Hello All! I have attached pictures from the Sesame Workshop office. Enjoy!
"Sesame Street"Don't you wanna take a trip down to Sesame Street?
Welcome to the longest street in the world.
Posted: 21st July 2011 by lacymitchell in A picture's worth a thousand words, and video is worth a million!0
My experience at the FanCave has been an up and down rollercoaster but I have gained a lot of good experience so far. I have about two weeks left there and cannot believe it is almost time for me to move on.
My responsibilities have increased each week at the FanCave and that is something that I am truly proud of. I’ve never considered myself as a camera operator, but I’ve found myself doing that. I’ve never considered myself as an editor either, but I’ve found myself on FinalCutPro editing footage for some of my favorite players. I’ve fine tuned many of the skills that I worked on at Newhouse during my time at the FanCave and it has defintiely been beneficial to my resume.
Lately, I’ve been allowed to be very involved in creative meetings with the producers and writers of the FanCave. I’ve come up with a few skits and interview topics that have actually been put on the website. Although I enjoy the PA duties while on shoots, I really enjoy being involved being in the creative meetings, taking notes and being allowed to give my input. Luckily, I know an awful lot about baseball and it has helped me in the creative process. Now I can also say that I’ve been in a writing room and I don’t want to be a writer! Production management is definitely where I want to be but this internship has allowed me to experience all of the different departments that make a show or website come together. I have seen my skills grow over the past eight weeks and cannot wait to be given the opportunity to put them on display at my first real job.
Jeff Graubart: An Unfinished Story
Posted: 20th July 2011 by jgraubart in Who Am I, Where Am I and How Did I Get Here?Hey 4th Wallers,
My name is Jeff Graubart and I figured that I’d tell you guys my unfinished story so that when I post random things about my internships, you’d know a little bit more about me.
I did my undergraduate work at St. John’s University in Queens, NY and majored in Communications with a minor in Business Administration. My original major was TRF but I changed it because I wasn’t sure what aspect of entertainment I wanted to go into yet. I was originally interested in broadcast journalism but a lot changes over the course of four years. I fell in love with New York City during my time there and knew that I would have to come back eventually.
After my four years were over, I still had a passion for television and film and found out about Newhouse. I visited Newhouse one time and knew it was the place for me. I got in and haven’t looked back since. I learned more in one year at Newhouse than I did during four years at St. John’s and it has already started to pay off.
Now that I’ve graduated from Newhouse, I find myself living in Queens once again. Right now, I’m interning at MTV and the MLB FanCave in New York City. It’s been a great experience so far and you can read my posts to get more specific details about my internships. I say this is an unfinished story because I have no idea what I’ll end up doing after my internships are over I find that exciting. Hopefully by the time our posts are due, (August 15th) I’ll have a conclusion to the unemployed Jeff Graubart story.
With only two weeks left at MTV, the job search is officially on! I’ve applied to numerous places and am waiting in anticipation to hear back from potential employers. MTV has definitely set me up with some good people that I have been networking with all summer. I truly believe that all of my hard work for ten weeks is about to or hopefully will pay off soon.
Yesterday, I was a production assistant on set of a new MTV documentary that I cannot reveal due to a confidentiality agreement that I signed on the first day of my internship. It was a great experience and it was the second opportunity that I had to PA on this particular project. I found myself aiding talent and crew, setting up shots, and taking apart sets. I assisted the executive producer and production manager throughout the entire day by going on runs, making phone calls for them, and even keeping track of petty cash for them. It was a long 10 hour day but it is the price you have to pay to get started in this business.
The life of a PA is definitely an interesting one. I’ve become close with the PA’s on this particular project and they all have offered different advice to me. They explained how sometimes their phones are constantly ringing with work and other times it doesn’t ring for weeks. Being a freelance PA is how the majority of people at MTV have gotten started and they’ve all advised me to start the same way.
I’ve been offered more PA work from the EP once my internship is over because of my hard work on the project and that is probably the route I will end up taking to begin my career. I’ve taken advantage of every opportunity MTV has given me and will continue to do so for the next two weeks.
