Internship Info
Employer: Shawn Daniels
Company: Self-Employed, Proteus Studios
Subject of Study: Digital Video Production
Location: 1016 High St. Alameda, CA
Company: Self-Employed, Proteus Studios
Subject of Study: Digital Video Production
Location: 1016 High St. Alameda, CA
Weekly Journals
Day One
Janurary Wednsday the 12th, 2011
After filling out the required paperwork with Shawn and my mother we were off to San Fransisco where we promptly parked, unloaded gear, moved the car, set up the gear and waited. After waiting 3 hours with no contact form the clients despite our best efforts, we packed the gear up and headed back across the bridge to Alameda. Though Shawn was disappointed, I was almost glad they blew us off because it gave me the opportunity to ask any questions I had about the gear and set up without interrupting the work that was to be done.
Hours Completed: 6
Total Hours Completed: 6
Janurary Wednsday the 12th, 2011
After filling out the required paperwork with Shawn and my mother we were off to San Fransisco where we promptly parked, unloaded gear, moved the car, set up the gear and waited. After waiting 3 hours with no contact form the clients despite our best efforts, we packed the gear up and headed back across the bridge to Alameda. Though Shawn was disappointed, I was almost glad they blew us off because it gave me the opportunity to ask any questions I had about the gear and set up without interrupting the work that was to be done.
Hours Completed: 6
Total Hours Completed: 6
Day Two
February Thursday the 3rd
Today we headed towards the Silicon Valley area where I got my first experience with working as a contractor for a corporation. Upon arriving on location we had to check in with the front desk where they called our contact person who came down to meet us. We were given visitors' passes much like at Pixar and I didn't realize so many corporate buildings had this level of security, working mostly with schools I am not accustomed to companies trying to protect their secrets in this way.
Once in the facility I set up a camera, tripod and teleprompter then we waited for the man we would be filming. His assistant was very nice and interested in the way this was all being put together. I learned that we were there to film one of the higher-ups give a staff introductory speech that would be played at all of the staff trainings for the quarter.
When the older gentleman we were filming arrived, we got him set up in the right light and once things were ready to roll I was stationed outside of the hallway to prevent anyone from walking by and having a rubber neck affect in response to the camera. Although we didn't have anyone come down the hallway, one or two almost did and then upon seeing me in my vest of power found an alternate route to their destination.
Hours Completed: 5
Total Hours Completed: 11
February Thursday the 3rd
Today we headed towards the Silicon Valley area where I got my first experience with working as a contractor for a corporation. Upon arriving on location we had to check in with the front desk where they called our contact person who came down to meet us. We were given visitors' passes much like at Pixar and I didn't realize so many corporate buildings had this level of security, working mostly with schools I am not accustomed to companies trying to protect their secrets in this way.
Once in the facility I set up a camera, tripod and teleprompter then we waited for the man we would be filming. His assistant was very nice and interested in the way this was all being put together. I learned that we were there to film one of the higher-ups give a staff introductory speech that would be played at all of the staff trainings for the quarter.
When the older gentleman we were filming arrived, we got him set up in the right light and once things were ready to roll I was stationed outside of the hallway to prevent anyone from walking by and having a rubber neck affect in response to the camera. Although we didn't have anyone come down the hallway, one or two almost did and then upon seeing me in my vest of power found an alternate route to their destination.
Hours Completed: 5
Total Hours Completed: 11
Day 3
March Friday the 25th, 2011
Alerted the the fact that there were no shoots going on at the time, I asked Shawn if there was anything I could do in his studio and he promptly put me to work creating titles for the website of a rather talented piano player. Though the group that was hired to film the artist had sent Shawn a list of the songs the pianist had been slated to play, they forgot to send a revised list of what had actually been filmed that day, making my work a bit more complicated as I was not always able to identify which song was which, not being familiar with the songs. Fortunately I had Shawn working on another project on his second computer just a few feet away and he was able to sort out the confusing matter. Getting over that hump I made quick work of the remainder of the titles only putting in 4 hours that day.
