Back for more!
Hello! My name’s Isaac, and I’m a summer intern at MVP Video Production. This is my third summer working at MVP, and I still learn something new every day. It’s been busy at the studio, and I quickly remembered how much I enjoy the excitement and energy that goes hand-in-hand with working at MVP. Within only a few days of coming back to work, I was out shooting with the guys, often multiple times a week.
Every shoot is guaranteed to provide thrills, and often leaves me pretty wiped out as I gaff, grip, and lend a hand in every way that I am needed. I become more familiar with the lights, sound equipment, and cameras with every shoot we do. This experience has allowed me to occasionally shoot on my own. Whenever the guys need some B-Roll footage that we couldn’t get the day of a shoot, they send me out with a tripod and a camera. Pretty sweet, right?
In the office, I am starting to know my way around Final Cut Pro, which has given me the ability to edit some of the smaller projects that we are working on. I’m beginning to realize that there is no better way to learn than through hands on experience, and I am able to do things on my own that I would never had expected, just because I’ve done them so many times at the request of Kirk or Jeff.
I’ve also had the pleasure of working with Serena, another summer intern who is a student at the University of Iowa. It’s been very fun learning the ways of the video world with a fellow intern.
I’m sure the summer will be filled with even more excitement, so I’ll make sure to share the thrills of working at MVP on the intern blog!
Calling the Still Shots
Serena behind the camera
Howdy! Serena here. Today was the funnest day of the internship, yet! My fellow intern Isaac and I arrived at the studio at 7:30 a.m. sharp. We helped Jeff and Kirk load up the van with lights, cameras, and a trunk full of other film equipment to shoot a testimonial and B-roll at EduCare and Xavier High School.
On the way there, I learned something new. Kirk taught me that certain film equipment is named after certain characteristics it has. For example, on a film set, clothespins are called C-47’s because that was the name the item had on the billing line. Other new terms include C-stands (bright silver stands with three feet), and stingers (short extension cords).
Since Isaac has been an intern for the past 3 summers, I took direction from him, and also took over 250 stills of the young actors with the tutors at EduCare. I kept shooting stills at our second location outside a local high school with the Canon SLR camera. The young actors were very talented (it must run in the family!)
It’s hard to believe this is only day 7 of my MVP internship! And the best is yet to come. What do I mean by that? One word: Twitter!
Look for some stills on the MVP Video Production blog!
-Serena
A Lingo Lesson
Hey, it’s Serena again!
Yesterday was my fifth day at MVP Video Production and I’m learning tons.
One thing that Jeff and Kirk encourage interns is to ask lots of questions, to literally bombard them with what we do not know. I think I’m off to a good start. Nevertheless, interns can sometimes feel like foreign exchange students.
For example, like any specialized field there are terms and short-cuts–a specialized lingo–that people in the field create to communicate in a faster, and more efficient way.
I’m still learning about different film industry terms and what they mean. So when we had a production meeting and the topic changed to ad agencies and Co-Op dollars instead of nodding “Yes,” I asked for a translation. It turns out that Co-Op dollars are a way to pool funds to benefit producers and advertisers. In various types of publications, an advertiser and a bigger brand can collaborate on costs for an ad. Said simply, it is a form of shared funding.
So, if I wanted to create a billboard of, say, a vegan homemade ice cream company, and I included a particular brand of soy milk, I could approach that soy milk company and ask them to pay for part of my advertisement. Not only will it cut my cost, but it may make it possible for me to purchase a spot for a second billboard giving them more advertising. Talk about win-win!
Bye-bye!
A Studio “Aha!” Moment
Good afternoon!
It was a bustling and fun morning in the studio today. We filmed 13 bright-eyed, energetic kids from a summer camp called Pacesetter Youth Camp. They each shared their “Aha!” moment of the week.
The organization took kids to local non-profit organizations like WayPoint and ARC, and ASAC, and they were able to visit with kids who were battling cancer. One story that stuck out to the kids was a little boy they met who was so grateful for a deck of UNO cards. Even though he did not have many toys, and was struggling with his health, they were impressed with his positive attitude. It made a big impact on them, and reminded me to not sweat the small stuff.
I took stills during the shoot, gave some high-fives, and later got to assist the other intern, Isaac, with editing the clip, and taking down the set. The simple edits took less than an hour, but the process of re-checking and printing disks extended the task to three.
I’m learning that the pace of a video production company varies. I’m looking forward to working more with the software and continuing to ask lots of questions. 🙂 Look for a video blog next week!
First Things First
Hello! My name is Serena Collins. I’m a new MVP Video Production multimedia intern! Throughout the summer I’ll be updating this blog periodically with the exciting new things I will learn. I’m looking forward to the film shoots, and learning all the basics about MVP Video Production and how they work.
Right off the bat I got to help the guys do some research for some footage for Beltone. Tomorrow I will help out as a PA during a film shoot for a non-profit organization. Another intern, Isaac, showed me the basics of the studio this morning.
Here is a little bit about me: I’m a student at the University of Iowa and I’m currently studying cinema and journalism. I’ve lived in Cedar Rapids for 22 years and I love to travel. My favorite thing about this internship so far is that I know that I’m working with people who are excellent in their field, and there is much to learn.
Look for a video soon and stills from the shoot tomorrow!
See you then!
~Serena
Isaac the Intern loves the Blue Angels
Welcome back to the intern blog! The guys and I just got back from a shoot in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at the 114th Fighter Group National Guard Base. While at the base, we filmed the Blue Angels Navy demonstration team for an upcoming science related television show. We were given “all-access” to the Blue Angels show, pilots, and crew members for an exceptional “behind the flying” experience.
CSB Green Screen Shoot
Yesterday, the guys and I went to Community Savings Bank to shoot an upcoming television commercial. We shot Kent Stock, who’s story was brought to life by Sean Astin, in the feature film, The Final Season, in front of a green screen. The shot took a while to set up, but once we had everything properly lit, the film-seasoned Stock flew through his lines with exceptional ease.
Here I am, holding cue cards for Kent Stock.
Welcome to the Intern Blog!
Hi! My name is Isaac, and for the past few weeks I’ve been working as an intern for the guys at MVP. I’m a junior in high school, and I’m interested in a career as a video or film producer. I’ve had a great time at MVP, and it has been a perfect way to obtain some first hand experience in the field of video production. I’ll be posting updates showcasing my MVP experience frequently, so be sure to keep an eye out for them!
