Every end is a new beginning..

“Every song has a CODA, a final movement. Whether it fades out or crashes away. Every song ends. Is that any reason not to enjoy the music? The truth is, there is nothing to be afraid of. Its just life.”

When you are listening to an amazing song, in the back of your head you know the song is going to start to fade off and eventually end, but instead of worrying about it being over you have to learn how to sit back and enjoy the music while its there, and though you want to keep replaying that same song over and over, you know at some point you are going to have to move on and listen to another song.

The next song may not be the greatest, or come near as close to being an amazing as the last but its still something new and refreshing and who knows maybe the song after will be the best thing you heard in your life.

This was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I soaked in every single piece of knowledge and information like a sponge. I took everything I learned to heart and had an open mind to the wide range of advice given to me. I knew the trip was going to end, but I did not dwell on that at all. I learned a colossal amount of information in such a short period of time and can honestly say I feel better prepared for whatever life throws my way.

It wasn't just the things we did, but the people around me who really made it what it was. The original idea of the trip was for all of us to have the opportunity to network with former bobcats and make connections that we will be able to carry into our future as we are stepping out into the world and making it on our own. However, after getting to know each and every person that I was fortunate enough to have this wonderful opportunity with, I realized it was not just about networking with alumni, but networking with my fellow peers as well. The people I am surrounded by now are going to be some of the most beneficial people in my future.

After every alumni speaker, panel and event, I was so inspired to get back to school and start creating. I wanted to start working on any production I could. This trip was probably one of the most motivating things I could experience while at OU. I now know exactly what I need to do to get where I want to be, not only in school but after I graduate as well. As sad as it was to have this amazing opportunity come to an end, I realize now that this ending it bringing on a whole new beginning, and I am anxious, excited, scared, and overjoyed to see what is coming next.  

Big pond little fish

It has been another jam-packed day of great insight and information in LA! We talked to a lot of OU Alumni who were all more than willing to share their stories and advice with all of us. I was literally getting information hurled at me, and rather than telling you what I did today, I am going to share with you what I learned from each person.

Rocco taught me that in this industry I need to start early and build a network of people I know so I can open up doors for my future. I have to understand that I will need the help of others because the career path I chose to take is all about collaboration. He also taught me that I need to be open to things that I haven’t necessarily thought of before, because in this industry you have to have an open mind and be willing to do anything to advance your career.

Matt Rhodes was extremely inspiring and did not sugar coat anything about the media business, which I definitely appreciated. After he talked to us I was so motivated after listening to what all he had to say I just wanted to go back to OU and create something, and start working on anything I can get my hands on. He explained that we need to learn how to sell ourselves and to understand that it is not about you it is about them. He made it very clear for us to never be offended if no one emails you back, and you have to learn how to develop a thick skin and understand that some people just are not going to care what you have to say. I know after listening to everything he had to say that I have to prove that I have an ultimate commitment to what it exactly is that I want to do, which I am still trying to figure out, and start my path now. This is my time to shine, and I have to do whatever it takes, work hard and be the best I can be in any situation.

Lauren Archer had a lot of helpful tips about living in LA, and explaining what being a production assistant involves. She also help me better understand each position in the industry, and helped navigate me to figuring out what exactly I ultimately wanted to do. After talking with her I learned that if I love being on set that production coordinator, or field producer might be a direction I should consider taking. I think overall she guided me toward figuring out that even though I enjoy editing, it’s not exactly something I want to do for the rest of my life, sitting in a dark room all day does not sound very appealing to me.

Last but certainly not least Sam & Chris, they gave me a lot of things to think about, and I feel like I have more of a grasp on what I need to do when I get back to school. I really have to figure out what I want to do, and what I am good at and stick to it. I need to avoid getting lost in the “you’ll figure it out eventually” stage, because eventually is a lot of time and money, and well lets be honest eventually may never come. If I know exactly what my ultimate goal is and can express it to potential employers I will be the one to stand out in that crowd.

A goal without a plan is just a goal..

It was another eventful day in LA, filled with useful information, & crazy antics!

We started off at the academy of television arts and sciences, where we learned a lot about the internship programs they offer. The staff that was nice enough to come chat with us and answer questions. They all gave us a lot of valuable tips for applying for the program. They also explained that you have to be aware of what people are doing on TV now so you are current and update on new shows. You not only have to watch a lot of current television, but also go into the archive and learn the history of television shows, to know and understand exactly how to tell a good story.

After the academy, we headed over to Panovision and got to check out all the equipment the professionals use. They explained how they supply the cameras to the studios, and offer assistance when anything with them goes wrong. They showed us the 3D cameras, and explained that they love 3D camera work because it gives the movie a lot more depth. I think this is very important because the media industry is moving more towards 3D features and embracing this change is all we can really do.

