Executive Summary
Introduction
This fall, I interned at Get-Kinetic Inc. located at 2220 E. Fletcher St. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My supervisor was Kathryn Lahr, Post-Producer and Intern Supervisor. My learning objectives included: learning standards of editing video in a professional environment as well as learning how to work effectively with others on a shooting set.
Work/Projects
The work that I was required to do at my internship site (that was academically linked) involved anything from working on shooting sets to working on a computer. Like most interns, I was required to do accomplish tasks that my supervisors had little time to work on, such as cleaning, painting, taking inventory, and running errands. I was responsible for all of these activities and was expected to work quickly/efficiently with each task in a professional manner.
When on shooting sets, I would be responsible for setting up any equipment including cameras, tripods, lighting, etc. The paid professionals would operate cameras/sound/etc. while I would focus on production assistant work. I would be an extra hand on set that would be responsible for just about any job required such as clapping a slate to adjusting something in front of the cameras. In fact, I was able to include input during shoots, offering any suggestions that would enhance the quality/effectiveness of production. Two of the main shoots that I have worked on in the past consist of a client’s promotional video (shot at the Central Library) for a program that provides books to doctors’ offices, and a book trailer for Saturday Night Widows.
During my post-production work at Get-Kinetic Inc. I was able to work on a few different projects. I started off with some photoshop work that allowed me to design a video-thumbnail for a company called CubeSmart. Later on, I worked in Adobe After Effects to create an ending graphic for a book trailer. I was also able to work with Final Cut Pro 7 to do some rough-cut edits of a short film titled, “Through the Morning.”
Learning
Through the experiences I’ve had at Get-Kinetic, I’ve learned so many different things. One of my learning objectives required me to have pictures of myself working on sets, but I’ve learned that it looks unprofessional if I’m taking pictures of myself on set with a client. I’ve learned how to work around this in order to satisfy both the academic portion of my internship as well as keep my supervisors happy. I’ve been learning how to use their equipment and how the Director, Kevin Hackenberg, runs his shoots. This experience has been insightful as to how to work with others on set.
Another critical thing that I’ve learned through my experience is how professional editors work with their supervisors and directors. Instead of being handed footage and told, “Make this look nice,” my supervisor will allow me to start piecing work together and provide constant feedback and changes for me. For each project, I’d be given a set of instructions as to what the final product should look like. But over time, as I worked on the different pieces, feedback would change how the products would look. Having a supervisor who sits with you and gives direction as to how they want you to change edits is something that is brand new to me, but I completely understand now and am willing to work with such standards. I am proud to say that I feel more skillful with working with others both on set and in the editing lab.
Future Plans
My experience with Get-Kinetic has made it clear for me that after my next semester of classes, I will graduate with no thoughts of graduate school. All of the employees at Get-Kinetic recommend not spending more time in school, but in internships and freelance work. I’ve been told that students, after graduation, won’t be able to start working as a director, producer, editor, etc. for major projects unless they have major connections or money to start out with. With the advice I’ve been given, my career will most likely start with me working with whatever freelance jobs I can acquire, while going after another marketable skill (or job) that will bring in money every week regardless of how the film/video experience goes.
The competencies that I have been trying to develop over this time include my balance of work/life as well as thinking critically. I have been balancing class-work, internship-work, and a work-study all at the same time. Trying to do all of this AND keep a social life is truly demanding. I don’t update my facebook page or talk to parents as often as I used to and I don’t have as much time to fellowship with others outside of class. However, over time I have been doing better in managing all of these areas of my life and finding some balance between everything. I don’t think I am much better at thinking critically over this period of time, but I am continuing to try my best and working harder at becoming more competent with this skill.
Preparation/Recommendations
My major-specific classes were mandatory for me to do well during my internship experience. My classes taught me how to use software that was imperative to know as an editor, such as Final Cut, the Adobe Suite, ProTools, and more. If it wasn’t for my production classes, I wouldn’t be able to work as efficiently on set as I was during my internship. Classes such as 16mm Filmmaking, Digital Editing, and Digital Production assisted me so very much. On the other hand, classes like American Cinema 1 & 2 and Intro to Cinema have given me some extra knowledge about the history of Film/Video. In the industry, people will ALWAYS ask whether you’ve seen one movie or another. The more you know about where your field came from, the better.
To be better prepared for an internship like mine, it would be great for instructors to offer more production and post-production courses to give students a better grasp on what they will be doing for the rest of their lives. I was given more theory and history than needed, which could have been replaced with experience that could have made the transition into my internship MUCH easier. I had to spend extra time learning new equipment that I’ve never even heard of until I began my internship. As a side note, taking some time on the side to allow younger students to network with older students would be great. I never would have gotten my internship if it wasn’t for a Messiah alum that I met before he graduated.
