Placement Experience: Global Content Operations Intern - Warner Bros. Discovery - Ben Thorne

How did you find your placement role? What support did you get from the Placement team?

I found my role on the University placements website and had support from the team through both their summer Placement Programme sessions and some individual sessions to review my CV and cover letter before applying. I also had a meeting before my assessment centre, which was great to teach me how to prepare, calm my nerves and boost my confidence.

Can you describe the process of applying for placement roles? E.g. how many you applied to, if you had a system or sought support from anyone.

I applied to 8-10 different placement roles which I found on the placements website, while also checking sites like Indeed for other available positions. Most applications needed a cover letter or online questionnaire, so I would dedicate a morning around once a week to applying to roles to make sure I gave it my full concentration.

Did you have any concerns or uncertainties about taking a placement year, and how did you address them?

My biggest concern was that I wouldn’t find a placement at all. To address this, I broadened my horizons and applied to a wider range of positions than anticipated, looking at roles that were very different to the course I study that could still teach me relevant professional skills. This process also helped me practice writing applications and cover letters, which got easier over time.

What tips would you give to students about balancing placement applications with university studies?

Dedicating a block of time every week to search for new roles and write applications really helps separate the process from your studies, especially since new placement positions won’t necessarily be posted every single day. Having some time set aside every week helped me focus on the search and prevented procrastination in applying, especially if there was time pressure with application deadlines.

Please tell us a bit about the company you work for and your role?

Warner Bros. Discovery is a global media and entertainment company and makes a wide variety of content including films, television, games, and more. Warner Bros. Discovery features a range of brands including WB Pictures, WB Television, HBO, Discovery Channel, CNN, TNT, Food Network, DC Studios, Cartoon Network, and Adult Swim to name a few.

My role is in Theatrical Localisation and Operations, meaning we localise films to be released in territories across the world (with our team handling Europe, the Middle East and Africa). As a Global Content Operations Intern, I help manage keys for Distribution Packages sent to territories so they can decrypt the films they order, as well as raising Purchase Orders for localisation and distribution work. I also help the team with tracking and updating costs, preparing and uploading documents related to dubbing and subtitling, and presenting data analytics after a project is completed.

What challenges have you faced during your placement, and how have you overcome them?

One of my biggest challenges was starting my placement knowing nothing about digital cinema and localisation. The combination of new terminology, software and workflows took some time to get used to, but meetings with individual members of my team to explain the different aspects of the role and how they link with everyone else’s work meant that over time I am gaining a more complete understanding of how the team functions.

What has been the most rewarding part of your placement so far, and why?

The most rewarding part of the placement so far has been to experience the privileges of working in the film industry like attending QC screenings. These screenings have ranged from non-final versions of films to premium formats at locations like the BFI IMAX and Odeon Leicester Square.

Has your placement experience influenced your perspective on your chosen career path or field of study?

My experience has really opened my eyes to the variety of roles in and around working in film – even just for VFX, I’ve learned that there are whole departments working just on effects for localisation which could be a great starting point for looking for a job after I graduate now that I have some experience around this area.

Would you recommend the placement program to other students? If so, what advice would you give them?

I would absolutely recommend the placement program to other students. As well as learning a lot about the film industry, I’ve learned so much about the corporate environment and the skills that come with that like time management, presentations and public speaking, and working within a professional team.