Our last, and most awesome stop of the day was going to a live taping of the show Mike & Molly! I also love this show, so I was really excited for this event. I think we were all really surprised how much audience participation was involved in the taping of the show. Sadly, the set did not move so I was not able to watch every scene they filmed live. However, I think they made up for it by having someone host the show and keeping the audience motivated and entertained. I stepped up to represent the fine students of Ohio University and showed off my “special” talent and proceeded to burp in front of 200 plus audience and crew members. Pretty epic if I do say so myself! After the show, a few of us were able to meet the cast members and get their autographs. I was very surprised at how humble they all were. They were all extremely appreciative that we all came, and thanked us for watching the show. Going to a live taping and seeing all the work that goes into the production of a sitcom was truly a remarkable experience. I just kept thinking I want to be a part of something like this someday. I know that if I keep my focus and prove to my peers that I want this, anything can happen. I just have to keep working hard in school, strive to find an internship and give everything I have to achieve this ultimate goal.

Passion makes perfect

Today just may have been one of the most awesome experiences I have had as a media student!

Our first stop, and my absolute favorite part of the day, was visiting the set of Cougar Town, and meeting Randall Winston, the producer of the show. He took us on a tour of the set, and explained a lot about how much the budget of the entire production affects how the set is used. As he was talking about the production of the show, and the entire process I got the feeling that the entire production crew were very close, and almost like a big family. For a show like this to have such comradely is something that is rare in this cutthroat industry. I think working on such a successful show like Cougar Town, and forming strong relationships with the crew would not be only be an amazing experience, but it would be an excellent chance to be apart of something that could lead to other great opportunities in the future.

During the tour we were lucky enough to run into a few of the stars of the show! This was definitely the highlight of my day, because I am a big fan of the show. After the tour we were able to sit and eat lunch around the writers table, which was extremely cool, and ask Randall any questions we had about his career, the show, or any advice he had to offer to us, being a former Bobcat himself. He had tons of positive things to say, and gave us all great advice about how to excel in this industry. I think the best thing he said was OU taught him how to have a good work ethic. This made me a lot more appreciative of the classes and course loads I am taking, because yes they may have absolutely nothing to do with what I want to do when I leave school, but the point of these classes is to teach us how to work hard and put us on the right path to succeeding at whatever is thrown our way. I think this is a good way to go into any situation, especially in the media industry. The thing you are doing right at this moment may not be what catapults you into the position you want to be in, but it will definitely be a building block to getting you exactly where you want to be someday.

After Cougar Town, we headed over to DreamWorks Animation and had the opportunity to tour the different offices, and even saw the game room where the artists spend a lot of time during rendering of stuff they are working on. After the tour, more OU alumni came to speak with us and answer any questions we had as well. Then we went to Chiodo Bros and toured where they actually make and work on everything for their productions. They were both tremendously humble, and basically told us to follow our passions and that will lead us where we want to be in life. The biggest thing I took away from the events today was get involved now while we have the resources. Get to know the juniors and seniors working on productions and shows and form relationships with them because those are the people that are going to help get your foot in the door in a couple years when you pack up your whole life and move to the city of dreams.

Peace Out Ohio, Hello LA !!

After weeks of anticipation, and months of telling anyone, and everyone that I was spending my spring break in Los Angeles, California, I finally made it!

It was only the first full day and already an enormous amount of information was thrown my way. I can't even begin to describe how much I learned in such a small amount of time. The panel of alumni that came to speak with us tonight was extremely beneficial, and really helped put everything we are learning in perspective.

Visiting both Warner Bros. and CBS studios was an awesome experience. We were fortunate enough to see the set of Pretty Little Liars, which I desperately need to start watching, and also The Mentalist, and spend a good amount of time in the Warner Bros. museum, which housed many of the actual costumes and props from major movies created by Warner Bros studios. We also were able to visit the set of the show The Talk, and talk and ask questions to one of the producers, and main gaffers of the show.

When you are all the way in Ohio and talking about interning or interviewing for a job out in LA it can seem very intimidating. I know I have anxiety just talking or thinking about it sometimes. However, after seeing that the producer was a pretty normal easy going guy, that seemed easy to talk to, the thought of having an interview with someone out here suddenly became far less intimidating. Also networking with the alumni, at first I was very hesitant to just walk up and introduce myself. However, after talking with the first person, Stephanie Kun, who was incredibly nice and had some very helpful tips, I found it much easier to walk up and introduce myself. Getting over that first hurdle is always the hardest part for me.

The alumni were very knowledgeable about the entire internship process, what to do, and what not to do especially. I think Cooper hit the nail right on the head in my Media 101 class when he said, “It’s all about who you know, and who knows you.” This is exactly what all the alumni’s said when it came to internships.
They had some great advice for when you land the internship as well. Here is what I gathered from the panel discussion
            -Introduce yourself to everyone
            -Know everyone on the crews name
            -Ask them what they are doing, and what other things they are working on
            -The worst thing you can do is think you know everything
            -Ask to shadow people
            -Be humble
            -Don’t be afraid to ask questions the first time or first day you are learning something
            -ALWAYS have a pen & paper with you, and write down as much as you can
            -Make the most out of the situation you are in right now

-Last but not least, BE OPTIMISTIC!

I know that applying everything on this list, will help guide me, and hopefully make me an extremely successful intern.