Hey Sequence 64,
My name is Jeff Graubart. I am currently interning at MTV and the MLB FanCave and cannot believe that my internships are already almost over and its time for me to venture into the entertainment business. Not too long ago I was in your shoes starting my first class with Professor Moller. It has been a wild ride so far and I think I have some solid advice that I can offer all of you.
First and foremost, enjoy yourself. No matter how difficult the workload gets, remember that you are working towards your dream job in entertainment and that it will all be worth it in the long run. I still keep telling myself that everyday. It’s easy to get stressed out with the workload but I always found that venting to my fellow classmates worked best because they were going through the same exact stress as me.
Secondly, interact with your professors. The professors at Syracuse are unlike any in the world and they will do anything to help you. I couldn’t tell you how many times I ran into Schoony’s office in a panic and ended up walking out a new, relaxed, man with a plan. All of the professors are industry professionals and have advice that you can’t get from a textbook. So take my advice, just go and talk to the professor that has experience in what you want to do and take in everything that he or she has to say because it will definitely pay off.
Last but not least, get involved. Take part in as much as you can during your year at Cuse. When a classmate needs help on a shoot, help them out. I even tried acting a couple of times just to help out my classmates. Get involved with OTN or Citrus TV because it gives you even more out of the classroom experience and you’ll get to meet some great people along the way. The more things you get involved with, the more experience you have and the better you look to all of those companies in Los Angeles and New York City.
I wish all of you the best and hope you enjoy your time at Newhouse. I’ll never forget my time at Newhouse and the great people that I became close with, and I know you’ll end up feeling the same way in exactly a year from now.
For Newhouse is the Kingdom..The Camera’s and the Tripods,Editing and Studios, AMEN!
Posted: 19th July 2011 by ronaldseananthonymcleod in Notes to Sequence 64Hi Sequence 64,
As you all know I am your conscious membrane seeping through your craniums as you twiddle away and create, write, edit, get coffee, or beer (Chucks), as you cry, as you get angry and nervous about that Bob Thompson exam or review session or as you just go with the flow (that would be I). Just joking. If I have not introduced myself (i think i did) my name is Sean and at Newhouse like my favorite character in the film Stepbrothers Dale Doback I was the young calf who after a year of sweat, and tears, no blood (wait I cut my leg once) I became a cool bull. Anyway, You all are about to embark on an adventure that will be extraordinary and eye-opening. Studying at Newhouse did something for me that I would have never imagined. I was able to be myself and have friendly competition with my classmates. At Newhouse you will learn that you are the future of Television, Radio and Film and being mentored by the likes of the Godfather of Tv Radio and Film Professor Schoonmaker,The Interviewee who knows his tv philosophy Bob Thompson, The Great Audience Analysis professional Fiona Chew, Rick Wright He’ll have you on the radio sounding right and the LEGENDARY Peter Moller followed by the Illustrious Evan Smith and the visionary Richard Breyer just to name a few, you will learn quickly that you are blessed to be around world renowned professionals who know the business and are willing to assist you in your academic and career endeavors in any way they can. My journey through Newhouse was slow. I was lost briefly then came to grips with the reality that I was there for a year so get to it. The best advise I can give is simply: Always Be Yourself. I say that because no one in this business like’s a person who is not in tune with who they are. I look at myself as a quiet comic. What I mean by that I am silent when necessary yet when time to be funny I am spot on. Just ask Roy Gutterman when he taught media law. I was hilarious yet I felt comfortable around my peers and professors. Go to the CDC even if it kills you and NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK! Networking is the best way to get your foot in the door and make great contacts. Ultimately, do your work and have fun! Despite the cold winter weather it was all well worth it. njoy the free equipment use, play in the studio’s to get a feel for what you like, write, write, write, even if it is horrible practice makes perfect. I hope upon my return to syracuse in late August I can meet some of you and share my insight on life inside of the House of New! Until next time folks!
