Universal’s Five Nights at Freddy’s Provides On the Set Learning with Below-the-Line Traineeship

January 29, 2024

Through a below-the-line partnership, Erin Hayes and Jeff Benjamin were given the opportunity to work on the set of Universal’s Five Nights at Freddy’s, allowing them a phenomenal entry point for building a long career in the film industry. The iconic indie horror video game debuted on the big screen last year on Halloween weekend.

Benjamin described how this program promotes gaining hands on experience on films such as these.

“I am being mentored in the art department. I get to create art for what’s being filmed. On set there’s a wall full of drawings – I drew some of the pictures on the wall. When I go to the movies and watch it, I’m going to point to my children and be like ‘I did that, I did that.’”

— Jeff Benjamin, Universal Art Department Trainee

Launched in 2021, Universal’s Below-the-Line Traineeship provides on and off-the-job training and mentorship across select below-the-line departments on NBCUniversal film and TV projects around the world. With the increasing demand for experienced craft talent and artisans throughout the industry, this innovative and immersive experience cultivates the next generation of costume designers, prop masters, camera operators, technicians and the myriad of roles crucial to any production team by collaborating with local partners to source up-and-coming talent.

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