JENNIFER EPLING is our latest Film/Video apprentice ready to take advantage of the arena of opportunities offered at her training studio.
"Well, I am closer to living my dream of being 'in the business' than ever before...
I was looking for a successful media business just like this for my apprenticeship, one involved in many different aspects of TV and film production."
BIO
I have been an artist since I was two. Seriously. My passion for the TV/film industries developed a little later, however. I live in southern California. I've been here since my freshman year of high school. It was during one of my first years here, that I went to the taping of a game show. I was hooked. I wanted to be the person on the crane operating the camera, or the one on stage that riled up the audience to make noise, or maybe the announcer. Everything behind the scenes fascinated me. I had found my calling.
But I had no idea what to do next, except finish school.
After graduating high school, I entered the full-time workforce. Earning money became important. I put the idea of a fantasy career in film or TV on hold. I gained experience in office jobs and quickly moved up that ladder. Sure it wasn't what I wanted to do with my life, but I got paid for the experience I had gained, learned new things in business, and added them to my resume to get higher paying jobs. This cycle is difficult to get out of.
During these "office years" I attended a talk show taping, happened upon a couple of movies being filmed, and went lots of times to Universal Studios. I still loved the elusive TV/film industries. I imagined that one day I would jump off the tram without being detected and slip into a movie set. I could help haul props and blend in. I never tried that.
In a bold move, I decided to get a bachelor's degree. Toward the end of the first year, an important deadline approached: the final date to select a major. This was the first time I became actually committed to the goal of becoming a behind the scenes person in the TV or film industry... in writing. This was no longer a dream in my head. I was on a real path printed in ink.
Being a college student was awesome! I took classes that interested me -- the history of broadcasting, the history of film, screenwriting, TV production. These were interspersed with general education, but I really loved the classes in my major. I dedicated myself to homework, studying, writing, and all the other demands of higher education. I loved college so much, that I graduated from the university with a bachelor's degree in TV/Film, a minor in art, and was the valedictorian. I gave a speech about responsibility in mass communication. I was on top of my little world and ready get that dream job in "the business." One thing they don't teach you in college is that you have to know someone in "the business." Teachers aren't usually in the industry. At least, most of them are not connected enough to aid a student in getting a job, not even a student with a 4.0 GPA.
So, I was humbled. I went back to the workforce for more money than ever. I guess that degree was good for something. I don't regret having worked office jobs for so many years. After all, I have learned a lot on this path. I am proficient in dozens of PC and Mac programs and work well with different kinds of people. Working in an office job is not what I want to do with the rest of my life.
Through good planning, I am finally in a position in my life that the bills are small, the commitments are few, and I am really determined to work in the TV or film industry. I want to work with people who love it like I do. I want to learn everything there is to know about it. Working crazy hours for little or no pay is a microscopic price to pay to do what I love. This is the best time for me to do this. I am a quick learner, creative, and truly dedicated to this industry and the people in it.
In order to fully focus on my goal, I will work part time jobs on the side while I am being mentored, and I will continue to daydream about working at a studio. Jumping off a tram will no longer be a part of that dream.
HER INTERVIEW REPORT
Well, I am closer to living my dream of being "in the business" than ever before. I met Art Royce today for an apprentice/mentor interview and tour of Coast Media Teleproductions. I had read about Coast Media on Productionhub.com and was impressed by the long list of technical equipment. I was looking for a successful media business just like this for my apprenticeship, one involved in many different aspects of TV and film production.
After a short drive, I arrived for my interview. Immediately, I noticed the production trucks behind the single-story building. I was greeted inside by Bailey, a 6-year-old Golden Retriever. She made it seem like the people who work here are like a family. I imagined myself working there and easily fitting in to the relaxed, yet professional environment.
Art introduced himself and showed me to the conference room. I read and signed a non-disclosure agreement. Then he told me the story of how he got started in the business. After college, he was working as an automotive engineer. He was dating an actress and would go with her to shoots. When a stand-in was needed, Art volunteered. From that moment, his acting career was born. However, he soon learned that acting is 90% waiting and only 10% acting. During breaks on the set, Art would help with production duties behind the scenes and realized he enjoyed it much more that acting. A few years later, he made the life-changing leap. He became a film production apprentice for the people he had met while acting.
While he told me the story, I listened intently. When he got to the part about dating an actress, I thought, "That's it. You really do have to know someone to get in the business."
