Getting an internship at Red Chillies – Thank you, Dear Zindagi!
About the Author: Rachel Vaz, a student of Thakur college of science and commerce, talks about her amusing venture at Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. and the nitty gritty of film marketing.
The concept of a mandatory internship for BMS students to acquire practical knowledge resulted in distress and exhaustion for me since I could not find an internship that resonated with my checklist (a glass building included). Nevertheless, with my constant hunt and the contacts of my family and friends, I scored an interview at Red Chillies Pvt. Ltd. Isn’t that cool?
I uttered ‘Shahrukh Khan ka office’ and a bunch of auto-rickshaws gathered around me. The security guard led me to the reception where I was provided with an Id card to access doors in the building. I sat there, waiting with a brew of unease and eagerness. I had entered the office with a head heavy with presumptions about the interview. To my relief, it was nothing conventional and was much like a getting to know you session with the HR. The HR explained the responsibilities involved with the job and asked me why I wanted to do it and why I should be hired. I replied tactfully mentioning my capabilities. She asked me about my field of interest and my versatility with the marketing domains to which I replied that although digital and international marketing was my primary choice, I was comfortable working in any domain of marketing. I was also questioned about the recent movies of Shahrukh Khan, which I enjoyed talking about being his fan. At last, I was asked how I would change the marketing strategy of the movie FAN? I talked about putting movie clips giving a sneak peek into the scenes on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. I also suggested the use of chatbot on Facebook Messenger to create an illusion that the actor himself was talking to the audience; this interested her particularly. Next up was an interview with my mentor to be. She told me about her role in the company, my responsibilities in the field of digital monetisation and international marketing, and her expectations from me. After twenty minutes and a handshake, I left the office with a sigh of relief and a hope to get through it. Three days later, I received an email citing that I had been selected and was to report at the office by 11. I was stoked!
Red Chillies Entertainment, an Id card, a huge desk, a set of stationery, and what not; this was a dream come true for me. During my internship, I was to look into digital monetisation and international marketing for the movie Dear Zindagi. The job involved uploading trailers on social media websites like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter. etc. and reporting how people reacted to them, the types of comments, number of likes and views, etc. I drafted suitable descriptions and catchy titles for the teasers, put English subtitles, and uploaded them. I also had to pinpoint any errors present in them. I read newspapers articles and forwarded the ones providing an enthusiastic outlook on the film and the actor to my mentor. I was also entrusted with the job of making guest lists and inviting them to the pre-screening of the movie. Although international marketing was a minor part of the job, talking to foreigners about the movie removed every bit of hesitation and helped me gain confidence. Post the release of the movie, I located the websites where the movie had been put up illegally and sent the links to the concerned officials for rooting them out. In the end, I made a report of my job during the internship, all the promotional activities that were carried out, and all other details for future reference of the company.
I was appreciated for my hard work and dedication. I was also offered an opportunity to work for Raees – an upcoming film of the actor, but I could not take it due to my studies. Socializing with different people, coordinating with the staff, prioritising tasks, and setting a to-do list every day were the highlights of my journey. With a heavy heart, I bid adieu to my mentor and my friends. The internship was a blend of fun and frenzy. Stepping out of my comfort zone led me to experiences and memories that would be etched in my mind for a lifetime.
Do you also dream about working at a big brand? Check out these cool digital marketing internships and make others a fan of your work.
Editor’s note – If you also have an interesting story to share, you can now participate in Your Internship Story Contest 2017 and win cash prizes and goodies worth INR 1 Lac!
