Red Tree Study: Film Internships in Colombia

After graduating from college I was looking for some way to gain professional experience while also not taking that miserable entry-level position (just yet). My school emailed me about RTS, and it was absolutely perfect. Don't get me wrong, I was anxious to get a job, and was still applying to many, but nothing good stuck, and it looked like RTS was not only the most fun-looking but the wisest decision for me as well. The application process was very personal and geared towards my own interests, and I ended up actually taking two 6 week internships because I wanted to try both post-production and development. They made it easy for me, and after sending them my resume and cover letters, I was all set. Not only did RTS help me find these internships, but they prepared them for me and gave me a clear idea of where I would be working, what I would be doing, and what I should know before I get there. It was perfect. I had interned in LA before, and this was completely different because it felt as if you almost had a little intern assistant helping you out, making sure you had the best, most full, experience as an intern.

Outside of the internship, RTS was the best travel experience I've ever had. I was in a new world, meeting new people, and seeing new things, but I also felt comfortable and safe the entire time. Colombian people are extremely friendly, and the RTS coordinators are even more so. I'm very glad to call them my friends, I'll never forget the experience or the people!

I highly recommend taking this opportunity, you will not regret it!

I applied to Red Tree Study's film program around October when I saw a flier at my school. I had decided I wanted to go abroad several months earlier, and when I saw film internships abroad explicitly advertised for me I figured I might as well apply. My application went through quickly, and the communication throughout the process was wonderful. Once I was accepted, I weighed my offer against a couple other programs I had applied for. However, the other programs seemed to be about making a profit more than helping me as a student. Red Tree was great at not only helping me find an internship, but helping me find a company that suited what I was looking for. I found Red Tree's prices to be exceptional given that housing and essentially all logistical details (save airfare and food) were included. I decided to accept my offer. I was really only expecting Red Tree to be a safety net for me in Colombia, helping me figure out the country and culture but being hands off. I was quite surprised that the social planning put together by the coordinators was fun and malleable based on the feedback of my group. I found a real community with the other film students, and Red Tree was a huge part of my time being well spent in Colombia. The programming was also not overbearing, if I wasn't feeling up to an event there was never any pressure to go or do anything I didn't feel like. The coordinators were helpful and indelible to my experience in Bogotá, and I would really recomend this program to anybody who is looking for a film internship abroad. I also heard good things about their other programs from my friends, though I can only speak to my experience within the film program.

I interned with Red Tree Study over this summer and worked on the film program and social calendar. I was so fortunate to work with such a lovely and talented group of people during my time in Colombia. I would fully recommend the experience to film and media students who would like to broaden their knowledge and discover a different part of the world!
Having worked closely with the students during their stay in Colombia, I was able to see how involved they were in their work place. They had opportunities to work on set with crew, help with scriptwriting and assist in editing roles, amongst many other positions! The diverse range of activities available meant that they were able to tailor their stay to their strengths and interests and Red Tree Study was always on hand should the students need any assistance. Alongside their internships, Red Tree Study offers a wide range of social activities allowing students to discover all of what Colombia has to offer. With excursions to Salento (coffee region), hikes in Soacha, tours of the colonial town of Villa de Leyva and visits to the Salt Cathedral, they were able to explore this rich and diverse country.

For a long time, I struggled with the decision to go abroad for a semester, or get an internship. I knew I wanted to do both, but felt I needed to intern. Red Tree solved that problem for me in the form of a six week internship abroad. The program is very well scheduled with lots of trips and excursions and the people of Colombia, especially the ones you work alongside everyday, were very nice and friendly. This program marked my first time in a foreign country and it is definitely one that I will always remember. It was exciting and fun and Red Tree not only worked to make it that way but also worked to make sure we were always comfortable and happy with everything. Even taking it a step further, when someone wasn't happy about something, they worked very hard to correct it, which is something I was really pleased to experience, especially while in another country where the language is not my own. I really appreciate everything that Red Tree did for me on this trip and am grateful to them for making it so special and offering me this great opportunity. I have now come to love Colombia and the time I spent there, and came home to my family with a lot of exciting stories to tell them.

I think this program is of top quality, I had too much fun and I learned a lot about my own culture. At my placement I worked on design, script editing, location scouting, subtitle creation, and the film making process in general.

I liked my host family who were very friendly and I enjoyed the social calendar because it gave me the chance to explore Bogota and its surroundings as well as work. My favourite activity in the social calendar was the weekend excursion to Villa de Leyva, a pretty old town in the countryside outside Bogota. I thought that the talks at Bogota Audiovisual Market were a highlight and were very informative about the Colombian Film industry.

The organisers were friendly and helpful and made sure that we were always safe (thanks Ginna!) I would recommend the program.

Through Red Tree Study I was able to find an amazing internship in Colombia. My internship allowed me to experience the film industry in a whole new way, learning so much about the industry and about myself. Working in Colombia provided me with incredible experience and knowledge that I will carry with me into my future career in film. Not only was the internship amazing, but I also had a great time getting to know Colombia and other interns in the program. My only regret is not staying in Bogota longer.