He worked his way up through hard work, for different projects and various companies. It wasn't easy, but he loves what he does. When Art talks about the business, it becomes obvious that he loves it. Even his eyes were smiling. Decades in the business and he still enjoys it. This is exactly the kind of person that would be an ideal mentor.
Of course, TV/Film Production isn't always rosy. Art warned me that, like any industry, there are crooks and jerks, and those that just punch the clock every day. But on the worst days in the business, Art said he learned the most. He admitted that he "wouldn't trade it for anything."
Art asked me about my interests and how I got involved in the Apprentice-Mentor Association. He had read my biography, but knew nothing else. I summarized my history: school, internship, work. I presented my philosophy about wanting to enjoy what I do and needing to be creative at work to be truly happy. He could totally relate.
Next, I was given fantastic descriptions of some of the current projects at Coast Media. There are three reality shows in the works, all of which I would love to be a part of. Underlying all of the creations that are born at Coast Media is a noble purpose. Art believes that a show should not only entertain, but should inform. A program should change a person for the better, perhaps by giving the viewer a new perspective. He said he doesn't create a show simply because it will generate money. There is too much of that, I agree.
In addition to episodic television, Coast Media also creates entire branding campaigns for national products, designs fully interactive websites, produces feature films, and designs trade show environments.
I was already really impressed, but now it was time for a tour. There were several edit bays, a sound room complete with an artist creating a soundtrack for a website, and another edit bay where we watched the first 3 minutes of one of the new TV shows being created. I got to meet people and see them doing their jobs. Then at the back of the building was the sound stage with a production truck parked inside and some lights set up around a green screen. Outside, I officially got to see the rest of the production trucks. This place was like a mini-Universal Studios. I was giddy, but I think I was able to supress it. I had no idea that there was such an amazing Media Production studio right here in Orange County.
Back in the conference room, we both stated that we would like to move forward. We discussed my schedule. I can hardly wait to start an apprenticeship at Coast Media. After a previously planned vacation, I will be there, ready to work hard and learn everything I can. So, decades from now, when someone asks me how I got started in the business, I will tell them a condensed version of this story, all the while, with smiling eyes.
Thank you,
Jennifer
PROGRESS REPORTS
Time flies when one is having fun. I have been working at Coast Media Teleproductions for over a month now. I am here Monday through Friday, seven hours a day. Although I am not being paid, I am learning all of the inner workings of a Film/TV production studio. Here is a breakdown of my first month at Coast Media:
Week One: Labeled DVD masters, helped with equipment inventory, followed-up on RSVPs for a cast/crew party for a new show, duplicated DVDs, observed non-linear editing with Media 100, relocated a film projector on the grid in the studio, installed/set-up microphones/speakers/ DVD player for a live event.
Week Two: Started with the very basics of editing on the Media 100 (extending the length of commercial breaks), got lesson from Engineer about reading a vectorscope and waveform monitor (interpreting light and color values), set-up C-stands, proofread a treatment and budget for a new show, helped set-up a jib in the studio, learned digitizing footage from tapes, worked a digital recorder and kept tape logs during a late studio shoot.
Week Three: Introduced to the Tape Vault database program and tape storage room, did research on Internet, observed editing on Media 100's 844x non-linear editing system, digitized footage for a new project without supervision, imported graphics for editing on 844x system, worked in detail (solo) with placing tapes in storage.
Week Four: Observed more editing on 844x, instructed on the finer points of "safe title" and "safe action" areas and in using graphics with an alpha channel, did in-depth research on Internet to build a timeline for new show, labeled tapes for storage, completed a job order for tape transfer to DVD, learned power-up procedure for mobile production/broadcast studio (van), learned how to use Media 100 to grab clips from one project for use in others and save to various drives, prepared a quote for film transfer and sent to client for approval.
That's it in a nutshell, but I'd like to give more detail on a few things. The editing that I observed on the 844x was being done by the company president/founder. This was a product demo video for an industrial company. I spent many hours watching and taking notes on the creation of this video on the 844x system. The one late night I helped in the studio as a grip and by operating the digital recorder, turning the chroma key on and off, and by keeping a tape log, was the product shoot that provided the footage that was later edited on the 844x. So I got to see a project from nearly the beginning to the end.
