Time's Up!

Friends,
The time is up for posting to the blog. I plan to turn in grades today or tomorrow, so if you have an assignment, contact me via phone or email. If it gets to me prior to posting grades, I will give you credit.

War Story

For my war story, I interviewed Kiri Carch. These are her answers to the war story interview questions:

My name is Kiri Carch - I am the Associate Broadcast Producer at TracyLocke in NYC.

A lot of challenges in production are attributed either to budgetary constraints and/or time constraints. We are often expected to turn around large-scale projects over short periods of time and, frequently, the client is expecting to spend very little. It is my job to look for vendors (production companies) and rely on my relationships with other producers in order to satisfy the client-based needs from the account team and the artistic needs from the creative team.

My first week working at TracyLocke, one of our clients called with a request to drive people to their website and increase the awareness of one of the promotions we created. Part of their activation involved a TV media buy (that they took from another brand within the company) and we had to concept, write, produce, shoot, edit and finish a TV spot in 7 days. We thought it would be impossible, but miraculously we delivered!

My advice would be to follow digital trends. No matter what aspect of the industry you plan on specializing in, you can become a valuable player (and will last longer in your company) if you are proactive digitally - this means web activation, applications, facebook, downloads, twitter, blogs, social networking, digital billboards, and the like.

War Story - Joel Shull Chosen Productions

Joel Shull - Chosen Video Productions - Columbia, SC

In your job, what are some challenges you have to deal with in relating to “production” people?

One challenge I deal with is with Tech Directors who think you're "intruding on their turf", not being workable when you're trying to set-up for a show. It just adds to the stress of working on a tight time frame.

Can you tell me a war story, or a story of when something went badly wrong, or seemed like it was going to fall apart, but then ended up working out [or didn’t work out].

I hired a 'professional video journalist' from a local TV station to cover a dance recital. When I received the tape, He didn't get any sound on it! It took me Hours to re-insert music back and match it to their choreography!

Do you have any advice for a person starting out in the business, someone who is about to graduate?

Good video takes a lot of creativity, good equipment, and passion! You have to love what you do. It Will show in your work! There's so many areas of videography that you have to find your 'niche' and go for it!

War Story by Adam Mefford

I called Leif Ramsey back to talk to him a little more about the producing business and ask him about one of his “war” stories. He told me once when he was starting out he really screwed up when he was on set. He was new to working on set and this one morning he really screwed up. It was a rainy day on set and he was told to deliver a few files to the producer the next day. Being new and having a rough day he totally forgot about the files. So the next day he was asked for the files and he realized he accidentally left them at his apartment. He messed because he didn’t remember them and he told me that you should always write things down when you are suppose to do something so you don’t forget about it. Anyways he had to drive 45 minutes back home to get the files and return to the set. He thought for sure he would not be allowed to do anything else and that he would never find work again. Everything worked out ok for him but he was so scared at the time. I also asked him more advice about getting started in this business. He pretty much gave me the same advice as before when I interviewed him. He said get on as many sets as you can and work hard. People who you network with on set will see how you work and this helps tremendously.

Leif Ramsey
SVAD Productions

Interviewed by Adam Mefford

Chris Hadloch-War Stories

I got in touch with Chris again to ask him about a "war story" or a bad situation he got himself into while in the buisness.
His response:

One of my first jobs I had as a PA, I was in charge of running paperwork back and forth between the Production Manager and the AD's. One sleep deprived day, I made the mistake of spilling my fourth cup of coffee onto the original copy of some contract information that had just been notarized. When I brought it to the production manager, she was furious and instead of asking me to get her a new copy she asked me to send in another PA and for me to go home... luckily she cooled down after a few days and let me back on set to work, but it was a pretty rough situation. I spent the rest of my time working for her sucking up and working harder than anybody else, I got back onto her good side and she ended up bringing me with her on her next project.

-Chris Hadloch, Production Coordinator

Interviewed by Andrew Pcolar

War Stories, Trey Murphy

Bill Mead -Director- Portland, Oregon

War Story:

On one of my first jobs as director, I was working on a small indie film and using a lot of non-professional actors, due to a lack of budget. I was very young and ambitious and thought I could start off just making full-length features with no budget with no problem. This really came back to haunt me as production went on. Some people nearly refused to acknowledge the directions or didn't understand them. This was in part due to my own lack of experience. My leading actor had some family problems and had to leave for a month and we had to halt production because we only had so much we could shoot without him in it. It was a nightmare, and we never finished it. I have since moved on to commercials. I will probably someday try for another feature, but I've been scared to touch them since.

Cohen-War Stories

Lauren Cohen

Van Lott

WLTX News 19

1. In your job, what are some challenges you have to deal with in relating to “production” people?

1. The main challenges I have dealing with production is just making sure we're all on the same page...Let’s say I’m cutting a bite from Spurrier’s post game conference. I need to tell production how long the sot is and what the outcue is. If the outcue is mentioned earlier in the bite I need to make sure that I tell them wait for the second time he says whatever the outcue is. Also if we need a graphic and we're pulling it from something file video...I want to make sure they use the best image so I'll pretty much look back at the archives and find the shot that best works for the situation...It's easier for me to look for that stuff because I shot it and I know where it is. Communication is the most important trait needed for dealing with production because a lot of times, if you’re scrambling just before a show you may forget to check in with the director and/or the audio op but you have to remember because if you don’t you can easily have a major disaster on your hands. So, check-in with the director if there is a late addition to the script or if there’s a quick out or if the audio is hot or low, etc…

2. Can you tell me a war story, or a story of when something went badly wrong, or seemed like it was going to fall apart, but then ended up working out [or didn’t work out].

