflicts of interest, and respectful evaluation • Compare the storytelling expectations of short films, feature films, screenplays, and television pilots • Explain several basic steps involved in developing and programming a streaming channel • Understand introductory concepts involving content curation, metadata, rights, delivery, and quality control • Develop a supervised promotional or filmmaker-outreach concept • Understand the introductory stages of developing and producing a filmed podcast • Present creative ideas and professional recommendations to a team • Receive feedback and use it to improve their work • Develop writing, communication, critical-thinking, teamwork, professionalism, technology, and time-management skills that are transferable to future employment
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL AND FINAL REPORT
Interns will keep a journal documenting what they learned, their successes, their challenges, and how their thinking developed throughout the experience.
At the end of the internship, each intern will prepare a short final report reflecting on their growth from beginning to end. We strongly encourage interns to retain a copy as a reference for future coursework, interviews, portfolio development, and professional opportunities.
TIME COMMITMENT AND DURATION
We would like interns to commit approximately 10–15 hours per week. We understand that some weeks may require fewer hours because of classes, examinations, academic deadlines, or other educational priorities. We want our interns to thrive academically as well as professionally, so the schedule will be arranged around the student’s academic calendar and commitments.
The internship will run for one mutually agreed-upon academic term. Before the internship begins, the student and supervisor will establish the specific beginning date, ending date, weekly schedule, learning objectives, and supervision plan in writing. The internship will be limited to the period during which it continues to provide beneficial learning.
WHAT WE LOOK FOR
We look for positive-thinking, curious, dependable students who value inclusiveness, independent voices, and original storytelling. Students should be able to work as part of a team while also completing individual educational assignments under supervision.
Applicants should possess:
• Strong written and verbal communication skills • Positivity, professionalism, and an endless curiosity • A willingness to ask questions and accept constructive feedback • Dependability and reasonable time-management skills • An interest in film, television, screenwriting, festivals, streaming, production, distribution, podcasts, or entertainment • The ability to handle creative material with confidentiality, care, and respect • The ability to work respectfully with people from different backgrounds and areas of experience
Previous experience with filmmaking, screenwriting, film criticism, festival work, video production, editing, streaming, or podcasting is helpful but not required. We care just as much about attitude, curiosity, independent thinking, and willingness to learn.
MAJORS
We are open to students from all majors. We have a natural interest in students studying film, television, screenwriting, communications, journalism, media studies, production, marketing, business, law, and related arts disciplines, but we welcome applicants from other academic backgrounds.
ACADEMIC CREDIT
Students are encouraged to seek academic credit when it is available through their college or university. Lonely Seal will cooperate with reasonable institutional requirements, including learning agreements, supervisor evaluations, progress reports, and other academic paperwork.
The student’s educational institution—not Lonely Seal—determines whether academic credit will be awarded. Academic credit is not guaranteed.
EDUCATIONAL AND FEDERAL STRUCTURE
This unpaid internship is designed around the primary-beneficiary framework described in U.S. Department of Labor Fact Sheet #71 and the educational internship criteria established by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
The intern is intended to be the primary beneficiary of the experience. The training will be comparable to the practical and hands-on instruction students may receive in an educational setting and will be tied to clearly defined learning objectives.
Before beginning, the intern and Lonely Seal will acknowledge in writing that:
• The internship is unpaid, and there is no expectation of wages or other compensation • Participation does not create an entitlement or promise of a paid position at the conclusion of the internship • The internship has an agreed-upon beginning and ending date • The schedule will accommodate the student’s academic calendar and commitments • The experience is structured primarily for the student’s education, professional development, mentorship, and career exploration • The intern’s assignments will complement rather than displace the work of paid employees
IMDb CREDIT
When an intern meaningfully contributes to an eligible production or qualifying project, Lonely Seal will submit or verify an IMDb credit when appropriate and consistent with IMDb’s eligibility requirements.
CONCLUSION
If you have read this far, you are probably giving us serious consideration. We understand that an unpaid internship will not be the right fit for every student. For those who are able to participate, we will do everything reasonably possible to provide a supportive, educational, and memorable experience built around mentorship, honest feedback, professional growth, independent voices, and genuine care for your future.
We see our interns as part of our extended family, which is why so many of them remain in touch long after their internships end. We look forward to hearing from you, learning about the stories that inspire you, and discovering the career you hope to build.
Ryz Sports Network Internship
The Lonely Seal Company Group and Ryz Sports Network internships are deeply rooted in creating meaningful growth opportunities in a positive, encouraging, education-first environment.
This is an unpaid educational internship. Hammad Zaidi, Founder and CEO of Lonely Seal and Co-Founder and CEO of Ryz Sports Network, has supported and mentored undergraduate and graduate interns since 1997. Many former interns have remained in touch and have continued to turn to Hammad for recommendations, professional references, and career advice years after their internships ended.
Over the years, Hammad has served as an adjunct professor, guest lecturer, symposium panelist, and advisory council member for numerous universities. Lonely Seal has also worked with undergraduate and graduate students through the American Pavilion student program at the Cannes Film Festival for more than a dozen years. These experiences have shaped our belief that every intern deserves patience, encouragement, direct supervision, meaningful feedback, and the opportunity to ask questions about building a career.
We do not believe in bringing in students simply to give them busywork. Our goal is for every intern to finish the experience with practical knowledge, greater confidence, stronger communication skills, portfolio materials, and professional insight they can carry into future employment.
THE INTERNSHIP
Working closely with Hammad Zaidi and other experienced senior professionals at Lonely Seal and Ryz Sports Network, interns will learn how social media campaigns are researched, planned, written, tested, evaluated, and improved.
