interns... are they a necessary evil???

[D9_Hoosier]

Hey guys,

I am interning this summer with the photography department of my local station and I was wondering how you guys felt about us...lol

Do you really enjoy having interns with you or are they a necessary evil that you must deal with?? also what do I need to be aware of before going in??

Thanks :)

[Buck Satan]

EVIL!

Unless you are female. Then there is a certain "Mentoring" process going on...:)

[Land Rover]

You have both good and bad interns. I like those that show a willingness to learn and ask questions, at the appropriate time. Asking questions while I’m editing a PKG in the truck for a 5PM hit ten minutes before said hit is not the best time. Doing small things like asking to carry the tripod goes a long ways. Bad interns are those that have an “I already know how to do this” type of attitude and act like their doing you a favor by being there. That’s the best way to get “left” at the station.

[TexasDave]

Always offer to help carry the tripod - those interns are the best! (and the ones who bring doughnuts)

[Tippster]

A truism - there is no such thing as a stupid question, but there are stupid people asking questions. Observe and think first - if you're still confused ask a pertinent question when there is time for it. Nobody wants a puppy following them around constantly asking "why."

You are interning to learn something - I am not in this job to teach (necessarily.)

That said - I love an inquisitive bright mind and a hard worker. I despise a young snot who has used a PD150 amd FinalCut to shoot their class projects feeling they know what I do and are entitled to an opinion whenever they feel like uttering it.

[shoot da parrot]

I wish we had more photography interns. We always got interns that wanted to be high mainetence prompter readers. Just go in with a learning attitude and the shooters in the shop will accept you.

[Sportsguy]

I prefer to fly solo most of the time. Interns tend to slow me down and often just annoy me.

I've never had a photo intern though, so somebody who actually wants to learn might be a refreshing change of pace from the human mic stands who want only for me to shoot standups for a resume tape.

[leftcoastphotog]

I had heard that they exsist. But seriously I have only had one and I found that as far as my fellow photogs went the intern was a "golden child" she was always willing to help and listen and knew when to shut up. She asked the right questions and (now this is a big one) could READ A MAP.
One thing that it's hard for me to express to an intern when down to the wire is when i ask them to stay with the gear as I am setting up a live shot they sometimes feel like they are jst babysitting the camera but what they dont realize is that while they are being trusted with my gear (career) it also allows me a chance to get other things done and usually if we are down to the wire I may not be able to explain how much it means to me I have to remember to thnak them later because it DOES me a great deal to watch the gear while I am setting up the live etc.
So d-9 If you listen, help and dont complain you should be fine.
also remember that there are going to be days that a photog would rather just fly solo and dont get offended if they say I would rather you went with someone else.
Bring a back-pack with food, water and anything else that you might need for the day in case there are no stops. and that includes a change of clothes ( Old Navy khakis and a polo are fine) unless thats what you are already wearing then jeans boots and a waterproof (if you live in rainy areas) windbreaker.
Have fun,
Lcp

[Tape Reaver]

I hate to be like this, but I will not go out with a female intern alone. I don't know these people and I'm not taking any chances. And since I work mostly alone, I guess no interns for me.

[NEWSSHOOTER3]

I'd simply say, take advantage of the opportunity. Observe. Ask questions. But, stay out of the way when its "crunch Time".

[aussie]

Do you really enjoy having interns with you

Thanks :)

Yep you are great tripod mules. Thats 10kg's less for me to carry.

[F4 Fan]

Hoosier you always seem to come up with intriguing questions. As a former intern, someone who has worked with LOTS of interns and as an intern coordinator for a couple of years I think I’ve seen the world, life and times of an intern from a pretty complete perspective.

Are interns a necessary evil? No not at all, nor are they slave labor. I use to work at a station that did a Friday night high school sports show. We sent out five crews every Friday, each crew covered 3-4 events. The interns kept logs for us, read road signs, found parking, carried the tripod, ran to the car to get batteries, helped edit and write, answered the phones, got scores, escorted guests around the station, pretty much did it all. And when it came to new hires – where did we look first, usually from the ranks of our interns.

First off – you are there to learn. Translated that means keep your mouth shut and your eyes and ears open. Nothing and I mean there is nothing worse than a know-it-all intern who has to make it known that, “This isn't how we do it at State College U!” Odds are that anyone you work with who has more than five years of experience in the business will have forgotten more than you know. There are times to ask questions but not on your first day. Things are done different ways at different places. Don’t question it – just observe and soak in the experience.

Don’t expect to shoot right away – maybe not at all. You may get a chance to shoot a sit-down interview on your last day or you may be handed a camera on day one and told to go shoot a ribbon cutting at city hall. Don’t worry about it, find a good mentor and ask to view their raw footage to see how the pros do it. Then look at the edited story to see what footage was used and how. Editing is the best way to improve your shooting, especially when you are first learning.

