http://www.eurweb.com/story.cfm?id=29278
*Columbia Pictures is partnering with eight of the world’s leading companies to offer “The Pursuit of Happyness ‘Pursue It’ The Ultimate Internship Contest,” in which contestants will compete for dream internships at Gap Inc., The Hollywood Reporter, Morgan Stanley, NBC, the National Football League (NFL), PEOPLE Magazine, PlayStation and Yahoo!
In addition to the internship position, each winner also will win a trip to the Hollywood premiere of the studio’s upcoming drama “The Pursuit of Happyness,” starring Will Smith, Thandie Newton and Smith’s son Jaden Christopher Syre Smith. Winners will have the opportunity to meet Smith and enjoy the evening with the film’s cast.
Based on a true story, “The Pursuit of Happyness” stars Will Smith as Chris Gardner, a marginally employed salesman who finds himself with nowhere to go after he and his five-year-old son (Jaden Christopher Syre Smith) are evicted from their San Francisco apartment. When Gardner lands an internship at a prestigious brokerage firm, he and his son endure numerous hardships as he struggles to create a better life for the two of them.”
“Chris Gardner, the person I portray in ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ is a bright, talented guy who’s barely making ends meet until he gets an internship that enables him to pursue his dreams,” said star and producer Will Smith.
Steve Tisch, one of the film’s producers and a co-owner of the NFL’s New York Giants football team added: “America is the land of opportunity, but to succeed in the corporate world everyone needs that first break, that foot in the door. The winners of this contest will get a unique chance both to learn about how great companies work and to demonstrate their own creativity, energy and determination.”
Through October 30, 2006 contestants can visit the contest Web site www.sony.com/Pursue-It and choose the company at which they would like to intern. As part of the online application process, entrants will need to create a video of themselves, in which they share, in five minutes or less, their own personal motto or “words to live by” giving examples of how this philosophy makes them uniquely qualified to work at the company they have chosen.
For more information, along with complete contest rules, visit http://filmcoop.wordpress.com/wp-admin/www.sony.com/Pursue-It. The film opens nationwide on Dec. 15.
