I am a production and post-production intern at Bigler Productions (Facebook). Well, technically I am also an intern at Modern Mix Marketing (Twitter, Facebook) because Bigler Productions split into two companies. Whereas Bigler Productions used to create media for both weddings and corporate events, it is now handling the former and Modern Mix Marketing is handling the latter. The same cinematographer, editor, owner and interns are involved in the same companies (Modern Mix has an additional co-owner/creator), so there was really no change in what I did when the second company developed.
Bigler Productions has been located in Saratoga Springs, New York for about a year. Dave, the owner, is also a cinematographer. Terry is in charge of sales and is also a cinematographer. Jerel is the master editor. Currently, there are three interns – two of which are both editors and cinematographers (including myself), and one of which is a photographer working to get behind the scenes footage of Modern Mix in action.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oym71o_mZZE&w=560&h=349]
Wedding packages at Bigler Productions usually cost anywhere between $2,500 to $5,000, depending on what the client wants and depending how how many cinematographers are used at the wedding. Bigler Productions is one of the high-end videography services in the Saratoga Springs area (well, at least I’m told by the Bigler employees), so this price range is usually the maximum for a wedding. In comparison, high-end photography usually costs $6,000 to $7,000. I wrongly assumed that videography would cost more because of the time it takes to review and edit the footage and because of the extra (and more expensive) equipment needed. The reason photography is more expensive, however, is that the demand for videotaping weddings isn’t yet present. Most weddings hire photographers, thus they can charge higher prices.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSkNFE-FOiY&w=425&h=349]
Dave puts most of his profits back into the business. Terry and Jerel both earn a salary and a percentage from each package sold. Us interns receive nothing! However, one of the benefits of interning for Bigler/Modern Mix is that they hire their interns as the business expands (that is how Jerel got hired). Thus, if I do a good job, my effort will be noticed and perhaps I’ll have a job at the end of the internship!