There are times to ask questions and to make comments and there are times to keep quiet, which is most of the time. We had one intern – wanna be filmmaker type – who right in front of a client made his suggestions as to how we should shoot a scene. Needless to say he did this once and never again. Not that he didn’t have valid ideas, it’s just that time constraints, working within a limited budget and knowing what the final commercial was to look like precluded us from using his ideas. When you have only 2 hours to crank out a 30 second commercial you can’t get too sophisticated. That and we really had to dance around the client who liked the kid’s suggestions.

Act like you’ve been there before. Say for example that you get to cover a major league team. Don’t ask for autographs in the locker-room after the game. Don’t gawk. Our high school interns use to get us in all kinds of trouble at football games. Nothing worse than shooting from the end zone when the kid next to me starts very vocally rooting for the home team to score. One warning from the referee was all we’d get. If you want to root for the home team buy a ticket.

Show up on time.

Don’t steal anything. Might sound like a no-brainer but some kids just can’t help themselves being around a lot of cool, expensive equipment. Be it money in purses left out to DVC-Pro tape decks I have seen it go out the door, and unfortunately it was an intern(s) who lifted the stuff. Do something this dumb and your career in the business is over.

My internship led to my first professional job. Three days of working at the Democratic National Convention a long time ago. I learned to edit on ¾ inch machines, cuts only. I became a much better director; nothing like covering those city council meetings and having to direct, switch, run audio and try figure who was who for CG’s. When I returned after that summer for my second year of television courses I was way ahead of the other students. Soak it in – learn, just remember that you may be there to gopher (go for) stuff; while it may not seem important, it is and so is your internship. Take it seriously.

[cameragod]

Don’t make me wait! I may have spent the whole day slowly wondering around the news room like some concussed zombie but when I get the call I have to be gone at the speed of news, so be in the car or get left behind.

[Freddie Mercury]

I have no problem with interns in general. Some are great with good personalities, a genuine desire to learn and willingness to help. Those are the ones I will do all I can to help them get the most out of their internship and beyond.

If they come in acting all uninterested, talking on their cellphone, throwing out complaints, being high maintenance, and generally being a prima donna without anything to back it up...Mr. Helpful goes away, to be replaced by Mr. Strictly Business. That's the guy that doesn't have time to shoot a standup, prefers music to conversation and doesn't know anyone in that market you're trying to break into.

We all started out somewhere, but most of us started with humility. Interns are just people like us, and they will all be different. Some good, some "evil", and it's totally up to them how they are regarded.

[TexasDave]

Don't be a slacking intern. I had one intern that you could tell had NO interest in being there. He routinely talked on phone, acted uniterested, and slept in the car.

Well, you don't sleep in the car when I'm driving. I went out with a reporter and the intern in question. The shoot was a bit of a drive, and on the way back, the dis-interested intern decided to take a nap.

Well, I decided to wake him up. I swerved sharlply left and right and screamed "Ahhhhh - WATCH OUT!" That intern woke up quickly clinging to anything close. Needless to say, he didn't sleep in the car again. I thought it was funny.

Don't be a sleeping intern.

[sixtycyclehum]

Here's some great advice I got from my internship coordinator when I was in school:

"When someone is showing you how to do something you already know how to do, act like it's the first time you've ever heard it."

Myself (photog) and another intern (reporter) followed this philosophy the first week and it helped us a lot. When they saw that after they showed us how to do something once that we could do it well right away, they thought we were fast learners and gave us more to do. By the end of the semester I was consistantly shooting 2-3 vosots a day by myself and my buddy fronted 11 pkgs.

I really sucked as a shooter but I think they still liked me ;)

[Buck]

EVIL!

Unless you are female. Then there is a certain "Mentoring" process going on...:)

For some reason I can't get this smile off of my face as I fondly remember my single days many, many years ago.

[patssle]

Well, I decided to wake him up. I swerved sharlply left and right and screamed "Ahhhhh - WATCH OUT!" That intern woke up quickly clinging to anything close. Needless to say, he didn't sleep in the car again. I thought it was funny.


so wheres the tape? :D

[cameradog]

Ask questions. But be careful not to talk too much.

[satop]

I have had good interns and bad ones.....some of the good ones have become good friends.....I have even helped some get jobs and move along in their careers.

the bad ones usually only get one chance with me. I will not take them out again if I don't like their attitude or they make me look bad.

that said if you are interested in what we do, want to learn, and have a good attitude you will have a great intership and go far. good luck.

[dw438]

For some reason I can't get this smile off of my face as I fondly remember my single days many, many years ago.

Interns? Just ask the 42nd President of the United States about interns ... pizza ... and a strategically placed Cubano.

[photog3535]

So much has already been stated, I'll just add something quick. Desire to learn as much as you can, and don't be a hotshot who thinks you have to prove yourself. Be humble, and be respectful. Ask good questions, yet remember our time constraints. If we snap, forgive us, for we aren't being rude, we are just dealing with a type of stress you probably haven't learned yet. If you're a photog intern, learn as much as you can about shooting and try to get your hands on a camera and do it yourself. Practice, practice, practice. Ok, I'm done with the cliches.