2. You could tell a different war story every day...almost always something will go wrong and you have to improvise mostly on the fly.

For example, I’ll go with last Saturday following the SC-Clemson game. We get back to the station and laid the highlights down on the timeline, however the sequence wouldn’t transfer! I gave it multiple video id’s hoping that would clear up the issue. We get into the show and the reel still hasn’t been sent and I had cussed the stupid system out at least a dozen times…finally I decided that the timeline itself was the issue, so I dubbed the video in the timeline to a tape, then re-ingested it into the system and created a new timeline and video id and thankfully that resolved the issue. I sent it about 30 seconds before we went into sports and you know what? Nobody at home would have known that. If the viewers don’t know a problem is happening or has happened then your okay. It’s only bad when they know something is going on. Another time was back on September 12th in Athens, GA. The game started at 7:45 and was moving very slowly and we (Bob Shields and I) knew that getting anything on was going to be dicey at best. We did our usual post-game interviews on the field and then Bob hustled to the sat truck, which was parked on top of the bridge on the opposite end of the stadium. We didn’t know if anything would get on but we were hoping we could feed the material because we had great sound and video following the game, as well as, some of the video I shot during the game, which included Eric Norwood’s touchdown. Thankfully we were able to get all that stuff on because Serena Williams went bonkers during her match at the US Open. I chose this as an example because you see the importance of always hustling and doing your job to the all of the way through, despite the low odds that everything will work out. I could give you 7-10 more examples but I figure two will suffice. The bottom line is this: Always stay calm and do your job, unless it’s absolutely necessary to cut bait.

3. Do you have any advice for a person starting out in the

business, someone who is about to graduate?

3. The biggest advice I can give you is: don’t take anything personal. Things will go wrong, it’s not a matter of if but when. People are going to get pissed off at you sooner than later, so just understand it’s all heat of the moment. If you screw up (which will happen early and often) learn from it and try to reduce the likelihood of the problem arising it the future. Also, always be willing to work hard. There’s nothing that pisses me off more than lazy people. The work is hard and stressful enough and it’s even worse when you have to put somebody else on your back because you have to do your job, as well as, theirs. Another bit of advice (I know this doesn’t get talked about much but I think it’s important) is don’t worry about being liked. If you do your job and you do it well people will like you; if you’re lazy and you make errors constantly and don’t try to learn from them, people will not like you. I would rather work with the biggest asshole on the planet, who works hard and gets the job done, rather than work with the nicest guy on the planet, who is lazy and has no idea what’s going on and doesn’t seem to care. The bottom line is: just do your job and everything else will take care of itself. Worry about being respected first because if you work hard, learn on the fly, and have a strong work ethic, people will love you, respect you, and most importantly they’ll love to work with you.

War Story with Ashley Tucker

Ashley is a freelance graphic designer in Texas.

Can you tell me a war story, or a story of when something went badly wrong, or seemed like it was going to fall apart, but then ended up working out?

My first job as a graphic designer, I was in charge of designing and printing posters for an ad campaign for a large corporation. I designed the poster and sent it to the printer. When the 3,000 posters came back from the printer my superviser came into my office with bad news. I had a MAJOR typo on the headline and had used the wrong Pantone color for their logo. Needless to say, the posters had to be reprinted (with money from my next paycheck) and I was fired.

-Karmen Kaufmann

War Story, Interview with David Vaughn

David Vaughn is a photographer who does headshots for actors and models.



Can you tell me a war story, or a story of when something went badly wrong, or seamed like it was going to fall apart, but then ended up working out or didn’t work out.


“I really haven’t had any thing horrible go wrong but there are always little things that go wrong all the time. Probably the worst thing that ever happened was when I was in New York shooting headshots for an actor. We went outside to a park and it started snowing and it was just terrible weather. He wanted the shots anyway so we were outdoors for about 2 hours, my fingers got so cold that I couldn’t release the shutter on the camera, my fingers weren’t even working … but he was so desperate to have these shots we went ahead and did it.”


Do you have any advice for a person starting out in a business like photography or advice for someone coming out of college?


“Actually I have two things; one would be word of mouth. You can advertise your business all you want but some of the best business is word of mouth. Usually an actor will come to me because they heard another actor recommend me. I think that stands true with any business in the arts. Your history with clients is always really important. All the time I hear clients say “I hear you do really good headshots” from this person and so forth… Only on two occasions have someone called me from an online ad.
My other thing is, especially working with actors and models, is to keep it as low pressure and as light as possible. They are so incredibly self conscious and nervous and you want to keep them as relaxed as possible, encourage them to goof off and be as casual as possible. The more relaxed they are the better product you get in the camera.”

Jimmy Preston's War Story From Andrew W. Bofinger

For my war story I interviewed Andrew Bofinger he has worked as an Art Director for many short films, commercials, record companies, and feature films. Andrew told me a couple of war stories. The first of which I will tell you about is when he was working as an Art director on a film and the director of the film originally wanted a metal furnace built that looked rusty, so Andrew and his team built the furnace to look rusty, but 5 minutes before the shooting began the director changes his mind and wanted it to look more like concrete and wanted it to be plastered, but plaster takes 24 hours to dry. Andrew didn't share with me how that particular bad day ended.

