I do see your points, and agree with them. I wasn't aware you were replying to Dr. Willis specifically (I blame this on poor reading comprehension and my third grade teacher), and that the information wasn't directed towards my specific situation.
But as far as a piece of paper that can be signed that will make the unpaid internship legitimate in my specific case...
It does exist. I have used it before. The state of California gave it to me through the university. Basically, I find a producer that would be willing to let me job shadow / ride along / learn technical skills. They say, OK we could do that. I ask the producer to speak with my departmental adviser, and if necessary the dean. They lay down the framework / scope of the internship, sign papers, decide how many units of upper division credit is merited for what I will be learning, and off I go.
This wouldn't be possible for me to do if I was not currently in college, so that makes me lucky I guess
