GVSU Film/Video Alumni Chapter Intern
Danielle
Experience Information
Employer: GVSU Film/Video Alumni Chapter
Job Title: Media Intern
Major: Film & Video
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: No
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
The GVSU Film and Video Alumni has a large chapter extending coast to coast! I worked closely with the alumni board for this internship. The board consists of professionals in the realm of film and video that donate their time to giving opportunities and connecting with other alumni as well as current students. They host events within the Grand Rapids (and Grand Valley) community such as Brews and Crews and others that provide a space for networking and collaboration. Overall the chapter assists the film/video program currently in progress as well as past film/video students all while celebrating Laker pride.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
The largest project I had during the internship was creating a video for the Dirk Koning Scholarship. The Dirk Koning Scholarship assists students in the film/video program who are creating works that contribute to the improvement of society. I worked in every process of pre-production, production, and post-production, along with the guidance of the alumni board. My other tasks consisted of running the alumni social media pages, creating alumni profiles for the GV website, and promoting events. Each of the board members took me under their wing and helped me develop new skills in their fields of focus.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
I gained skills in many areas that I was struggling in. The pre-production work for the Dirk Koning Scholarship video taught me how important scheduling is and how best to contact potential interviewees. Suzanne Zack, Randy Strobl, and Sarah Vesely taught me about lighting and composition as well as sound design when we were shooting the video. Post-production had to have been the most difficult part of the process but I gained so much from the experience. Michele Terpstra taught me everything I needed to know about how to edit titles and lower-thirds in After Effects as well as some other creatives tools I could use. I gained a ton of knowledge about freelancing, not only by helping set up and attend the freelancing event but by working with these people directly. They each started from the ground up and taught me all of the skills they gained throughout the process and lent those skills to me.
Favorite Part of the Experience
My favorite part of the internship was working with the alumni directly and getting to know the board. Being able to shadow each person and see their process and workflow was extremely helpful for me to decide what path I would like to go down. Each member was kind and patient, always wanting to better my experience in any way possible. I was able to form close relationships with some of them and now we work together on other projects! Sarah even took me along to her job at GRTV and let me run camera with her for a show featuring Mayor Bliss!
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
This experience definitely made me decide if I do or do not see myself doing anything commercial in the future, which I do. My ideal goal is to do narrative work, but this internship showed me that commercial work can also be fun and exciting! The internship also showed me that freelancing is an option and a good one! You just have to know how to get your name out there. Getting to work behind the camera for the scholarship video cemented my dream of being a cinematographer.