Andrew's second war story he told me that he actually feared that he was going to get fired because he messed up so bad. The director wanted to set the scene up as a starving artist that is barely making it, so Andrew set the scene up with an old vinyl record player with sort of a old school musical look, the director absolutely hated because his vision was that the characters place has all the top of the line equipment need to make music in his apartment, but that he was struggle finiancially because he has spent all of his money on this equipment that he can't live that well and barely eat. Andrew told me that the production had to be halted for an hour and a half, not the mention the director was very upset about the whole situation. He told me the him and his team were blowing up the phones trying to find anyone who would rent recording equipment out. Andrew said the he was literally just sitting and waiting for the director to fire him. He called it the worst day he has ever had on set, but in the end they were able to finish the project on time and he did not get fired.

Andrew also said that most of the bad things that happen on set stem from last minute changes to the script or the director changing his mind about a specific thing, so to work in this business you gotta learn to roll with the punches and keep your composer when something changes all of a sudden and your put in a tight squeeze because if you can't then you will never make it in this business.

WAR STORY INTERVIEW WITH LEIF ANDERSON

Leif Anderson
Charlotte, NC


Leif Anderson is the CEO and Founder of Rhino Assembly Corporation. I found his advice can help anyone who who is trying to start their own business and deal with difficulties, no matter what type of business it may be.

1. In your job, what are some challenges you have to deal with in relating to “production” people?

They are less concerned with quality control than they should be. Meeting a certain productivity rate puts a lot of pressure on them.

2. Can you tell me a war story, or a story of when something went badly wrong, or seemed like it was going to fall apart, but then ended up working out [or didn’t work out].

It is important to look at a mistake you make in business as an opportunity. If you do a good job of taking care of a problem, then your customer knows that if they ever buy anything from you in the future and there are issues, you will be there to support it.

3. Do you have any advice for a person starting out in the business, someone who is about to graduate?

Be persistent and ask for what you want. If you are ever interviewing for a sales position, always ask for the job at the end of each and every interview.

War Story

War Story Interview

Glen Ishikawa - Production Manager - Hawaii

Can you tell me a war story, or a story of when something went badly wrong, or seemed like it was going to fall apart, but then ended up working out [or didn’t work out].

Oh yes. I was helping to Produce a pilot for a new television show. The show involved a lot of breaking through things as a main chunk of the special effects. We used primarily glass although we did use some explosions. So towards the end of the shooting week we had 1 more day left to shoot and there was a scene where the main character jumped through glass. We set up the scene but we couldn't find the glass. It was no where on set. So I had to drive all around for a few hours trying to find some glass that was safe for us to use. I literally went everywhere and nobody had any. So I started to give up when I get call from another producer on the show and it turns out our Special FX coordinator had the glass in a moving truck so it wouldn't break. We had lost 3 hours of film time but finally managed to get the scene shot. It was a rough day.

Do you have any advice for a person starting out in the business, or someone who is about to graduate?

Work extremely hard. Nothing in this business is going to get handed to you, unless you know a lot of people. So keep working hard, keep meeting people and make connections.


Thanks for taking time to answer my questions.

You're Welcome.

Okay, friends, do something and make us proud (and earn extra credit, too)

The College Access Challenge is here! Now through February 27, 2010!
Right now, students all across South Carolina are sitting on their couches thinking about whether or not college is right for them. Guess what? It is!

The College Access Challenge is an online video contest for South Carolina college students. We’re inviting students across the state to make short videos (3 minutes or less) telling those folks thinking about college why they should go. These days, an education beyond high school is virtually required for almost every career in America! That means for our state to have an employable workforce, everyone has to consider the benefits of an education beyond high school.

C’mon! Convince them to get off the couch and go to college!

Visit www.collegeaccessch allenge.org and upload your video today.

The Prizes
Our grand prize winner will receive a shiny new 17-inch Apple MacBook Pro, complete with Apple’s professional video editing software suite: Final Cut Studio!

Our second place winner will receive a new 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro, pre-installed with Final Cut Express!

Our third place winner will receive a new 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro, pre-installed with Final Cut Express!

Our honorable mention award recipients will each receive an Apple iPod Touch!

Eligibility
The College Access Challenge is open to students enrolled at the time of the contest in a college or university in South Carolina. All participants in the contest must be at least 18 years of age at the time of their contest submission.

Questions or Comments
You can find out more about the College Access Challenge by visiting the Web Site at www.collegeaccessch allenge.org. You can also contact us by telephone at 1-800-277-3245 or via email at CACinfo@scetv. org

More to Come
The College Access Challenge is the first of many exciting efforts from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education to begin engaging youth across the state. This collaboration brings together the Commission on Higher Education and South Carolina Educational Television to promote college awareness. The College Access Challenge unites college and high school students in a creative way for a clear and honest dialogue about why South Carolina’s students should go to college.

