From my first interview to my last day working at MTV Networks I tried my hardest to stay aware, take notes, and learn from everything possible. It was a new world for me. Before there I had other internships on movies, music videos, and commercials. Being stuck in an office with production management, not being on set during shooting and having limited responsibilities was a job I felt I had already learned the first day on set of any internship before this one. So I had to find other ways of learning instead of just getting experience. Each day seemed the same unless I pushed for something new. There wasn't much work and what needed to be done was shared amongst a large group of workers making each job easier. There was rarely a challenge and when challenged I was better off teaching myself because most of the workers were a couple of years older than me and knew just as much as I did. Sometimes I'd wonder why I took this internship and why didn't I drop it once I saw what was going on, but then I remembered that once I started it I wanted to finish it no matter what, I didn't want to give up. I had to find something new, something challenging no matter what.
The first few days were a preparation period. I'd get my id for the building, meet and greet the co-workers, and learn all the different floors and departments where I'd spend the most time. It was all basically to get myself situated and comfortable. From that day forward, each day, I'd enter the office at 10, from a 90 minute bus and train ride, I'd get myself some breakfast eat it and wait for all the co-workers to show up. Right away they would have copies for me to make. I learned the copy machine and all its settings quickly. I read what was being copied, such as expense reports, paychecks, receipts, and contact sheets. I was asked to return the copies and bring the originals to different departments. The expense reports went to the accountants and line producers to be signed, the pay checks went o each individual, the receipts went to the accountants or travel and expenses department and the contact sheets went to everyone involved.
I learned to fax order to B&H Supply Store, Office Depot and other stores for tapes, film, cameras, office supplies and equipment. Sometimes I make trips all over the city to retrieve these orders. I'd carry loads of office equipment such as trashcans, folders, pens, clipboards, and other supplies for blocks and blocks back to the office. Sometime I would get treated to a cab ride to pick up expensive equipment. I made runs for food and delivery orders.
Knowing that I wasn't happy doing these simple jobs, they sent me to work for another department for the rest of the week. TRL was traveling to Mardi Gras and Rock-n-Jock was shooting in Philadelphia. The travel department needed help with travel reports and folders. I began calling up airports, hotels, taxi and limousine services, and food services finding out prices. I helped to get the cheapest places and arranged it by miles from the shooting area. I compiled travel packets that contained tickets, from the Seacrest in house travel agency, information on hotels and taxi services, per diem information, directions and contact sheets. I separated each packet by date of departure, and when those days neared I distributed them to each individual. This wasn't my ideal job but at least it was new, different and the coworkers seemed a bit more interested in what I wanted out of this.
Coming back to production management I was hoping thing would change. In some ways it did. I worked a weekend on a shoot called "Wanna be Fred Durst", where young kids from all over dressed, danced, sung and acted like Fred Durst from the rock group Limp Biscuit. The only problem was I was put on coat check. Before all the kids came, I watched them set-up and helped arranging chairs and moving equipment. I asked question on why they are setting thing up in a particular way and who was in charge of what. Then the kids came screaming in. I met a lot of people from all over. Each of them had their specific qualities and one kid wound up break pieces of wood during the shooting. After I helped shut down the set and bring the equipment back to the Times Square building.
Every once in awhile I make a trip to the Mayor's Film and Video Office to get permits for the Man on the Street interviews on Broadway for the TRL show. This was my favorite trip because I'd be able to ask questions on what is and is not allowed for shooting in New York City. I found out that, surprisingly, anything is allowed if a permit is issued. Shooting in parks might cause the most trouble because of closing it down can be a problem.
As time progressed, I was helping more on set, containing the audience and checking coats for TRL. I even got to get my cousin on the show. I worked outside during a Brittany Spears shoot and the audience was almost uncontrollable. People were taking pictures and camcorder video tapings. That caused problems between the line producer who didn't want anyone without a permit to have a working camera. I guarded the camera and light equipment and again contained the audience.
I was beginning to be trusted more. I filled out expense reports on Microsoft Excel and check other's reports making sure all the numbers matched the receipts. I filed vital information on the talent in the folders that held all the information for shows like Say What? Karaoke, TRL, and Movie Specials.
Throughout my internship I kept asking to work with other departments, but kept hitting closed doors. I slowly gave up on that. With all the young people, cursing in the office, wearing whatever they felt like wearing, every office blasting music while working, and never really getting a straight answer when I asked specific questions, I felt as if this was not the kind of environment I want to work in. The short time I worked there, I seen two people get fired. I asked questions on pay, and I was told that MTV is Viacom's cash account. They pay little money to the workers, the celebrities come on the show for free and only talent gets the bulk of the money. It seemed as if they wanted young people right out of college that would get stars in their eyes because they are working at MTV. It seemed as if they exploited their workers more than supported them.
In the end, I can say I did learn, I learned little, but I did learn. I expected more, but I appreciate the experience more than the knowledge gained. I don't plan on working there when I graduate but it was somewhat rewarding. I appreciate the opportunity.