Shorts Production Intern

About the role

Changing Lives Productions is the in-house video production company of Dhar Mann Studios, the #1 creator of scripted positive content online. With over 163 million followers and 45+ billion views across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, our videos receive more than 1 billion views each month. We produce several hours of original content weekly with messages of compassion, kindness, and altruism that resonate with viewers of all ages. Our stories tackle real-life challenges and deliver powerful life lessons that resonate with global audiences. Founded by Dhar Mann, named the “Moral Philosopher of YouTube” by The New York Times, a Time Top 100 Creator, and ranked #2 on Forbes’ 2025 Top Creators list—our founding principle is simple but ambitious: We’re not just telling stories. We’re changing lives.

The Shorts Production Intern role involves picking up a camera (iPhone), heading into the field, and connecting with complete strangers, often working as a one-person production team to film social-first, real-life content for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook Reels. Formats include inviting strangers to leave heartfelt messages for loved ones, social experiments, man-on-the-street interviews, acts of kindness, passing compliments, giveaways, and emotional real-life stories. The role requires curiosity about people, confidence approaching strangers, and the ability to create an environment where someone feels comfortable opening up on camera. Storytelling is seen as a way to bring people closer together, build empathy, and shine a light on experiences that unite us. Interns will capture joyful, funny, or surprising interactions as well as deeply personal stories about grief, illness, financial hardship, family, or other difficult chapters, listening without judgment, asking thoughtful questions, recognizing when someone needs space, and treating every person with dignity and respect. The intern will report directly to the Head of Shorts and has no direct reports. Work primarily takes place in the field throughout the greater Los Angeles area, with some administrative work possibly completed at Dhar Mann Studios in Burbank, CA. Reliable personal transportation is required.

Responsibilities

• Traveling independently to locations throughout the greater Los Angeles area to film short-form social content
• Working as a one-person field production team, responsible for basic camera, audio, and production needs
• Approaching and interviewing strangers in public locations and making people feel comfortable on camera
• Producing formats that invite strangers to share heartfelt messages, tell personal stories, participate in social experiments, give compliments, or take part in acts of kindness and surprises
• Asking thoughtful follow-up questions that help uncover the deeper story behind someone's experience
• Working sensitively with participants discussing loss, illness, hardship, family struggles, and other deeply personal subjects
• Identifying compelling people and stories in real time and knowing when an unexpected interaction is worth exploring further
• Capturing clean, usable vertical footage and audio while simultaneously thinking about the story the footage will ultimately tell
• Obtaining appropriate participant