Assignment 1a-cohen

Wayne Roelle, Production Manager

Wayne Roelle

Production Manager

Savannah, Georgia

Can you briefly define your job?

union business agent - handle all contracting and negotiations for short and long term labor contracts. i represent the international alliance of theatrical stage employees local union # 320 members and other referrals. since 2001 i have established rates terms and conditions for theatre, concert production and corporate events where my members and other referrals work. as business agent i handle labor disputes (rare thing but they do happen), employer complaints (since 2001 maybe a 1/2 dozen), employees grievances (which are non-existent). i also handle the administrative side of jobs by creating labor bills, invoicing clients, following up on delinquent accounts payable. i also advance the incoming show or event and help our clients establish the labor call for their event

union call steward - i make all the labor calls to my members and other referrals. giving them call times and locations for the work, if they are available for the work i have.

union job steward - i handle onsite timekeeping, personnel assignments, and act as the central nervous system between the venue, the traveling crew and my crew

production assistant - whatever it takes (within reason) on a video or photo shoot

production manager/coordinator - help the production company coordinate venues, rentals, labor, catering, licensing, permits, etc. more or less become the central nervous system of the shoot

- How did you get started in the business?

when i finished college in ohio (ohio university, bs mathematics, minor sociology) i came to savannah because i have family here. i had never been backstage and didn't know i wanted to do what i do. my cousin worked for a sound company and after 6 months i finally did too. i quit there after about a two years where i had become warehouse manager, pro audio manager, and a systems guy. i started working as a over-hire stagehand @ the savannah civic center. in about a year i was the # 2 guy there. then became the production manager there in another 6 months. i left there and went on a road tour. when i finished that and came back to savannah and became business agent

- How do you tell someone over you that you couldn't accomplish an assigned task?

my motto "there is nothing we cannot do". unless there is a legitimate safety issue or a lack of time, money or personnel. on a job we take a proactive approach to what we do and we make it happen. the vast majority of work we do is not impossible. for the most part what we do has been done in some way or fashion prior to our doing it. you take your knowledge from your past and always build on it then use that knowledge in your present situation. further, with enough time and money and manpower pretty much anything is possible

- Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

take all the work you can. keep the amount of time you volunteer (work for free) your services to a minimum once you cease to be a student. be a sponge and learn everything you can about what you want to do either on the job or from a book. knowledge and experience is worth the money

Assignment 1a-cohen

Jarema, Michael

Savannaha, GA 31405

jaremamichael@comcast.net

producer, production manager, field producer, assistant director...

1. Can you briefly define your job to me?

Not actively freelancing at the moment, that’s been the case on and off since 1982. Savannah is a small enough market that you have to do more than one thing in order to make a living. In bigger markets (he lived in LA) you can be more specialized. I’ve been a producer, production manager, and assistant director. My favorite is producing because you get to decide what your working on, it’s the most involved they are usually 4-5 year projects, we take a year or two to get it written by the time its written and sold 5 years go by. So in the scheme of things I don’t get to do many.

2. How did you get started in this business?

I graduated from the University of Michigan in 1882. There a used to make a lot of my own independent films on 8mm and 16mm and I was really involved in theater. Just by chance, I saw an add in the paper for a guy who was looking to put a crew together, the guy wanted to make a feature, and at the time, the home video market was taking everything. So he decided to put together a ½ million dollars and shoot the 35mm feature. So I started helping this guy raise money, and he was really good at it. A lot of people don’t know how to raise money, or never get there, but this guys was great. We raised all of it, shot the film, and then he raised another 200 thousand and put the film in theaters we cut dvds, it was great. He went on to move to LA, but I was the guy in the Detroit area who knew how to make a feature film, so people would call me when they wanted to make one.

3. How do you tell someone over you that you couldn’t accomplish an assigned task?

Sure, a lot of these people that I worked with were people who were younger and less experienced than myself, but they didn’t know what they were doing as far as directing, and beyond. These jobs like directing and producing contain a lot, and a lot of people struggle with this. It’s a lot to bring in some of these shots, and some people can’t get it done. It’s a bit of dance you don’t want to step on any toes. In LA I was working as an assistant director, and I pushed some of the guys to hard, I was trying to finish in 2 days, because that’s how much time I thought we had left, and the director became really unhappy with they way the shots came out and blamed me. I was one of those times I made a mistake and I payed for it. I should have just let things go and created a better piece, that my boss was happier with.

4. Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

In savannah I’ve noticed that because of SCAD the students coming out of that program want to be hired as shooter as a assistant director, these huge positions, but your not going to get hired as that. Your not going to transition into something like that. You have to start out as a pa, and your going to get to position faster if you would sell yourself as a pa, telling the producer your willing to do what the producer wants to do. It’s amazing no one can find a good pa in savannah because they all expect to do big things right of the start.

assignment 1a-cohen

Assignment 1A- Lauren Cohen

Jeffrey Cohen

Production Manager, Marketer, VP of Marketing

Atlanta, Georgia

Phone interview

1. Can you briefly define your job to me?

Right now I am involved with a company called zmags, but I used to be a production manager for national broadcast stations like NBC, CBS and CNN. There I put together promotional campaigns and a lot of short marketing pieces for these companies.

2. How did you get started in this business?

After I graduated from Mizzou I actually worked as a marketer for an appliance company. Basically I was marketing toilets…but I created a lot of good work in the time I was there that allowed me to start working in the motion picture industry, with MGM studios. There I helped create some of the trailers for movies and helped market films like Friday the Thirteenth and Airplane.

3. How do you tell someone over you that you couldn’t accomplish an assigned task?

There have definitely been times where I could have taken the easy way out, but then I would have been fired. Telling someone you can’t get it done isn’t really an excuse in this industry. If you don’t, they will hire someone else who can. There are plenty of people ready to take your place.

4. Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

It’s all about connections, and being a driven person. Also you need to remember the people you interact with and leave them with a positive lasting impression. If people like you and they think you have talent they remember you. Just be persistent and know that everything you do and expose is seen, so make good decisions and value your work.

Assignment 1A- Maison Harley

Arthur W. Smith Jr.
Production Manager, Coordinator, Supervisor
Orlando, FL

1. Can you briefly define your job to me?

The Production Manager provides support in the overall design and implementation of the production plan for the individual production. Responsibilities include preparing/managing/tracking/ and executing project and departmental production schedules, budgets, reports, deliverables-collection, and payments. Reconciles tracked costs with accounting actuals, and manage month-end and year-end accruals processes. Production managers also prepare deal memos for contract draft, and partners with legal to execute agreements. Another job is to negotiate third party production schedules and budgets for out-of-house productions. And finally to coordinate all elements and event-related logistics for on-site and/or in-house shoots, including: call/contact sheets, transportation, venue/location, set-up, crew/production personnel, equipment, releases, meals/craft service, artist/talent coordination, etc.

2. How did you get started in this business?

By networking with the right people, being in the military, and showing a work ethic.

3. How do you tell someone over you that you couldn’t accomplish an assigned task?

Well, you don't. Prior to getting the task we develop what we need to accomplish. Also find out what the short falls are and work on improving them (work on the weak areas and maintain the strong areas). This way you don't fail. Also, have three plans ready....the best one you know they want, the next best plan, and a plan we can live with.

4. Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

You need to have a plan, that means you must work at first for FREE. Also you need to prove yourself and learn how to network, be dependable, reliable and responsible. When you don't know something tell people you don't know and are willing to learn. Come to work early and start working and be the last one to leave and ask your boss "is there anything else I can help you with.” These suggestions have worked for many, many, many students I have worked with and many of those students (over 350) are working, and some are famous!

Lucille Smith- Producer from Connecticut

I was assigned Connecticut, and for my interview I emailed back and forth with Lucille Smith.

1. Can you briefly describe your job to me?

I FREELANCE AS A PRODUCTION MANAGER/LINE PRODUCER. PRODUCTION MANAGERS OVERSEE, ORGANIZE AND MANAGE THE SHOOTING OF THE FILM WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:

1. READ THE SCRIPT

2. BREAKDOWN THE SCRIPT AND DO THE 1ST PASS OF A SHOOTING SCHEDULE [SUBSEQUENT PASSES ARE DONE BY THE 1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR],

3. DO THE BUDGET, HIRE THE CREW & EQUIPMENT [WHICH INVOLVES NEGOTIATING CONTRACTS AND MAKING SURE YOU STAY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF EACH THEATRICAL UNION ]

4. WORK TO STAY ON BUDGET

5. OVERSEE THE WRAP OUT DURING POST PRODUCTION

2. How did you get started in this business

I GRADUATED COLLEGE WHERE I MAJORED IN PRE-MED BUT REALIZED THAT I REALLY WANTED A CAREER IN ENTERTAINMENT......MY 1ST JOB WAS AS EXECUTIVE AT THE ACTORS STUDIO . I THEN SEGUED INTO CASTING, THEN FILM PRODUCTION ACCOUNTING AND ENDED UP AS A LINE PRODUCER/PRODUCTION MANAGER.......

3. How do you tell someone over you that you couldn’t accomplish an assigned task?

I NEVER HAVE......I JUST PANICKED, FIGURED IT OUT AND DID IT.........NEVER SAY YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING

4. Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

EMBRACE THE WORK [EVEN IF YOU HATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING]........MY MANTRA ANYTIME I'M ON A PROJECT WHICH PROVES TO BE POLITICALLY DIFFICULT IS: .....FOCUS ON THE WORK...TAKE THE HIGH ROAD.....LEAVE WITH YOUR HEAD HELD HIGH

Ron Huff Interview Anna Millman of ATLANTA

My State was Georgia and apparently Nickelodeon and Universal have moved their studios to Atlanta to get better tax incentives and lots of projects are being done there. I spoke with Anna Millman in Atlanta Georgia. She has been a Writer and a Producer for Turner Classic Movies, GameTap.com, TBS, and the Weather Channel.com since starting her career in 1994 she has received 6 EMMY nominations. She lives in Atlanta with her significant other and it was really hard to catch up with her.

Ron Huff: Thanks for doing the interview Anna. Could you briefly define your job to me?

Anna Millman: How did your get my number?

RH: From a Production database online for Georgia’s Production Professionals

AM: This is an awful strange time to call, I was in the middle of something. -Well I’ve done extensive work with the Weather Channel and TCM as a producer, but I’m currently laid off from work.

RH: Really?

AM: Yeah this business is challenging!

RH: How did you did started in this “business”?

AM: Well are you an LA or New York person?

RH: Uhh New York?!

AM: Well then you have to go to New York and work for about 5 years in whatever you can get into production wise there. In this industry 5 years in New York or LA is awesome for your resume. You could be crappy, but if you’ve worked in New York or LA-you’re “in”. If you make it there it opens doors! I started out with 3 different internships with Turner Broadcasting. They were really important in starting out. Internships are like Gold!

RH: really gold?

AM: GOLD!!!