Hours Completed: 4
Total Hours Completed: 15
March Friday the 25th, 2011
Alerted the the fact that there were no shoots going on at the time, I asked Shawn if there was anything I could do in his studio and he promptly put me to work creating titles for the website of a rather talented piano player. Though the group that was hired to film the artist had sent Shawn a list of the songs the pianist had been slated to play, they forgot to send a revised list of what had actually been filmed that day, making my work a bit more complicated as I was not always able to identify which song was which, not being familiar with the songs. Fortunately I had Shawn working on another project on his second computer just a few feet away and he was able to sort out the confusing matter. Getting over that hump I made quick work of the remainder of the titles only putting in 4 hours that day.
Hours Completed: 4
Total Hours Completed: 15
Day 4
May Sunday the 15th, 2011
When Shawn called me I was fearful that the job would be Sunday morning when I have religious obligations, therefor making me unable to attend. However it was fortunate to find out the job was occurring in the afternoon and that I should arrive at Shawn's at 4. As soon as we arrived we were out the door, though we wound up pulling over to double check that we had all of our gear and then wounding up pulling off the freeway five minutes after we checked our gear to go back for the lavalier mic.
When we arrived at the multimillion dollar home of our employers for the evening I was almost nauseated at the amount of money they must have spent. However as the night went on I was able to get over my frustrations with the way this family lived their life and focused on the job. We were contracted that night to film a party of philanthropists supporting or otherwise involved with Kehilla Jewish High School. As the night went on tray after tray of delicious looking food was brought out but as the help we were informed we would only be fed fruit. It was fortunate that a) Shawn had told me to eat before hand and b) that one of Shawn's associates, Alex, was their doing lighting, audio and visual effects. Having immigrated here from Brazil 20 years ago, he had an interesting world perspective and also shared a lot of industry knowledge with me.
Finally we were able to leave the room where we had been freezing and starved (our fruit never arrived) and headed back to Alameda where we ate at Juanita's on Park Street before I returned home that evening.
Hours Completed: 6
Total Hours Completed: 21
May Sunday the 15th, 2011
When Shawn called me I was fearful that the job would be Sunday morning when I have religious obligations, therefor making me unable to attend. However it was fortunate to find out the job was occurring in the afternoon and that I should arrive at Shawn's at 4. As soon as we arrived we were out the door, though we wound up pulling over to double check that we had all of our gear and then wounding up pulling off the freeway five minutes after we checked our gear to go back for the lavalier mic.
When we arrived at the multimillion dollar home of our employers for the evening I was almost nauseated at the amount of money they must have spent. However as the night went on I was able to get over my frustrations with the way this family lived their life and focused on the job. We were contracted that night to film a party of philanthropists supporting or otherwise involved with Kehilla Jewish High School. As the night went on tray after tray of delicious looking food was brought out but as the help we were informed we would only be fed fruit. It was fortunate that a) Shawn had told me to eat before hand and b) that one of Shawn's associates, Alex, was their doing lighting, audio and visual effects. Having immigrated here from Brazil 20 years ago, he had an interesting world perspective and also shared a lot of industry knowledge with me.
Finally we were able to leave the room where we had been freezing and starved (our fruit never arrived) and headed back to Alameda where we ate at Juanita's on Park Street before I returned home that evening.
Hours Completed: 6
Total Hours Completed: 21
Closing Report
Throughout my internship, the skills I used were mainly ones I had developed in my digital video classes at ACLC and through the WestEnd Media Center. Things like how to operate a camera, compose shots, set up lighting equipment, use editing equipment and how to check for the right levels of volume input were solidified and built up through Shawn’s direction. Given this chance to develop them within the professional industry I was glad to receive the guidance I did and know that I am more prepared to go into the working world because of it.
Each day I went into work with Shawn was different; different clients, different settings, different tasks for me to do. However by the end of the experience there was one thing I could count on doing no matter where we went: moving and guarding the gear. Consisting of two cameras, two industrial tripods and a lavaliere mic minimally, it was not uncommon to be sent back to the car an extra two or three times for the odds and ends Shawn had stowed in his minivan. In addition to that, depending on for whom we were working I would also have further responsibilities specific to the situation and clients we had been hired by. For example, when we went to the most corporate of the four settings, I was first responsible for setting up cameras, moving furniture to work with the lighting and in the end guarding the hallway adjacent to where Shawn was interviewing the client, so that no one would walk by while we were filming take after take.
