Fifth Sun’s 2025 Summer Internship Program: Preparing the Next Generation of Creatives and Arts, Media, and Entertainment Professionals

Marco Vargas
Jun 25
3 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

At Fifth Sun Pictures, we believe that early exposure, mentorship, and real-world experience are critical ingredients in preparing students for careers in the arts, media, and entertainment industries.

That’s why we’ve partnered with the Linked Learning Alliance, LAUSD’s CTE–Linked Learning team, and GPSN to launch a new and improved Fifth Sun Summer Internship Program. This 8-week experience provides high school students with structured, paid work-based learning aligned to the goals of Linked Learning and Career Technical Education (CTE).

Student intern cohort 1 stand outside the Fifth Sun main entrance. The mood is relaxed, with a clear sky. — Introducing student internship cohort 1. Eight students start their first day of work on June 19th. Cohort 2 begins on July 17th.

Two Career Pathways, One Vision

This summer, 30 student interns from our growing network of 45+ schools across Los Angeles are joining us at our South LA office. Interns are placed into two focused cohorts based on their interests and skills:

The Film Production Cohort is gaining hands-on experience in professional photography, video production, lighting, editing, graphic design, and post-production workflows. Their projects include producing B2B catalogs, brand content, and a studio recap video to highlight their summer journey.
The Sales & Outreach Cohort is learning about digital strategy, education marketing, and communications. They are producing a 14-episode YouTube interview series with local education and nonprofit leaders, supporting our Learning Center build-out, and designing consulting resources that will help schools improve enrollment outcomes.

Student interns visit IPIC Studio, our printshop partner. — Student interns visit our printshop partner, IPIC Studio.

A Commitment to College & Career Readiness

At the heart of this initiative is our belief that career readiness starts now—not in college, but in high school. Our internship gives students the opportunity to explore future careers, build technical and soft skills, and walk away with a portfolio of real-world work they can use for college applications, scholarships, or job interviews.

We also recognize that many of our students come from underrepresented communities in South and East LA, where access to career opportunities in arts and entertainment is limited. By opening our office, our tools, and our network, we hope to make those doors a little easier to walk through.

Who Can Apply: Student Eligibility

The Fifth Sun Summer Internship Program is open to high school students enrolled in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools—specifically those participating in our GPSN internship pilot. Eligible students must attend one of our partner high schools and hold a work-ready badge through their school’s Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway.

We’re proud to work in collaboration with dedicated pilot support partners like Linked Learning Alliance, LA Promise Fund, and Big Picture Learning. These partners help recruit students, guide them through the selection process, and provide ongoing support during the internship experience.

If you're a student at one of these schools and are interested in a hands-on, career-connected summer experience, reach out to your school’s internship coordinator or CTE lead to learn more about how to apply.

Office space with empty desks and black chairs. A green "Dartmouth" flag and colorful paintings adorn a white brick wall. Bright ceiling lights. — An inside look at student intern workstations. In preparation for the internship, our team remodeled the office to accommodate for 20 new work spaces.

Partnering with Schools to Uplift Student Talent

We invite school principals, teachers, and CTE pathway coordinators to think about how partnerships like this one can scale. Whether you’re looking to develop an internship program, produce content to attract new students, or provide more career exposure for your students—Fifth Sun Pictures is here to collaborate.

We’re more than a marketing and consulting company. We’re a mission-driven enterprise committed to reimagining how schools and communities prepare students for the future.

Let’s build it together.

Published on Wednesday, June 25, 2025