Being in the office every day, I've been able to help with the business activities, like preparing proposals, sending correspondence, and following up with talent. This too, is part of "the business." I was even invited to the cast and crew event held by Coast Media for a new show. The people that work here are all talented and creative. They treat me like one of the team and include me in learning opportunities whenever possible. I look forward to month number two and all the exciting things I will learn.
Sincerely,
Jennifer
November 1, 2007
Wow, it's hard to believe another month has gone by. This was a much different month than the first one. I got to see more of the pre-production side of the business, from creative meetings for new shows to preparing a budget and a treatment. Here's my adventure in more detail:
Week one (month two): I was shown how to do "still moves" in After Effects (movement on an otherwise still image -- like Ken Burns does with old photos), did more digitizing of raw footage, helped with revisions to a show proposal, got a more in-depth look at mastering and at the patch bay, proofread a budget and a treatment, labeled DVDs, troubleshoot tape database program to fix login settings, registered employees for upcoming trade show we are shooting.
Week Two: Screen a tape for sound problems, mastering 1" to VHS, preparation for upcoming trade show, digitized 1" tape for creating masters, learned names of lighting in studio, critique a show for problems, rewrite script based on final DVD, research for trade show.
Week Three: Script ideas for new show, client quote for DVD duplication, created freeze frames from raw footage, learned some grip terminology, create list of questions for interview, create a tape list from database, create a visual background for a document, more digitizing
Week Four: Brainstorm for trade show, label DVDs, power up production truck and equipment, attend creative meeting for new show, create props for upcoming shoot, more research for trade show and register additional people, create production books for upcoming shoot at trade show.
In a nutshell, I helped out this month with preparing for a 5-day shoot at a huge trade show. Coast employees listened to my creative ideas and technical concerns about 2 shows. I participated as an up and coming member of the production team. I ran errands as needed (still concerned with being an essential team member), helped with many different aspects of preproduction, and got to learn much along the way. This month was a good lesson that we must be adaptable to any situation and able to handle tight deadlines.
Looking forward to month 3.
December 20, 2007
It's beyond the third month already and I'm glad that I've been keeping a rough job duty journal since day one. This would be hard to keep track of without it.
Week one of month three: final prep for 5-day shoot at trade show, prepping talent w/updated script and wardrobe requirements, watch a training DVD to learn to operate a rental HD camera, make tape labels/mic flags/camera stickers for upcoming shoot
Week two: 5 days of on-location shooting at SEMA show in Vegas, coordinate camera batteries and tapes, run for supplies, coordinate shooting schedule & maps, get talent releases signed, collect information from booths we shot, photograph (SLR) crew in action and interesting subjects to use as production stills, minor creative input
Week three: create sales presentation binders, organize & archive still photos, log new tapes in DB, help put equipment away after shoot
Week four: assist with scripting, send Fed-Exes, label DVDs, lots of typing, organize the supply cabinet
Summary: Although an on-location shoot is a lot of work, I realized how important it is to be organized and prepared for anything beforehand. It was very fun and satisfying to be a part of the location shoot. There are still so many things I want to learn while I am an intern: sound mixing, editing, digitizing on FinalCut Pro, operating a camera, operating the switcher. Not only do I want to learn these things, I want to do them well. Someday, I hope to be a valuable part of the team, capable of helping out in several ways.
January 2, 2008
Time really flies when you are doing something you enjoy. Yes, another month is gone. Here's a run-down:
Week one of month four: Brainstorm & write a treatment for a new show, write in-depth questions for VO interviews, create visual materials for marketing presentation, research for new locations for weekly reality show
Week two: Make more marketing materials, research stickers & magnetic signs for new show, update cast/crew contact list, create artwork for show stickers & send for print, research locations & their history, attend & contribute at creative meetings
Week three: Register the crew & send press credentials for upcoming trade show, on-location shoot (acted as grip, coordinator, wardrobe, etc.), label & log tapes, scan photos, revise treatment
Week four: Revise one-sheet, create new labels, join Yahoo-group for new show to read/respond to messages, write press release for show premiere, build email list for sending press release, create press release disk w/photos & send to pubs, organize data files on network, create database of eblast targets for new show
We are getting closer to launching a new show, so I've been getting involved with the behind-the scenes preparation, the creative process, even marketing to find sponsors. This past month has been a real eye-opener about how to start a new show and how many people are involved. I've had the great opportunity to wear many hats and learn so much. Next month promises to be really exciting with the launch of the new show on cable TV. There is quite a buzz building and I've been swept up in the thrills.
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