That's a wrap, folks!

An outside view of FableVision's office (we're on the top floor next to the My Sky sign!)

As the sun sets a little bit earlier every day and the wind develops a surprising chill, the summer finally ends, and so do our internships at FableVision Studios.

It's been a wonderful and unique journey for the six of us. Three art interns sat at the center work table, hunched over their Macs, diligently working on Peter H. Reynolds' upcoming animation, The Testing Camera. With styluses gripped and eyes focused, the art interns learned more about animation, various kinds of software, and the media production industry.

Meanwhile, three marketing interns occupied the front desks with their laptops, greeting employees and visitors with a grin. We learned about all of FableVision's projects, the children's media industry, and important marketing concepts. We blogged, tweeted, Facebooked, Googled -- and wrote, a lot -- all summer long.

In the bittersweet end, each of us leaves FableVision with new knowledge, new perspective, and new ideas. Some of us did not come in with a lot of marketing skills or software knowledge or even a complete understanding of how FableVision works. But after four months, we've learned about these things in a hands-on, real life way which cannot be replicated in the classroom. 

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Screenshot of artwork from The Testing Camera

Jazmine, one of the art interns, shares about her invaluable experiences she had during her internship:

Interning at FableVision has been a blast. I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to intern here for the summer. I really enjoyed working on Peter H. Reynolds' The Testing Camera. It was both challenging and rewarding. Peter has a very unique style that can sometimes be tough to recreate with my own hand, but it was a valuable learning experience and great to be part of making something with such a powerful message.

The best advice I can give to future interns is to always ask questions, no matter how silly you may think they are. I came to FableVision not having as much knowledge in Flash as I would have liked, and I had to ask a lot of questions. From those questions, I learned something new every day. Now, at the end of my internship, I have a lot more Flash knowledge under my belt and real work experience in the art/animation industry. 

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Griffin's original artwork displayed and illuminated for FableVision's Creative Juices Art Show.

Griffin chimes in with a reflection on his marketing internship:

As I look back on my summer, I try to remember all of the things that have happened in the past three months. After all, one of the most important parts of an internship is what you get out of it. It's the memories and connections that are made throughout the course of one summer. And wow, I made so many memories at FableVision. From the Creative Juices Art Show to the weekly lunch time adventure (in which I learned that you are never too old to play on a playground), FableVision is not a place I will soon forget.

It's always such a strange transition from internship to classroom, but hopefully my time and experience gained here at FableVision will help to shape and inform my decisions in the future. I also wanted to say thank you to Sarah, Andrea, and the whole FableVision team for making this summer so great!

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Brand and Development Strategist Andrea (aka one of the marketing bosses) and marketing intern Amy grabbing an ice cream from the giant Hood milk bottle.

In addition to gaining industry experience, we all gained a little something extra by interning at FableVision: we learned how to embrace the creative, childish side of ourselves. FableVision taught us how to be ourselves, have fun, and let our imaginations wander freely.

Working for the marketing department of a media production company was not my first thought when applying for internships. But, because I expanded my horizons a little bit and took a chance, I ended up having an incredible experience. So, my advice to all the internship-hunters out there would be to take a chance. Don't limit your options. Keep an open mind. You never know -- you might end up exactly where you're supposed to be.

Don't worry, InternVision isn't leaving forever! A big reason we created this blog is to pass it down to future interns so we can build on each of our unique internship stories. FableVision is accepting applications for their fall internships, you can get more details about applying here. Watch out for more posts by the incoming fall interns!

8 Tips to Remember when Internship-Hunting

Us interns here at FableVision have been in your shoes (and we very well might be again!). Internship-hunting can be stressful, confusing, and fairly intimidating. We’re here to give you eight quick tips that should give you a kickstart to your journey, as well as provide some guidance along the way.

1. Get a head start.

Give yourself a good six months to become familiar with the businesses or organizations you're interested in. Preliminary research is key, and that takes a decent amount of time. Internships are competitive, especially in Boston and other major cities. Time and research makes you a more competitive applicant. All of this will lead to…

2. A rockin' cover letter.

Most internship applications require at least a cover letter and your resume. The cover letter is important: this is where you get to show off all your research and company familiarity! Keep it straightforward - you don't want to waste their time - and don't be afraid to brag a bit. They want to know why they should choose you, so tell them!