RH: Well Anna, my next question is: How do you tell someone over you that you couldn’t accomplish an assigned task?

AM: If it’s your Boss, you got to them with “Strategies and Solutions”.

RH: What are those? Can I buy them?

AM: Sure, it’s going to your boss-because this person is “your BOSS” and telling them WITH TIME, this is what I’m up against and this is what I’m trying to do and they might add, alright try this also. You never want to present what can’t happen or what you’re not going to do, because this is “YOUR BOSS”.

RH: Wow! Well my last question is: Do you have any advice for a media student who is just staring out?

AM: Well, what do you want to do?

RH: I want to direct TV shows and movies.

AM: Really TV?

RH: Yeah.

AM: Well TV right now is like Law & Order and shows like that. So you’re gonna have to try to get in with one of those guys. Network and meet people and your internships are going to be the key that’s where you meet everybody you can! Be nice to everyone, because this industry is so small. I mean really small. Do not burn bridges! Do NOT! Some one your work over may be your boss some day and some one that is YOUR BOSS may be asking you for a jobs some day. The business is like that. Do really good work and make sure you have the right attitude!

If you are going to do an internship make sure it’s the best! Make sure it’s like NBC, or Oprah-whatever the best is! Go find the best don’t settle for like channel 71 or something go for the best this is your career!

RH: Thank you for the interview Anna!

AM: No problem! You should definitely check out Cynopsis online it is a daily Media Brief on what’s going on in the business. Make sure and check it out. Also check out my website AnnaMillman.com I made it myself and it the best website on the internet. If your class what’s me to come speak to the class I will-for a small fee.

RH: I’ll keep that in mind. So can I call you back with different questions from the producer’s class at my school?

AM: …

RH: Hello? -Must of left, well this is Ron Huff interviewing Anna Millman from Atlanta!

Aaron McKissick- 1st Interview

Assignment 1- Aaron McKissick

Linda M. Somma

Prod. Manager

Salisbury, MA

Phone Interview with Linda Somma on 9/10/09

Q) Can you briefly describe your job to me?

A) I work in pre-production putting together the gig, movie and location. I’ve worked in Italy. I do production management. I make sure things go smooth. This is a high pressure job.

Q) How did you get started in this business?

A) Marketing for architects, event organizations in Italy for actors, jazz festivals, production intern, and marketing communication. I just sort of fell into it.

Q) How do you tell someone over you that you couldn’t accomplish an assigned task?

A) Never do that! Find a way to do it. Find someone who can if you can’t solve the problem you get confronted with. Never lie on your resume. Be Honest! Look into it. They rely on you to get the job done.

Q) Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

A) Get as many internships as you can from people you respect and have much experience on set. You learn by doing.

Interview with Stephens

Kathleen McMurchie

MART 302 – Mehltretter

Due: September 15, 2009

Interview with Stephens – Denver, CO – September 10

1. How can you briefly define your job to me?

I basically handle all of the project – I do it all, from designing to producing. Some of the major things I’ve been involved in are print ads all around the Denver area. I also kind of cover all of the little details such as editing the work and putting it all together at the end…like I said, beginning to end.

2. How did you get started in this business?

Well I actually went to school at Mississippi State for marketing and ended up leaving to work in Savannah. I didn’t jump into producing design and photography until the past couple of years. It just sort of fell into my lap – things I love to do meshed well with things that I was good at and there you go!

3. How do you tell someone over you that you couldn’t accomplish an assigned task?

(She laughed when I asked this question) That’s really not an option in this business. It’s all about deadlines – especially when they’re expecting to go to print, press, or air on a certain date – I mean it has to be ready at that point, it’s not like you can turn it in a week late for 5 points off. It’s got to be done when you tell them it’ll be done.

4. Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

Well since I entered the field pretty much by networking I would suggest that you stay in contact with as many people as possible. Don’t be afraid to make connections and call people up – just like you called me.

Assignment 1B, interview with Leif Ramsey

Adam Mefford

Assignment 1B

Interview

Leif Ramsey, leiframsey@southern.edu

Producer

SVAD Productions

Nashville, Tennessee

1) Leif manages a small business that was started in 2004. He works hand and hand with the local college in the school of visual art design. His business started in 2004 on the production of the feature film Secret of the Cave. Now he works on short films, documentaries, small projects, writing contracts, and proposals for clients.

2) He started out in this business by being a graphic designer and just got really interested in the field. Then he started interning on as many film projects that he could get in to and this led to his production agency.

3) He said there were two aspects to not completing a task and that is the business side and the money side. He would try to compromise with the person on how to accomplish the task in a different way and if it could not work, than he would simply say that his business could do it but with more time or more money which ever is needed.

4) The advice he had for me is to really do everything you can to get onto as many film sets and projects as possible. Intern and make connections with everyone, become their new best friends and this helps when they are looking for new employment or extra help.

Lindsey Sauerland- 1st Interview

Jennifer Barklage-Dietrich

Production Assistant/Release Coordinator

Can you briefly define your job to me?

Currently I work as a Production Assistant in Cincinnati on the MTV set of “Taking the Stage”.  A PAs’ tasks are often very miscellaneous, but require a lot of hard work. On a daily basis, I could do anything from picking up garbage on the set to getting coffee and lunch orders for my managers. I also help with the shows release by getting release forms signed. On the set, the whole crew uses “walkies”, which is especially very important in my role as a PA. We do a lot of communicating with our managers on them. Throughout the day we get many requests over the “walkies” and it might be from someone we’ve never met, but as PAs we do whatever we’re asked! Recently, I was also named a story assistant on the set and with that title I help write the story line of the episodes.