This fall, I interned at Get-Kinetic Inc. located at 2220 E. Fletcher St. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My supervisor was Kathryn Lahr, Post-Producer and Intern Supervisor. My learning objectives included: learning standards of editing video in a professional environment as well as learning how to work effectively with others on a shooting set.
Work/Projects
The work that I was required to do at my internship site (that was academically linked) involved anything from working on shooting sets to working on a computer. Like most interns, I was required to do accomplish tasks that my supervisors had little time to work on, such as cleaning, painting, taking inventory, and running errands. I was responsible for all of these activities and was expected to work quickly/efficiently with each task in a professional manner.
When on shooting sets, I would be responsible for setting up any equipment including cameras, tripods, lighting, etc. The paid professionals would operate cameras/sound/etc. while I would focus on production assistant work. I would be an extra hand on set that would be responsible for just about any job required such as clapping a slate to adjusting something in front of the cameras. In fact, I was able to include input during shoots, offering any suggestions that would enhance the quality/effectiveness of production. Two of the main shoots that I have worked on in the past consist of a client’s promotional video (shot at the Central Library) for a program that provides books to doctors’ offices, and a book trailer for Saturday Night Widows.
During my post-production work at Get-Kinetic Inc. I was able to work on a few different projects. I started off with some photoshop work that allowed me to design a video-thumbnail for a company called CubeSmart. Later on, I worked in Adobe After Effects to create an ending graphic for a book trailer. I was also able to work with Final Cut Pro 7 to do some rough-cut edits of a short film titled, “Through the Morning.”
Learning
Through the experiences I’ve had at Get-Kinetic, I’ve learned so many different things. One of my learning objectives required me to have pictures of myself working on sets, but I’ve learned that it looks unprofessional if I’m taking pictures of myself on set with a client. I’ve learned how to work around this in order to satisfy both the academic portion of my internship as well as keep my supervisors happy. I’ve been learning how to use their equipment and how the Director, Kevin Hackenberg, runs his shoots. This experience has been insightful as to how to work with others on set.
Another critical thing that I’ve learned through my experience is how professional editors work with their supervisors and directors. Instead of being handed footage and told, “Make this look nice,” my supervisor will allow me to start piecing work together and provide constant feedback and changes for me. For each project, I’d be given a set of instructions as to what the final product should look like. But over time, as I worked on the different pieces, feedback would change how the products would look. Having a supervisor who sits with you and gives direction as to how they want you to change edits is something that is brand new to me, but I completely understand now and am willing to work with such standards. I am proud to say that I feel more skillful with working with others both on set and in the editing lab.
Future Plans
My experience with Get-Kinetic has made it clear for me that after my next semester of classes, I will graduate with no thoughts of graduate school. All of the employees at Get-Kinetic recommend not spending more time in school, but in internships and freelance work. I’ve been told that students, after graduation, won’t be able to start working as a director, producer, editor, etc. for major projects unless they have major connections or money to start out with. With the advice I’ve been given, my career will most likely start with me working with whatever freelance jobs I can acquire, while going after another marketable skill (or job) that will bring in money every week regardless of how the film/video experience goes.
The competencies that I have been trying to develop over this time include my balance of work/life as well as thinking critically. I have been balancing class-work, internship-work, and a work-study all at the same time. Trying to do all of this AND keep a social life is truly demanding. I don’t update my facebook page or talk to parents as often as I used to and I don’t have as much time to fellowship with others outside of class. However, over time I have been doing better in managing all of these areas of my life and finding some balance between everything. I don’t think I am much better at thinking critically over this period of time, but I am continuing to try my best and working harder at becoming more competent with this skill.
Preparation/Recommendations
My major-specific classes were mandatory for me to do well during my internship experience. My classes taught me how to use software that was imperative to know as an editor, such as Final Cut, the Adobe Suite, ProTools, and more. If it wasn’t for my production classes, I wouldn’t be able to work as efficiently on set as I was during my internship. Classes such as 16mm Filmmaking, Digital Editing, and Digital Production assisted me so very much. On the other hand, classes like American Cinema 1 & 2 and Intro to Cinema have given me some extra knowledge about the history of Film/Video. In the industry, people will ALWAYS ask whether you’ve seen one movie or another. The more you know about where your field came from, the better.
To be better prepared for an internship like mine, it would be great for instructors to offer more production and post-production courses to give students a better grasp on what they will be doing for the rest of their lives. I was given more theory and history than needed, which could have been replaced with experience that could have made the transition into my internship MUCH easier. I had to spend extra time learning new equipment that I’ve never even heard of until I began my internship. As a side note, taking some time on the side to allow younger students to network with older students would be great. I never would have gotten my internship if it wasn’t for a Messiah alum that I met before he graduated.