TV Taping

As one of our class trips we had the opportunity to attend a taping of the show Two and a Half Men. This was an incredibly interesting opportunity especially after having worked on a film set. At a live taping for a show like this you are expected to make noise and laugh and enjoy their work. This is actually kind of awkward at first because on a film set you are expected to be absolutely silent. After a few laughs though you get in to it and enjoy the experience. Overall it is amazing to see the pace of television compared with that of film. Definitely something to think about...

(Melissa)

managers and agents

As part of our time here we have had the opportunity to meet with different members of this industry. One of the people that we met with was a manager. Most people don't really understand the difference between a manager and an agent. I didn't. Through our meeting we learned that a manager has a much more intimate relationship with their client than an agent does. You call your manager in the middle of the night if something is wrong where your agent would probably hang up on you. Besides this more personal interaction, a manager has the opportunity to develop projects with their clients while an agent is the one negotiating the contract. It all depends on the kind of person you are. As far as the creative end of things goes, both are essential to any career.

(Melissa)

Four Weeks To Go!

As my esteemed colleagues have noted, we're almost outta here! If you're considering doing an internship, one thought that might enter thine brain is this: "is 3 months enough time to learn/make an impression/etc.?"

Have no fear, gentle readers. I had similar concerns when I signed up for this gig. I worried that I would be an anonymous face quickly forgotten in by my co-workers. But in the past two months alone, I've become an important part of the company.

Part of this, I think, comes from working at a small place (which, incidentally, I highly recommend). But in any company, if you can find your niche, you'll become a valued asset - and hopefully meet some cool people along the way.

Halftime

So, we are halfway through the semester. Wow. It seems like we just got here last week some days. While, other days, you feel so strangely comfortable in this town that it seems like it has been six months. It's a great place to be. Things are still new and exciting, and yet you aren't scrambling to figure out which way is north (it's hard with no mountains!). This is also a time to re-evaluate your progress here. By this time it is easy to fall into a routine and maybe not try quite as hard as you did those first couple of weeks here. While it is important to feel comfortable at your job, it is important to have some self reflection and make sure that you are putting in the effort you want to for those last few weeks. I have a feeling that they are sneaking up on us and it is important to not loose steam, because let's face it we work REALLY long weeks!

(Melissa)

Where did all the time go?

Hey,

It's insane how time flies. It's an age old saying but it really is the truth. It feels like us interns just barely got here, but we are really almost done. We have less than a month left and I feel like I just started work yesterday. Being so busy really does that to you. My advice for any future interns is to intern only 4 DAYS A WEEK! This way you can have one day off a week to chill or do some tourist type things while in sunny California. It's been fun but I am somewhat sad it's gone by so fast. I feel like I still have so much that I want to do before I leave.

(Pano)

Big Budget!

Hey,

I am writing about being able to take a look at what the budget looks like on a major Hollywood movie. I had worked on a low budget movie shot in Salt Lake City over the summer. That was made for under $5 million. This budget was more than ten times that. It is just crazy to see the different salary ranges for big star actors or what a big name director makes versus a director on a small film. Regardless small or big, the money is a lot to normal people. I think being out here already for a while you start to lose touch with what things cost. Especially because out here where fashion matters, what kind of car you drive might be talked about, etc. it is hard to keep up. Everyone is going a million miles a minute in this town, money is spent left and right, it really makes you appreciate living somewhere else. It also gives you an appreciation of what you can do with the money on a small independent film. You have to make do because you aren't supported by a big studio. You can only dream of what you could do if you had a tenth of what a studio film spends on a movie. It's crazy here in Hollywood!

(Pano)

Junior or Senior?

There are many differing opinions as to when it is most beneficial to intern- your junior or senior year. Most people would say that it is most beneficial to intern during your senior year as you are about to enter the workforce and interning is a great way to land that first job. I have found that this does not always hold true. First, interning somewhere does not always guarantee employment upon completion of your internship. Second, you may find during your internship that your interests lie elsewhere and that you need to educate yourself in an entirely new area. Interning during your junior year does not eliminate job prospects. It only means that more effort is required on your end to maintain the contacts you do make. Also, many people feel like they know exactly what it is they want to do when they come out here, but many realize, through interning, that their interests may lie in a different area. This realization can be incredibly frustrating if you are in your senior year and have only one semester left in which to explore this newfound interest. As a junior I am very grateful for the extra time I will have when I get back to school. Through my internships I have discovered new passions that I can't wait to explore when I get home!
(Melissa)

Disney Studios

The production company at which I work is based on Disney's studio lot. This provides an excellent opportunity to peek around and see what there is to see.

One of the most interesting things is all the brand identity going on. Everywhere you turn, there are posters for new Disney movies, weird architecture based on Snow White, whatever. Much like a Disney film, there are actually squirrels running around happily on perfectly manicured grass. It's so idyllic it's almost creepy.

I think the biggest advantage to being on a lot, as opposed to in an office building, is sharing your building with a lot of cool companies. Our next door neighbor, for example, is this guy. Everyone on the lot has that cool entertainment industry casual-clothing thing going on, unlike the offices we're moving to, which are populated by uptight lawyers.

TV or Film???

Hey whomever might be reading this,

So it is definitely tough trying to figure out what you want to do when you grow up, maybe a little tougher in this industry. Everyone loves the movies, and idealists are always like "I want to direct" but of course it is not that easy. However, trying to find your niche is what this whole experience is about. Internships are a great tool to help you figure out what you want to do.

A lot of film students tend to turn up their nose when it comes to television. This is something that is relevant to me and my world out here. Working at a production company with a film and TV side is great because I can experience a little of both. I find myself more interested in TV every passing day. TV is a lot faster than film, by that I mean the process. TV is more cyclical because something has to be on at some hour in the day. Movies don't have to get made. It can take up to several years, maybe a decade to get a film made, whereas in TV it's like a sports season, a one year cycle, a bit of a break, and back again. If a TV show gets canceled you come up with something new next year. It seems as if there is more riding on a film that you put everything into.

However, with a film it seems easier to get into. TV requires being "established" whereas anyone with some money can go make a film and do what they want with it. Since TV is so controlled by the studios and networks there really isn't a independent niche like in film.

So anyway, both have their pros and cons, but I am here to find out what is for me!

(Pano)

Trends

In class, we often talk about different trends that show up throughout the industry in certain years. For example, many of this year's new shows are light "dramedies." Well, I just noticed a bizarre trend for this year in TV/film. See if you can spot it:What the hell?

Dress Code

Appearance plays a huge role in this industry. There is this desire to look younger while still making it seem effortless. Men will dye their hair while women will dress like their daughters to fit the young mold. This is fueled by the fact that there will always be a fresh crop of talent vying for their jobs. People need to appear as though they are on top of their game and are in touch with what is hot and the easiest way to do this is through their appearance. It has been very interesting to watch the different facets of this struggle with appearance. Working at two different companies has given me a unique perspective on this. At my studio internship I am in an environment that consists of mostly women. This fuels a very 'high fashion' environment. Every outfit consists of at least a pair of expensive, uncomfortable shoes, or a trendy bag. On the other side of things, at the production company, people aren't quite as trendy. It is more of a business environment. That being said, it is still extremely laid back. People look like they are still in college even though they are well in to their careers. This intense focus on appearance begs the question of whether or not you are prepared to make appearance a priority for the rest of your life...
(Melissa)