 

How did you get started in the business?

I am actually a teacher, but while I was in school I decided I wanted some part time work to make some extra money. My father works as a Director of Photography in the business and convinced me to get involved in production. He helped put my name out there and get in contact with other professionals in the field. The production industry is flexible enough that I am able to accept or deny projects and I am able to choose my own hours according to my schedule. I’ve been working in the industry for a little over a year and I absolutely love it despite the very long hours!

 

How do you tell someone over you that you couldn’t accomplish an assigned task?

Like I said before, as a PA you do whatever it takes to get your work finished. Our managers tell us, “Do whatever it takes to get it done, even if that means doing something ‘illegal’, just don’t tell us!” So, usually I follow that order and complete all of my assigned work! The only tasks I’ve had issues completing are having release forms signed by anyone who appears on the show. In that case, I first call other production assistants to see if they are able to help out and get it signed. On a very rare occasion if I still can’t get the release form signed then I will notify my production manager and ask what I should do next time or if there’s a better way I can accomplish the task.

 

Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

I would tell anyone to get him or herself out there. Everything helps and nothing can hurt. Have your name and information posted to websites or passed along through people in the field. Be over-eager too. The lazy people who stand around are the ones that get let go and don’t make it in the business. Be willing to help out with anything and put yourself out there to do more than your asked. Do whatever it takes and don’t give up!

 

Barklage-Dietrich, Jennifer

Production Assistant/Release Coordinator

7977 Bearcreek Dr.

Cincinnati, OH 45249

(513) 675-2792

jenniferldietrich@gmail.com

Credits: MTV "Taking the Stage" Season 1 January 2009-May 2009 Story Assistant MTV "Taking the Stage" Pilot 2 October 2008-December 2008

First Interview- Keller Ridgeway

Spirit Productions, LLC
Elizabeth Gaylynn Baker
10 Rudy Rodriguez Dr.
Santa Fe, NM 87508
Primary: 505-216-5140
E-mail: goodfilms11@gmail.com
Cellular: 505-920-2015
Website: www.spiritpro.net
Credits: WHEN BUFFALO ROAM, Winner of the NY Int'l Film and Video Festivas; THE TRAIL OF PAINTED PONIES, Winner of White Sands Film Festival and Best Woman Director. Other credits and letters of references: www.spiritpro.net

After numerous emails and calls to different producers, one finally answered and this is what i got from her. I talked with Ms. Elizabeth Baker and tried asking her a couple of questions. To which she said she couldn't answer because she didn't know who i was. I explained that i was a University of South Carolina student who was interested in becoming a producer. After numerous attempts to get her to answer my questions, i finally took the hint that she wasn't going to answer them. She did give me some information on how she got started and things she has done to improve the film industry in not only New Mexico, but the rest of the United States as well.

She moved to New Mexico a little of 20 years ago and has been producing films ever since.

When she moved out to New Mexico, she had one thing on her mind; making films. She also liked the producing aspect as well and ended up landing a production assistant job. From their she had to learn the ropes of a set on her on from odd jobs worked on the set. From there, she got a directing assistant job and worked her way up to becoming a producer. There was not the elaborate incentive plan that they have today. It was still a struggling film state just like every other state in the nation.

Not only did she help get the film incentives started in New Mexico, she also started a program that teaches you the ropes of being on a set, managing a set, and offers hands on practice, lessons, and tutorials on the "works" of working on a set.

The website is www.filmapprentice.org and it is a nonprofit organization that teaches you safety on the set as well as protocol.

She told me if i had any further questions to consult the website and it would tell me all i needed to know. I admire her enthusiasm to get this project started and teach kids, through apprenticeship, the ropes of filmmaking and working in film.

Joey Williams - 1st Interview

Here is my interview with Toni Carpenter. Her contact info is at the bottom of this post. She is listed as a producer/field producer on a website for the Jacksonville, FL Television and Film Commission. It was an exciting interview (for me). Her experience in the industry seems pretty unique, although I'm sure that is par for the course. She said her most common title(s) on a production is writer/producer or director/producer. Here we go:

Will you briefly describe your job?

I work mostly in TV, as opposed to film. I wear a lot more hats as a result, mostly for scheduling reasons. Recently, I worked on a series as a producer/director. My job consisted of a one paragraph description of an episode. My final product was 26 mins. and 42 secs. In addition to basically creating this episode from scratch I was also responsible for working with writers, getting locations, scheduling guests interviews, hiring crew, scheduling crew, paperwork edits, etc. Some shows are just a one day shoot, single camera. Each producer was assigned two separate episodes in a five day period. The series had a 6-8 week turnaround total.

How did you get started in this business?

Well I actually have a degree in broadcast production, but I wasn't able to find a job like that. I knew how to write, so I got a production job writing; but soon thereafter, I took sabbatical to have children. When they went back to school, I co-authored a book. My husband was in the [film] business, and he had a client come up that was notorious for doing things wrong; shooting first, scripting second. It was a charity job, and he needed a script, so I wrote it in a day and a half, and it was produced the following week. Non-linear editing had just begun, so that was great for me. I live for the edit.

