Inside Our Mumbai Summer Internship Program

At FOLKS, we believe that building the next generation of VFX artists starts with meaningful exposure and mentorship. This summer, our Mumbai team welcomed a group of talented students for an immersive internship program in VFX and Animation.

Over several weeks, the interns got to explore the full VFX pipeline, received mentorship from experienced artists, and wrapped up their journey with final presentations showcasing everything they had learned. What truly set the experience apart was the chance to be right in the studio environment. Interns shadowed experts, contributed to real tasks, and gained exposure to departments like CG, compositing and RPM. This day-to-day immersion helped them connect theory to practice, understand how different teams collaborate, and start to see where they might thrive in the industry.

LEARNING THE VFX PIPELINE FROM THE INSIDE OUT

The internship was designed to build confidence and provide a broad understanding of the VFX pipeline. It included: 

• Classroom sessions on 2D/3D department workflow and production management. 
• Shadowing opportunities across departments in CG, Compositing and RPM. 
• Hands-on asset development and compositing tasks.  
• Working under deadline and receiving feedback. 
• A final presentation that highlighted each intern’s progress, creativity, and problem-solving skills. 

Each step was crafted to simulate a real production environment, encouraging collaboration, curiosity, and reflection.

A PROGRAM POWERED BY MENTORSHIP

The program wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our Mumbai team, especially Jayanti Mahapatra, who guided the interns throughout the entire journey. From planning learning modules to facilitating mentorship and helping students navigate challenges, Jayanti played a key role in creating a supportive, hands-on, and inspiring learning experience.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

At the end of the program, interns reflected on their time at FOLKS. Here are a few highlights: 

“Coming back for a second internship at FOLKS felt like picking up right where I left off. This summer’s experience was incredibly rewarding and transformative. I walked in with curiosity and left with confidence, a deeper understanding of the industry, and a clearer sense of direction for my career. Truly grateful to Jayanti Mahapatra for your constant support and encouragement throughout the internship.”
– Tvisha Gada

“As I look back on my internship with the CG team, I feel incredibly grateful to have been part of such a vibrant and inspiring environment. The mentorship I received was nothing short of incredible—patient, encouraging, and always insightful. This experience changed the way I think about my career.”
– Ritu Chawla

“I had the valuable opportunity to intern at FOLKS VFX in the CG department, where I worked on modeling and texturing and shadowed multiple teams. This internship significantly improved my discipline working within a pipeline and enhanced my ability to coordinate with different departments. I truly enjoyed the supportive work culture at Folks and am grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow in such a collaborative environment.”
– Hardik Girachh

“My internship at FOLKS VFX was truly transformative. As part of the CG department, I worked on the modelling, texturing, and lookdev of a fire hydrant, a project that taught me the depth of detail and artistry in even the smallest elements. It helped me refine my Maya skills while introducing me to exciting tools like Mari and Arnold. What made this journey so meaningful was the incredible mentorship I received. From artists to supervisors, everyone treated me as a valued team member, always ready to guide and share knowledge.”
– Josephine Ann Ajay Thopurathu

"Interning at FOLKS was an eye-opening experience that taught me not only about the technical aspects of visual effects but also about workplace dynamics and professional growth. Starting off with Department Leads and Supervisors who took the time to explain things to us instead of directing us to online resources, we received invaluable feedback on tasks from supervisors and mentors. The program provided me with many helpful learning resources. The work in the studio is highly organised—each file has a proper naming convention, and tasks have deadlines. This inspired me to set small dedicated goals for my personal and academic work."
– Suryansh Baloch