3. Shoot for the stars... and have a back up.

Maybe you've seen the movie The Internship, and ever since you've dreamed of interning at Google. That's awesome! But it's also extremely competitive (sorry for the reality check). Go ahead and apply to those big, dream-status places, but also apply to some less competitive ones. Find out what internships are available in your town. Even if you intern for a small, locally-owned business, getting experience is what ultimately matters. And who knows, maybe you'll discover a passion for small businesses in the process!

4. Use other colleges' resources.

When I was internship-hunting, I used my college's internship lists and database. Unfortunately, it was not a very extensive list for what I was looking for (editorial and marketing internships). I found myself on UCONN's and BU's internship resources for their students, which was much more extensive and thorough. You have free access to it, so why not use it?

5. Don’t be afraid to ask friends and family for help.

Maybe you have a family friend who is in the same industry and could provide invaluable advice on where to apply, what they are looking for in an intern, etc. Many people look down on using “connections” as a means to an internship, but remember: it only gets your foot in the door. It’s up to you to make the most of your opportunities and show them what you can do.

6. Interview with your personality.

Your cover letter and resume may provide the skeleton, but it’s up to your interview to put some meat on those bones. An interview tells your potential employer about your personality and allows you to show how competent, charming, and good-looking (optional) you really are. Remember: don’t act like someone you are not! Honesty is the best policy. A mix of professional knowledge and personal anecdotes can go a long way.

7. Dress to impress

If you are lucky enough to get an interview, just remember: it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed.

8. Breathe. You did it!

Internship hunting can be a really stressful process, especially if you have submitted a dozen CVs and have zero new messages in your inbox. Just remember, everyone is going through this same process. Take a step back, stretch your legs, relax. You’ve done your best, and that’s something to feel proud of.

If you follow these eight steps, we’re pretty sure you’ll have a great shot at landing an internship. Good luck, and know that you’ve done your best!

A Look at the Art Interns

At FableVision, the art interns play an integral role. With their tablets set up and styluses in hand, our three summer art interns work to keep the animation process smooth and speedy. Here's an inside look at what it's like to work as a FableVision art intern. If you want to hear their back stories, hobbies, or see samples of their art work, check out the Meet the Art Interns post on the FableBlog!

Here's a little back story. Stephan, an illustration and animation student at Rhode Island School of Design, explains how he found FableVision:

I was looking for an internship that involved animation and had a close focus on teamwork involved. When my school sent out an email about FableVision's summer internship program, I checked out their website and immediately loved the aesthetic.

Now that I'm interning here, my favorite part about working at FableVision is the weekly Monday meetings. They are so much fun, and it gives me a chance to see what all the other people in the Studio are working on. These meetings definitely embody the teamwork aspect I was looking for in an internship.

What are they working on now? Brendan, an animation student at Rochester Institute of Technology, shares his experiences thus far:

As a student, the goal of any internship is to immerse yourself in a professional working environment to get an idea of how the industry works. What's great about FableVision is that it's a smaller studio with close relationships and frequent communication among the staff. It's easy to talk to different artists about their work and ask questions. As interns we also get to sit in on staff meetings to learn more about how everything works in a client-based business, which is a rare and valuable experience.

I love animating with the other art interns. We get to work hands-on with various animation projects, surrounded by other professional artists, and looking out at a beautiful view of Boston. For a rookie animator, it couldn't get much better than this.

Brendan explains the intern project:

Our main project has been animating a short called “The Testing Camera" by FableVision founder and New York Times bestselling children’s book author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds. It's a story about standardized testing and the effect it has on kids. Peter sends the art interns drawings of characters and scene layouts, and we animate the scenes in Flash. The three of us work together while animating to make sure the scenes are consistent in style and narrative, and to push through various technical challenges.

Peter has a distinct artistic style, which is exciting and challenging to interpret as an animator. It’s great to be pushed out of our comfort zone; being immersed in this project teaches us how to incorporate our own creativity into a project while respecting somebody else’s vision. It’s a much different process than working on independent projects as a student, and a great way to learn about how a studio works and communicates.

Jazmine, an animation student at the School for Visual Arts, provides her perspective on "The Testing Camera":

I really love this project, not only because it's challenging artistically but also because I can relate to it. As a child, I struggled with standardized testing in school, and I feel like this film hits the nail right on the head.

