Kai-Ting Ko Independent Study 197 Internship

During the Fall Quarter, FMS Major Kai-Ting Ko worked as a global exhibitor partnerships intern at Sony Pictures Entertainment. At Sony Pictures Entertainment, Kai-Ting helped coordinate and host various types of screenings before the official release of several movies to market the films via press articles, social media, and word of mouth. Interning and working in the industry allowed Kai-Ting to apply the skills and knowledge she had learned from UCI to the real world and expanded her expertise in marketing in the entertainment industry.

1. How did you get this internship?
   1. “At the beginning of the year, I was actively looking for summer internships at movie studios and came across the opportunity at Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). I networked with several people at different movie studios through LinkedIn to gain better insights into the industry which helped a lot with my interview process. I really enjoyed working with my team at SPE and was even able to secure an extension offer for the fall, which allowed me to work on a broader range of movies.”  
2. What about your FMS education has helped you get the internship? Or what parts of your FMS education do you utilize while at your internship?
   1. “During the FLM&MDA 101C class, I learned about several helpful topics such as the history of marketing strategies in Hollywood, which highlighted the importance of advertising before the opening weekend of a movie. The course even dived into the history of Sony’s acquisition of Columbia Pictures. While working at SPE, I was able to gain hands-on experience in creating marketing content for movies that are produced by Columbia Pictures, which was a fascinating experience for me.” 
3. Which professor or class has been influential?
   1. “Professor Soderman has been extremely supportive and helpful throughout my internship. I meet with him biweekly to reflect on my work experience at SPE. He provides applicable reading materials which prompted me to learn more about the industry.” 
4. What do you hope to get out of this internship or what responsibilities do you have?
   1. “During the 6 months of my internship, I collaborated with a team of 20 to work on several projects including Bullet Train, The Woman King, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, Devotion, Where the Crawdads Sing, The Invitation, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and A Man Called Otto. My main responsibility was to design and create digital assets for theatrical releases, such as promotional packs, activity pages, concession boards, web banners, screening slides, and buyout flyers. I also got to photograph talents on the red carpet and execute social media postings for film premieres!”