For the past month and a half, I’ve been interning in the East Coast Development office at MTV. Having completed seven of my ten required weeks, I’ve been able to learn (and do) a lot of really neat things. Though I can’t give any specifics (I wish I could, but everything the office does is confidential due to its sensitive nature) I can say that I’ve been able to participate in the development of several new pilots and projects. I’ve been lucky enough to have a variety of responsibilities including research, participating in brainstorming meetings, and working as a PA on set. Of course, there has been plenty of filing, copying, and more filing, but I’ve also been able to act as an assistant in the absence of a few people in the office from time to time. This has been a huge plus, considering that assisting is the entry level job that I will likely be shooting for come mid-August.
I’ve learned a lot about the inner workings of the industry too. Seeing first hand the relationships between staffers, freelancer, production companies, and network execs. From the lessons in our classes at Newhouse, we know all about the amount of time, work, and people it takes to put a successful project on air, but it has been incredibly enlightening to see all of this in action. Working alongside the production management department, I’ve been able to see the amount of organization and planning (and re-planning if something is too costly/presents a legal issue) that goes in to pilot development. It is actually sad to see all of the blood, sweat, and tears go into something that is never actually turned into a series. But then again, it makes it all the more rewarding when a project actually gets picked up.
As I’m sure is the case for all of us, I’m finding that this internship is valuable not only in the learning experience that it is, but also in that it reiterates the teachings of our Newhouse professors in tangible, real world form.
The Come-Up- Radio One
Posted: 15th July 2011 by ronaldseananthonymcleod in Who Am I, Where Am I and How Did I Get Here?Well Hello Everyone! Humans, Dogs, Birds, Cats, Gerbils, Hamsters! LOL No seriously welcome to the wonderful world of yours truly. ME! Now that the introduction is over and backstage, I am Sean McLeod. Or as you can see from my long name Ronald Sean Anthony McLeod. I am the Ventriloquist of the world. Just joking!
I am true to the craft and the constant passion I have developed while interning with Radio-One is unparallel to anything I have experienced in my young professional life. Coming from a small HBCU in North Carolina I found this place called Syracuse University nestled on a hill, and beautiful in the summer time and Snow fest 9000 in the winter.
Day in and day out I constantly fell in love with the major we call Television Radio and Film. Im the comedian. I’m the funny guy during sad moments and the funny guy during happy moments.
I am the quiet guy that loves observation and research and I am the voice of reason when I absolutely do not like something. At the end of the day I’m awesome and I credit my fellow sequence 63 classmates and outstanding professors because of it.
During the school year I researched different internship opportunities. I was fortunate enough to interview with MTV after the mid-mester in January. This is where I was able to travel to NYC and network with professional alumni. I was given a card by a fellow alumni from MTV and interviews for internship’s soon followed. After 3 interviews and not receiving the one I really wanted I just took it as a sign and looked for different opportunities. Along came radio-one.
They also did not have any internships available but one call to a contact (USE YOUR CONTACTS) changed my entire outlook on the internship process. I went from sitting at my house in syracuse being a sad to driving back to Maryland (my homestate) to start an opportunity I thought I would never get. I currently intern in the corporate sales office learning the business of radio broadcasting from reviewing contracts to planning concerts. I have been fortunate to interact with record label executives and managers of artist. I got here via a contact I have known a majority of my life. Moral of the story is my come up was due to hardwork and dedication as well as discipline and frankly I am absolutely happy about the journey I am embarking on!
Blackbelt TV is where I am interning in Santa Monica, CA. It is a new network, only two years old, started by the producer of the Mortal Kombat movies and True Lies. It is a 24/7 martial arts network airing content like kung fu movies and MMA fights. It is a very small operation. The editing bay is split in half with one side filled with interns working for a computer animation company owned by the same person. Blackbelt TV’s post production staff includes an editor and an intern, me. There is a graphics person as well but he is split between both groups. So, I basically act as an assistant editor there. I have already helped the editor, Mike immensely with his work load. After the first week, I have to say that anyone wanting to get into post-production would do well to get into a small company. This is a very hands on internship. I’m not running anyone’s errands or getting coffee. There is work to be done and they are glad to have my help to do it.