Throughout the experience I learned a great deal about the equipment we were working with, especially lights, which I had minimal experience with. I also learned the basics of keeping clients happy and working out reasonable costs for service. The last new aspect of the industry I was exposed to through this internship was creating titles with Premire. Though I had done this many times within Apple’s Final Cut Pro and LiveType, this was my first experience with the Adobe version of video editing and I was glad to have had the opportunity testing out the program with the support of someone who uses the program professionally.
By far my favorite experience was working in the home of a multimillion dollar Jewish family. At some parts almost nauseated by the amount of money they had put into their home and it’s furnishings I also found it was almost comical the fact that rather than serving us what the other guests were eating, (Kobe beef) we were informed that as “the help” we would be served fruit. Hosting a party celebrating the Kehillah Jewish High School, Shawn and I had been brought in to film the speech of a distinguished philanthropist in the community and supporter of the school. Though it was interesting to hear what he had to say about the generation of Jews, (racially and religiously) growing up in America, my favorite parts of the evening were the conversations I had with one of Shawn’s co-workers named Alex, who was responsible for the visual elements and audio of the evening and who told me a lot about his work and the way the industry is functioning. In the end the pre-promised fruit was never delivered but at 10:20 Shawn and I stopped on Park St for burritos at Juanita’s.
Throughout the internship there weren’t many obstacles, however had I been more forward in asking him for the dates of shoots where I might have been of assistance, my 20 hours could have been completed much sooner.
Finally, when I first finished the paper work for my senior internship at Protious Studios, I assumed that the bulk of Shawn’s job was cameras and editing. Although these turned out to be the bulk of the tools he worked with, observing his interactions with clients and event managers I soon learned that the hardest part of being a self-employed videographer is working with clients. Some clients don’t show up on time, others don’t show up at all, a few liked to make last minute changes to everything and one was corrupt with money.
Each day I went into work with Shawn was different; different clients, different settings, different tasks for me to do. However by the end of the experience there was one thing I could count on doing no matter where we went: moving and guarding the gear. Consisting of two cameras, two industrial tripods and a lavaliere mic minimally, it was not uncommon to be sent back to the car an extra two or three times for the odds and ends Shawn had stowed in his minivan. In addition to that, depending on for whom we were working I would also have further responsibilities specific to the situation and clients we had been hired by. For example, when we went to the most corporate of the four settings, I was first responsible for setting up cameras, moving furniture to work with the lighting and in the end guarding the hallway adjacent to where Shawn was interviewing the client, so that no one would walk by while we were filming take after take.
Throughout the experience I learned a great deal about the equipment we were working with, especially lights, which I had minimal experience with. I also learned the basics of keeping clients happy and working out reasonable costs for service. The last new aspect of the industry I was exposed to through this internship was creating titles with Premire. Though I had done this many times within Apple’s Final Cut Pro and LiveType, this was my first experience with the Adobe version of video editing and I was glad to have had the opportunity testing out the program with the support of someone who uses the program professionally.
By far my favorite experience was working in the home of a multimillion dollar Jewish family. At some parts almost nauseated by the amount of money they had put into their home and it’s furnishings I also found it was almost comical the fact that rather than serving us what the other guests were eating, (Kobe beef) we were informed that as “the help” we would be served fruit. Hosting a party celebrating the Kehillah Jewish High School, Shawn and I had been brought in to film the speech of a distinguished philanthropist in the community and supporter of the school. Though it was interesting to hear what he had to say about the generation of Jews, (racially and religiously) growing up in America, my favorite parts of the evening were the conversations I had with one of Shawn’s co-workers named Alex, who was responsible for the visual elements and audio of the evening and who told me a lot about his work and the way the industry is functioning. In the end the pre-promised fruit was never delivered but at 10:20 Shawn and I stopped on Park St for burritos at Juanita’s.
Throughout the internship there weren’t many obstacles, however had I been more forward in asking him for the dates of shoots where I might have been of assistance, my 20 hours could have been completed much sooner.
Finally, when I first finished the paper work for my senior internship at Protious Studios, I assumed that the bulk of Shawn’s job was cameras and editing. Although these turned out to be the bulk of the tools he worked with, observing his interactions with clients and event managers I soon learned that the hardest part of being a self-employed videographer is working with clients. Some clients don’t show up on time, others don’t show up at all, a few liked to make last minute changes to everything and one was corrupt with money.
