Television News Roller Coaster

So I finished my first week as an intern. First, I've learned so much and the rest of the stuff I did know, but forgot all came rushing back to me. So that's good news. Let's start with Wednesday. Wednesday was an explosion of learning. I went out with a reporter in the morning and we covered two things. First, we went to get an interview with the newly elected State's Attorney...who was giving blood. We set him up still in the chair and interviewed him. It was fun, because I was able to see how persistence worked. First, she called and he said he was giving blood so she was about to give up. Then, the guy in charge said to go get him while giving blood. So that's what we did. She called back...and Vargo was NOT happy about being vulnerable in his first interview...but allowed us to come. So I just watched and learned what kind of questions to ask. Step two, get an aerial view of a field with only a 6-foot tripod. So we did our best. It was a little unnerving, because the reporter was trying to show me how to adjust for outdoor light, then couldn't remember filters. Then I asked (Like any Paul Crisp/Randall King-trained student would) Is this the iris. She replies, "I'm not sure what that is...I don't use it." My jaw dropped. She went to grad school and can't tell me what an iris is. Yikes! But, anyway, she climbed up as high as she could on nearby building and got a handheld shot. Then we went to the field and shot close ups. Again, she used handheld and panned a lot. So I was unsure of how it was going to turn out. So then I got switched to another, er, reporter? Well he was hired on to be the weekend meteorologist and had only been reporting for about a month. This was going to be interesting. So, we went on two more adventures. First, we went to Adecco. Adecco is a hiring company. That's it. So what was the story? Heck if I know. So the reporter did the interview and allowed me to get some broll. That was fun. I enjoyed working with close ups and actually getting to touch the cameras. -Oh, did I mention the still use tapes and the screens aren't colored...yeah it's a learning curve- But, then we get outside and the reporter says, "Oops! I forgot to white balance in there." I knew we were in for it. So we finished getting some SIGNS (I know, go ahead and cringe, Dr. King) and headed back to the station. Then, I got to edit. I wrote the script and edited it together. Well it was a good first attempt. The producer fixed my script and I learned that you don't edit the VO and the SOT together. That's confusing. But, now I know for next time. So, most of that video is not what I put together...ha! I also helped him figure out how to fix the white balance issue. (Thank you again to Paul and 3-way color corrector.) So I felt pretty accomplished with that story. And, even though his name is on it, here is the online story I wrote and he checked. Lastly, we went to the flood plains. If you watch any news around southwest South Dakota, you're going to hear about the 1972 Flood. This story was a little different. It was more of a press conference rather than an event. So there were multiple stations there. I didn't really do much with this, but sit back and observe. Friday, not as adventurous. I went to court. Learned how to write a script on a court case. Learned about the state flower, bird, tree, song, etc. I'm just trying to get to know the area where I'm working. Then I went to get an interview about the pine beetles. Then I wrote a practice script and sat around. With the flood special on tonight's news, there weren't very many reporters going out and around. So it was a little depressing I couldn't do much today, but I'll survive. But, I also want to add that every day I am amazed to see just how beautiful God's creation can be! Both in people and in the landscape.