Approaching Change

So there is always change that happens, and change can happen at any time.

While at my Internship this past Friday my boss and I were talking and he mentioned how all shooting for this documentary may finish in March. This surprised me I really thought this project was going to go well into the summer with the shooting alone. However it seems they may have too much footage and will have to wrap up by March. When that happens he says that they will be moving there offices to Brooklyn New York. If that happens my Internship ends.

Now on one hand I feel like I am overreacting a bit, I don't know the plan just yet and its still just about two months away so I don't have to panic or anything just more observe and see what might occur. I feel out of the loop most of the time only because I can come in on Friday to contribute to this thing.

On the other I really have enjoyed this Internship while I have not done that much I do feel connected to it. I'm also sort of curious of how my hours will pan out, you have to put in 250 hours to get the PA credit and I am oh about 200 hours short. But I have been there since October and considering I have been in only on Fridays I have over 50 which is pretty good by my count, and there has been more than a few times where my bosses have told me to not come in. So I'm sure I will get my credit but I don't think I can make it to 250 by March if they are indeed moving.

So this is a change that's coming and I don't like dealing with change, especially when I have enjoyed my work here. But still 2 months so I will just have to see how it pans out and deal accordingly.

Near Miss

So last week while working I received an email from Emerson's carrier services. Apparently Discovery Channel will be in Boston from February till May taping a Season of Time Warp, and they were sending out a casting call for different positions. One of them was for a Camera Assist. It mentioned where you could do an internship and they had a small amount of paid positions available. So naturally I jumped on it.

I submitted my resume and asked them to consider me. I know compared to some other people my resume is not as impressive as most but I do know my cameras and if its just a camera assist I have done all the jobs that were required in that job title, so I would know what to do.

Sadly I heard back from them two days ago saying my resume was not going to be passed on. Its not a huge set back and I'm not really devastated. I know that eventually down the line I will get to Discovery (or History, or BBC) and it did not have to be right at this juncture. However a small part of me would have liked to skip that few steps and already get in Discoveries sights. The good news is my Roommate who does stage design and art designs resume did get selected and is being reviewed right now. I would love it if she got hired because it would be an awesome experience for her.

I was thinking about if it did go through how my regular day to day life would have changed, I would most likely had to have quit my current job (which would not have been the worst thing in the world), and would have to take a break from my Internship on the feature Documentary. The idea that my life could change like that that simply makes me realize that no matter how long it seems my current situation I know it can change at any moment and that's a cool thought to think on .

So that was a fun shake up, I'll get you again Discovery until then back to the daily grind.

In it for the long run

So I went down to the Cape today to do more filming for this freelance video I am doing. On the way here I talked with my boss about what has to happen with this video. I really thought we were close to the end of this thing, but upon talking and the shooting of this it looks like this video might not be done till the end of the month possibly until next month.

This is the biggest project to date I have done, its very intimidating. The video is no more than 5 mins long but my boss and employers keep saying this video will be very important and do allot. I really feel like this video is my first solid step into my world as a freelance Videographer. On one hand I really want this video to be done but that's just my own self doubt. I feel like I have had too much help with this and I'm not doing enough on my own. But then I think about how this is a big project and my first one, and I have never turned down help in the past.

So while I was bummed at the idea of this not done yet, I realize that I shouldn't loose heart. This is just a step and I was reminded by a quote I heard just today at my shoot.

"The journey of a thousand miles all begins with the first step".

Under The Sea

So one of the things I promised myself I would do while I was in school was get myself some sort of an edge for documentary TV. I realize that at my current state there is no way I am going to get a job with Discovery, History, BBC etc until I have more camera experience and more notable things on my resume.

I remember I was watching Shark Week on Discovery, and I thought "wow that would be so cool to film...wait why couldn't I film that?" So I decided then that I would get certified in Open Water Diving and Underwater Videography. Over the Summer I achieved that goal and became certified in Diving. This week I take one step closer to that goal.

I'm enrolled for an underwater photography course. I will be taking two classroom sessions this and Next Wednesday. Over the weekend I spend both Saturday and Sunday in the pool at MIT, learning how to take pictures underwater. I'm really excited for allot of reasons. One Its been since August since I was able to dive and even if its in a pool I'll take it because diving is really just so much fun. Second just from a pure educational standpoint I really am interested in the idea of learning how to take photos underwater. The main thing they stress on to learn while learning to dive is getting comfortable with being underwater and breathing steadily. With this it takes this idea of ok your calm but now here is a camera and try to get a good photo when your perception is all screwed up.

So not only will this be very fun, it will get me closer to my goal. I like the idea of being able to do something fun, that also helps my carrier too.

Actual Rewarding Work

So a few months back I was recommended by my boss at my internship to do a project. One of the pro groups for this renewable energy resource, asked me to shoot and edit a video for them. Off in Hyannis this local business owner was installing her own land based wind turbine. I was asked to tape its construction and edit a video to show this woman's personal triumph but also how useful wind turbines can be.

I started this project back in October and it is now January. This is more the Freelance aspect of my carrier but I feel like its a big step for me. Granted I have had TONS of help from my bosses at my internship. They have lent me there equipment, there time, and there thoughts on the video. I know why while they are great people and help me out it also helps them out too eventually for there Documentary so its really win win.

This is however the biggest personal project I have had too date. When this small six minute video is done its not only going on the company website, but its going on the business owners site and will be used as an example for the bigger documentary I feel. So by doing this video in a small way I feel like I'm contributing to the documentary which is an incredible feeling. Monetary I am getting an amazing paycheck. One that is going all towards my new Camera. I want to purchase a Panasonic HVX 200. With that I can actually start doing more Freelance which I want to do so I can build even more contacts and get more experience.

This has been a very long and involved project but its very rewarding to me, and when its all said and done I will be happy that I was a part of it.