Mike informed me that this is a much better internship than he had coming out of Newhouse 10 years ago. His internship was one of getting coffee. Then he worked as a tape logger before eventually working up to assistant editor then finally editor. I am, therefore, in a very good position here. Any jobs I apply to will know that I will be able to handle much more than tape logging, and through Mike I can gain some contacts in the industry. I will come out of the internship with real experience. He said his first internships and jobs were from SU alums so I know I made the right move there as well.
My work so far consists of going through content and searching for clips to use in promos. Later I will have to write up notes on upcoming movies so Mike knows when to put in commercial breaks. I have only done a little work that I would call “typical intern work” such as burning DVDs. But, if I weren’t there to do it then Mike would have to which would take away time for other more important tasks. This place seems to make good use of interns in general as there are 8 or 9 animation interns actively working on projects as well.
When I was out in LA in January, an alum told me to start at a small company as they would be willing to train me and give me more responsibility. I took that advice and its already paying off for me. I know that there are no guarantees in this business. I have no illusions that I will be immediately hired as soon as I leave this internship. It would be nice but I won’t hold my breath. But, SU alums like hiring on other SU people and that combined with internship experience will at least get my foot in the door.
I want to edit so all my internship activities are related to that. Make sure you get an internship that actually lets you do some work, even if not right away. Just be glad to have the opportunity and do all your work with no complaint. Work being completed on time and well says more for you than anything else can. Mike is much more willing to throw work my way when he sees that I am getting my work done. And, don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything. I am there to learn, not just do free work for them. They have to give me something in return and, so far, I have been quite satisfied. I was told in advance that the producer very much wants interns to be learning and that is the case. It happened that this was the only intenship that go back to be but if it had turned out to just be a waste of my time then I would be better off not doing it. I am paying for this opportunity so if I am not getting anything in return then what’s the point?
So, reach out to SU alums for internship. They understand what you can do and what you need from them.
It may not seem like a year will go by quickly but it surely will. It won’t seem like it at the time as you trudge through snow up to your waist but you will be so busy that one year will seem like nothing in the end. If there is one piece of advice I can give you it’s that you need to decide exactly what you want to do early in your time at Newhouse. You should devote both semesters to your goals. I wanted to edit so I made sure to take classes that taught After Effects and Pro Tools, for example. This isn’t like undergrad where you can wait around to discover your interests. Knowing what you want will help you greatly down the road, believe me. IN a few months you will feel the panic of internships or jobs but if you know what you want to do then you at least have a direction. I knew I wanted post-production so I made sure to reach out to contacts in that field. Use the career services to get in touch with alumni in NYC or LA so you can learn from them how to break into the industry. I know that it can easily feel like you have a lot of time right now but you shouldn’t waste a second of it. Work on any project you can to get experience, contact people as often as you can, talk to professors about their contacts in the industry and for advice.
Using alumni contacts I was able to land an internship in my field at at small company. If you can, take that trip to LA or NYC in January to start networking. The editor I work with is someone I met at an alumni reception. You never know where a contact might lead. Don’t be afraid to reach out. The worst that can happen is that you never hear back, then you’ll just be in the same position. You have nothing to lose. In a few months you’ll suddenly be faced with the prospect of facing the real world and it can be quite difficult if you have no idea at all where to turn.
Use the time at Newhouse to learn as much as you can about your interests. If you want to write, take every writing course possible. If you want to do post, learn every program you can. You can’t go in every direction. Even if you want to study several things, there are just two semesters available to you. If you join a class and hate it, don’t be afraid to drop and get in something else. You need to come out of Newhouse with knowledge and skills that you can apply towards a job. Classes like FIlm Business and TV History can give you a strong foundation but you have to decide what you ultimately want to do with your life.