We’re excited to see the final product of “The Testing Camera,” especially knowing that our art interns helped it all along the way!

Are you an art or animation student and interested in interning at FableVision? Check out our jobs and internships page for a job description and application details.

Behind the Curtain

Have you ever applied to an internship or are applying to one for the future? Well, our first intern post is here and we wanted to take this opportunity to share our unique experiences that led us to FableVision. So whether you’re a fellow student who wants to understand more about interning or just looking for a good story, continue reading to hear from the three marketing interns and what they have to say about the process. 

(Not quite sure what InternVision is all about? Check out our "about" post!)

Amy's Story

We all know how it goes when looking for an internship: all of the applications are due basically in the same week, and it's possibly the most stressful week of your life. Well, I was in a busy part of my semester at Eastern Nazarene College and also applying for a summer internship in marketing, so of course all of my applications were due the same week in March. It's safe to say I was kinda freaking out.

In the midst of all the craziness of finalizing applications and reaching deadlines was when I first found out about FableVision. I actually found out from my dentist; her son, an art student, was applying for art internships, and FableVision was one of the only places where he received an interview. That sounded promising to me, seeing as I'd heard that many businesses don't even reply with a polite denial - just radio silence, which is pretty frustrating. So I went through the application process with FableVision, and was offered the internship!

Interning at FableVision has been the best random happenstance that could have happened. I'm having so much fun learning about how a marketing department of a small company works. Sarah and Andrea, our bosses in the marketing department, give a variety of different projects to do, from helping research and doing write-ups for FableVision's database to writing for social media and the FableBlog. On top of all the experience I'm getting, the workplace is just awesome to be in. From the enthusiastic employees to random waffle days (yes, as in we get to eat homemade waffles!), the stimulating environment means I'm always excited to go to work. There's always a new adventure, which is exactly what FableVision is all about.

Griffin's Story

As the summer before my senior year at Tufts University approached, the pressure to find an  internship steadily mounted. After watching many of my friends follow their passions and intern around the world, from San Francisco to Budapest, I was left twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the right internship to present itself. After a disappointing junior year, I was determined to find something that not only appealed to my interests in children’s educational media but would also expose me to something new. A dozen cover letters and resumes later, I found myself on the 6th floor of 308 Congress Street for my interview with FableVision.

Walking into the office, I was immediately caught off guard. Despite intel from two of my friends who had previously interned at FableVision, I had envisioned the stuffy cubicles and gray walls I had become so accustomed to in past interviews. FableVision, however, features brightly painted walls with shelves of books and toys accompanied by an eclectic mix of music (with playlists like “TV show themes” and “80’s love songs”). There are no barriers separating departments or water cooler gossiping. It is an entirely open space.

And “open space” perfectly describes this internship. A mix of structured work (social media posts, marketing studies, etc.) and free time to pursue your interests (this blog, for example) defines life at FableVision and makes every day fun and interesting. I have reached the final destination of my internship quest, and I couldn’t be happier.

Emma's Story

When I was looking at colleges, one of the most important factors that came into play was thinking about the internships I would apply for during my four years. I decided to apply to schools that would prepare me for these experiences and were located in an area with many different options. I found myself at Emerson College in Boston as a television production major with a marketing minor. Soon enough, two years had passed, and I was ready to start applying for my first internship. I had a few friends that had worked internships in the city and I had heard some positive experiences and some horror stories, so I didn’t know what to expect.

I certainly wasn’t expecting to work at a place that is as fun-loving and childish as it is professional and educational. After applying to a few places across the city using Emerson's online internship database, I heard back from FableVision when I got a cheerful message from my (now) advisor Sarah. It was the only invitation I got that made me excited to learn more about the company and what I could possibly be doing for them. When I went to my first meeting I almost laughed out loud because the office looked like something from a TV show − I couldn’t have been more thrilled. Upon walking in, my eyes were drawn to the decorative lights hanging above the red curtains and jubilant company sign. When I looked past the curtain, I saw that the office and people in it seemed just as wonderful and welcoming as everything I had experienced thus far. I accepted the position of Marketing/Operations/Production intern as soon as they offered it to me, and I could not be more pleased with my decision. This one internship allows me to explore so many aspects of what I want to do, along with providing free time to create my own projects and collaborate with the other employees and interns.

Are you interested in interning at FableVision? Visit our jobs and internships page for more info!