Interns will receive supervised, real-world educational experience involving projects connected to:
• Major live sporting events airing on Ryz Sports Network, our growing sports FAST channel • The Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay & Music Festival • Lost Pilots at Lonely Seal, our festival and programming initiative showcasing television pilots • Promotional materials for Lonely Seal Streaming, our upcoming film-streaming channel
Interns may develop sample campaign strategies, draft social media copy, propose content calendars, conduct audience and platform research, suggest creative concepts, and participate in supervised testing and analysis. When educationally appropriate, interns may observe or assist with staff-led campaign implementation.
All final publishing decisions and responsibility for operating company campaigns remain with our senior staff. Intern assignments are intended to complement—not replace—the work of paid employees. Interns will not fill vacant positions, replace regular staff, or be relied upon to perform work that an employee would ordinarily perform. The companies will not depend upon an intern’s work to maintain their ordinary operations.
SUPERVISION, GUIDANCE, AND FEEDBACK
Each intern will be directly supervised by Hammad Zaidi and/or another senior professional with relevant film, television, sports broadcasting, streaming, marketing, or social media experience.
We will hold a weekly one-hour Zoom meeting. At least half of that meeting will be reserved for strategy, instruction, feedback, and questions about the intern’s developing career. Additional individual guidance will be available as assignments progress.
Interns will receive:
• Clear instructions and educational goals for each major assignment • Regular and productive feedback • Guidance from professionals with relevant industry experience • A midpoint evaluation and a final evaluation • Access to the information, training materials, resources, platforms, and equipment reasonably necessary to complete assigned educational activities • Assistance completing reasonable school learning agreements, evaluations, or academic-credit paperwork
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the conclusion of this internship, students should be able to:
• Explain how different social media platforms serve different audiences and professional goals • Research an audience and develop an appropriate campaign strategy • Draft clear, engaging, and platform-appropriate social media content • Build and explain a basic content calendar • Understand how timing, audience behavior, and platform algorithms may affect performance • Design and evaluate a basic A/B test • Read introductory performance data and identify what worked, what did not work, and why • Decide when a campaign should continue, be adjusted, or be replaced • Present creative ideas and professional recommendations to a team • Receive feedback and use it to improve their work • Understand professional considerations involving branding, copyright, accuracy, and responsible communication • Develop communication, critical-thinking, teamwork, technology, time-management, and problem-solving skills that are transferable to future employment
Interns will keep a journal documenting what they learned, what worked, what did not work, and why. At the end of the internship, each intern will prepare a short final report reflecting on the experience. We strongly encourage interns to retain a copy as a reference for future campaigns, coursework, interviews, and portfolio development.
TIME COMMITMENT AND DURATION
We would like interns to commit approximately 10–15 hours per week. We understand that some weeks may require fewer hours because of classes, examinations, academic deadlines, or other educational priorities. We want our interns to thrive academically as well as professionally, so the schedule will be arranged around the student’s academic calendar and commitments.
The internship will run for one mutually agreed-upon academic term. Before the internship begins, the student and supervisor will establish the specific beginning date, ending date, weekly schedule, learning objectives, and supervision plan in writing. The internship will be limited to the period during which it continues to provide beneficial learning.
WHAT WE LOOK FOR
We look for positive-thinking, curious, dependable students who can work as part of a team while also completing individual educational assignments under supervision.
Applicants should possess:
• Strong written and verbal communication skills • Positivity, professionalism, and an endless curiosity • A willingness to ask questions and accept constructive feedback • Dependability and reasonable time-management skills • An interest in learning about social media, film, television, streaming, sports broadcasting, marketing, or entertainment • The ability to work respectfully with people from different backgrounds and areas of experience
Previous experience with social media, writing, graphic design, marketing, analytics, or video editing is helpful but not required. We care just as much about attitude, curiosity, and willingness to learn.
MAJORS
We are open to students from all majors. We have a natural interest in students studying film, television, communications, journalism, marketing, social media, sports management, broadcasting, business, law, and related arts disciplines, but we welcome applicants from other academic backgrounds.
ACADEMIC CREDIT
Students are encouraged to seek academic credit when it is available through their college or university. Lonely Seal and Ryz Sports Network will cooperate with reasonable institutional requirements, including learning agreements, supervisor evaluations, progress reports, and other academic paperwork.
The student’s educational institution—not Lonely Seal or Ryz Sports Network—determines whether academic credit will be awarded. Academic credit is not guaranteed.
EDUCATIONAL AND FEDERAL STRUCTURE
This unpaid internship is designed around the primary-beneficiary framework described in U.S. Department of Labor Fact Sheet #71 and the educational internship criteria established by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
The intern is intended to be the primary beneficiary of the experience. The training will be comparable to the practical and hands-on instruction students may receive in an educational setting and will be tied to clearly defined learning objectives.
Before beginning, the intern and the organization will acknowledge in writing that:
• The internship is unpaid, and there is no expectation of wages or other compensation • Participation does not create an entitlement or promise of a paid position at the conclusion of the internship • The internship has an agreed-upon beginning and ending date • The schedule will accommodate the student’s academic calendar and commitments • The experience is structured primarily for the student’s education, professional development, mentorship, and career exploration • The intern’s assignments will complement rather than displace the work of paid employees
IMDb CREDIT
When an intern meaningfully contributes to an eligible production or qualifying project, Lonely Seal or Ryz Sports Network will submit or verify an IMDb credit when appropriate and consistent with IMDb’s eligibility requirements.
CONCLUSION
If you have read this far, you are probably giving us serious consideration. We understand that an unpaid internship will not be the right fit for every student. For those who are able to participate, we will do everything reasonably possible to provide a supportive, educational, and memorable experience built around mentorship, honest feedback, professional growth, and genuine care for your future.
We see our interns as part of our extended family, which is why so many of them remain in touch long after their internships end. We look forward to hearing from you and learning about the career you hope to build.
