Mentorship Program Outline
Introduction
Thank you for your interest in the new WIFC Mentorship Program! We’re committed to helping advance career opportunities for people who aspire to work in the film industry across the production spectrum. While we will be offering larger more public programs, if you are here, it is because you are interested in one-on-one or small cohort mentorship, as either a mentor or a mentee. And yes, you can be both. It is never too late to start out or get new perspectives.
What we are supporting
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We are focusing exclusively on the film, television, and advertising production communities here in Chicago.
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One-on-One mentorships.
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Small cohorts of mentees led by a mentor in that field.
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Focusing on folks that are not currently in school
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There will still be collaborations with schools for many events, though.
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What we are not supporting
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Internships, which should be run through individual schools for college credit, or directly through companies.
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‘To Hire’ relationships. We want our mentees to use their mentors as guides, and our mentors to advise and encourage mentees, but the intent is not to seek employment or find employees, but to learn and enrich your career.
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We are not supporting event videography, sports productions, etc.
Criteria for participation
Overall, for a one-on-one or group cohort mentorship, we are asking for 16 hours in total of time over the course of four months, to be scheduled out as you see fit. WIFC will be largely hands off, outside of the initial connection, and will ask everyone to commit to the Mentorship Code of Ethics. (will link to this here once we have lawyer approval) If you have any issues, we are here to support you and will help with the situation.
WIFC will not provide any sort of software. That is entirely up to the mentors and mentees, as applicable. They will also have access to the WIFC Slack channel and be able to use the Huddles there.
Becoming a mentor or mentee will require being a member of WIFC. If you become a mentor, you will get one year of membership for free. As a mentee, you will have to join. At the moment this is free, but it will become a paid membership in the near future.
Mentor Criteria
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Open to all genders
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5+ years of experience in the field you intend to mentor.
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Ability to commit 4 hours a month for 4 months (16 hours in total) to the Mentorship program, or however you and your mentee choose to break it up.
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To meet in a virtual setting and/or in person, as you and your mentee see fit.
Mentee Criteria
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Open to women and gender diverse folks exclusively.
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Open to all levels of experience, from freshly starting out to professionals looking for a next step. This is for age 18 and above. Preferably with a small bit of experience under your belt, whether it be an internship, degree program, or an entry level job.
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Ability to commit 4 hours a month for 4 months (16 hours in total) to the Mentorship program, or however you and your mentee choose to break it up.
Any questions? Feel free to reach out to mentorship@chicagowomeinfilm.org