I don't like movies unless it's a small, familiar crew. I'm not geared for commercials. I like TV productions, corporates, broadcasts; it's a client management thing that you have to get used to. In ten days, my husband and I are actually taking a two year hiatus to go sailing. I plan on doing a lot of writing.

Do you have any advice for a new media student?

It's just luck a lot of times, you have to be very flexible. I came in writing. Never discount the obnoxious writing classes. The work I did as a Producer/Director, my writers got half as much as I did for writing the first half of the show; the money is in writing as far as turnaround. You can get in as a writer writing opens, closes, tags, etc. You can fix bad scripts. I often rewrote scripts well into the night. For me, writing was the best way in. PA is a pretty easy in, but then you have to find another way to bring yourself out of that level, and that can be hard. As a writer, its assumed that you have brains. I have never looked at my PA's as anything other than PA's. IF you are at all technically inclined, lighting is a much better track. I frankly hire people who know what there doing. I know if I'm getting what I want. I'm lucky I'm married to a great lighting and shooting husband. I'm spoiled because of that. As a producer, the best thing is to find those people who do the work the best they can. Pay them the best. Honor the 10 hour work day always. Work hard, treat them with respect. And lastly, understand the hierarchy. If you have a problem, go as close to the top as possible right from the start.

Carpenter, Toni Garcia

Wolf Creek Films, Inc.

Jacksonville, FL 32211

(904) 910-7372 (mobile)

toni@wolfcreekfilms.com

Field producer, producer. HGTV, Lifetime, PBS, Travel

Channel, DIY Network.

Chris Hadloch- Production Coordinator

I played phone tag with Chris for about a week before I could get him on the phone for a substantial amount of time to do this interview. He told me to get used to it. This sort of thing is a way of life in the film industry. As a Production Manager he spends most of his time on the phone, organizing the schedule, budget, and crew for his upcoming projects. He described his job as basically an intermediary for the crew and has to keep everyone on track and in line for the shoot.

How he got started.

Chris told me his start in the buisness was a mix between luck and hardwork. While in film school he took every internship he could get his hands on and constantly tried to network, which he stressed was the number one factor in getting jobs. While doing an internship he impressed an AD how put him in touch with one of his friends who was a producer, while he didn't get a job right away, he stayed in touch and eventually his persistance landed him PA jobs on a consistant basis.

How to tell someone above you that you couldn't accomplish an assigned task?

That's something you never want to have to do, but in my expierience, it's inevitable that something will go wrong. The key is to not admit defeat, instead work around the problem and come up with solutions that will make you look like a problem solver and an asset instead of the other way around.

Any advice for a Media Student trying to land their first job?

Like I said before, NETWORKING. Along with hardwork to get you noticed, networking will play a key roll if you want to land a job. Start off with an internship, or if you're lucky you can get a PA gig and get paid, but whatever you do, don't dissapoint. It is important you make a really good impression. Start some conversations, make some contacts and work your butt off.

Andy Pcolar

Sydney Thomson - Production Manager Chicago, IL

I recorded our interview, here is our conversation. There is an error on the video. It says producer, but should say Production Manager. The video is password protected. The password is below.

Video Link

password: MART

Caroline O' Brien 1st Assistant Director

1. Caroline works as a 1st assistant director, he main duties are too read the script, find out the elements(actors, props, etc...) Also she had the responsibiliy of finding out what order the scenes will go in and help the director coordinate and communicate with the actors and various departments
2. When I asked Caroline how she got started in this business she stated that it was really by accident she was in telecommunication before she got involved in media but she lost her job in telecommunications and when visiting her family got cast as an extra in a movie then got a job as a PA and did alot of indie films starting out.
3. Answering the 3rd question she stated yes she's had to do that, but when doing so she had to explain that some of the expectations from the director were just unrealistic wither it be not enough crew or the budget will not allow for something to be done.
4. When asking what advice she would have to for someone trying to get started in business and she answer just to know what you want to and if you don't know how to do it don't be afraid to ask someone who know how to do it to teach you, she said people are flattered when you ask them to teach you something.
   

Alexander A. Garcia – Producer

Alexander A. Garcia – Producer

1. Mr. Garcia is television and film producer based in New Orleans, he defined his job to me as just having to get all the elements together, the money, the equipment, crew, everything. He also stated that his job involve working with the accountants and others managing the budget. He also stated that his job somethings involves babysitting some of the crew, wither he's working on feature making sure that actors staying around the set or working on a television show or commercial making sure everyone is on point. He also stated that to do this job you must have multitasking skills.
2. Mr. Garcia stated to me that he got started in the media business by producing concerts for local bands, booking venue's for bands to play. He also worked with a production company for a number of years. Also he worked as a casting assistant on the movie called "Pride", worked on numerous short films to start out.
3. Mr. Garcia answered yes when I asked him the 3rd question and when on to say that while working on something their are certain things that you might be expected to do but you have to be realistic about your abilities first and even more important you have to be realistic about your budget most of all you may not have enough money to complete all you want to do so that means making some hard decisions and telling certain people that some things can't be done.
4. When I asked Mr. Garcia for any advice he might have for someone like me trying to get started in the business he told me first and foremost figure out what you want to do and focus on that goal. Next he told me get some internships, and don't be afraid to work for free, research, practice your craft, and build some contacts.
   
   -Jimmy Preston