the Inquisitive Mind

Where do I start?

The amazing TCTV Show off? The big parade? The solo shoot I did?

My internship with TCTV is turning into a passionate love affair with the community, staff, and life in Olympia. Aside from wanting to really get a sense of the community, I definitely didn’t want to stop being involved in TV production now that I was busy with regular class at Evergreen. One of the best things about this internship is being able to do be able to have time for homework and do the internship that I really wanted and was so fortunate to have been chosen for!

TCTV seems like a small organization, but they make big things happen! There is a dedicated community of volunteers that is always ready to lend a hand, and without them it wouldn’t be possible to pull of these recent events I’ve been fortunate to have taken part of as part of my internship. One of the most amazing experiences so far was being a part of the Show-Off! From the fun try-outs to the finale that was filled with excitement and some surprises, this event was a sight to see, especially from behind the scenes!

Photo by John Koch

Luckily it wasn’t raining that day, because there were a lot of things plugged into the mobile production van. Its an older vehicle but it goes anywhere the station is doing a big event. We had extra equipment set up inside the van, since all the motion graphics were created on a mobile system that John Koch was running while Bob Neal manned all the other equipment inside the van.

It was great filming the talent auditions, there were lots of different acts and we did short little interviews with the contestants before they went onstage. I am asked to do things I’ve never done and given a lot of responsibility frequently. Some challenging and new happens almost everytime I am on a shift at TCTV, and its totally awesome!

The Holiday Parade was a new type of challenge, but it was fun because I’d never filmed outside before. To be honest with you, I’ve barely used any of the equipment we regularly take on big shoots but here I am, using it! What an awesome way to learn. I helped set up the camera tripods and got a crash course on the cameras by one of the longtime volunteers, Tom. I like working with him and he always seems to show up when there’s something to do!

When it was time for the Holiday Parade to begin, I was asked to be the person who pushes the buttons to change the cameras that are being recorded. The hour just flew by and I was having a great time. It seems like an easy job but you have to listen to the director and not be distracted by what’s happening on the television monitors or around you. Also, you have to make sure that you don’t push this cross fade lever too fast or your director will not be happy! ;->

Definitely one of the funnest nights so far was being sent out to film a spot for the show Mission non-profit. After a hectic but exciting day of setting up for the TCTV finals, my friend Tim from Seattle, who loves to help on video shoots, came by the shoot and we went to Tumwater to film the comedy show. I didn’t expect such a warm reception, and I got to meet wonderful local comedians and practice interviewing. I did break a battery because I didn’t secure the camera in the tripod, but other than that I had a wonderful time, and got to edit the footage I filmed with my field supervisor and Cable Access Manager Robert Kam.

The excitement’s not over yet, I have some shifts in December, and TCTV is always cooking up something interesting.

I’ll keep you posted!

Katherine

Comedian Debbie Wooten and Your Humble Author

Its Friday night, and I’m usually studying most weekends but sometimes I’m here at TCTV!

Friday nights are usually one of the more exciting nights here at TCTV – its when they film fun shows like Dance Oly Dance and Karoke Oly. Sense a theme here?

Tonight, I’m working the front desk while the volunteers, employees, and producers who are editing stream in. Everyone is always in a nice mood and very friendly – its pretty infectious!  I do so many different things that its easy to get rusty with the reservation system, Facil. Its used for reserving cameras, edit suites, or just renewing your membership.

It’s only my second shift working the front desk, so its good that they’re giving me more time here to get familiar with everything that involves manning the control hub of TCTV. I acreally enjoy working at the front desk, because, unlike doing camera work, (which I love) I get to interface with everyone! Its good because it helps to bring me out of my shell and learn to work. I think its what they refer to as a soft skill?

Photo Dan Bennett

In fact, the mysterious Bill Oliphant who works in the edit suite is out here! He’s an elusive guy and I haven’t had the chance to meet him yet.  Its the first time I’ve seen him chatting and being social while I’m here but I’m too shy to say hi. I’ve got to find the right opportunity. It will take forever to master all the different roles of TCTV but once I do, I’ll say, hey! Can you show me what you’re doing in there?

I never know who is going to walk through the door on a Friday night – as a matter of fact, tonight I’ve seen four employees come in after 5pm! To add to the suspense, I never know what they’ll have me do. Its wonderful that TCTV is such an cozy environment that I can be called on to do any number of things, like jump up and go into the equipment room to check out equipment if there’s no one back there.

Well its almost show time so I have to run!

Wow!

How much fun it has been! Its week 3 and I really didn’t know what to expect, and it’s still really fun! I am being challenged in lots of ways. My interpersonal skills were put to work today as I worked at the front desk. I’ve work reception positions before but never in an environment like this! I feel very much a part of a community, and its been a great experience so far. I can barely remember everyone’s names, and every single person is super nice! How cool is that?

Last Saturday I was a little nervous and wasn’t sure what to expect – I get lost in downtown, so going someplace I’d never been was a little scary. Robert, my supervisor, and Alan, one of the volunteers definitely didn’t hold my hand during the shoot, there was plenty to do and I pretty much ran the back end of the shoot! I’ve done quite a bit of filming at events for my own personal projects since I first got into video a couple of years ago, but doing a mutli-cam shoot where you are being directed

It seems like there’s always something going on or some shoot that one or more members of the staff is involved in. Shortly after I started my internship, the city held its artwalk. It was in my first week volunteering at TCTV that they filmeed and screened a video bicycling that Robert Kam and the IT Specialist, John Koch collaborated on.

This past Friday was a new experience as well! There are so many roles at TCTV, and in a close-knit environment, the front desk is the hub of the action! I folded newsletters while Peter Gudmunson, who is currently teaching the Field and Digital Editing class, did some editing in an office. I had heard about the show that was being recorded live that evening, Karaoke Oly. It sounded like fun and I knew would be entertaining because it was hosted by Dan Bennett and Robert Kam! It was one of the busiest I’ve ever seen the station! There were folks editing, people showing up to sign up for the talent show, volunteers for the show poured in, and of course the phone rang a couple of times. I had my hands full but it was nice to get out there and interact with the public and the volunteers. I really felt like a part of the team! I’m having so much fun.

While the software, cameras and much of the equipment that TCTV uses is the same as SCAN TV, where I previously took classes, each member of the staff is so skilled in their own way and each contributes to what is a pretty much seamless operation there at TCTV! There’s always volunteers there to lend a helping hand, and chili or baked good at least once a week! ;-9

I’m pleasantly surprised everytime I have a shift at TCTV, there are so many ways to learn and grow that its hard not to just smile while you’re there!

Katherine

Welcome to blogs.evergreen.edu. This is my first post!

Its my first quarter at Evergreen, and its been an intense two weeks. One of the things I’m most excited about is securing an internship learning contract. My field supervisor is Robert Kam, who suggested I get in touch with Beatriz Flores, an instructor here at The Evergreen State College. I’ve done a fair share of professor hunting and its not always easy, but finding Beatriz was a fun adventure and easier than I thought it would be – plus she has a little corkboard outside of her office and it was nice to leave her a note when I happened to drop in while she was away teaching class. It only took two visits to the COM building to run into her. We had been corresponding about her sponsoring my Internship Learning Contract. It was great to finally meet her, Beatriz was really calm and very pleasant to talk to. Finally, it was coming together!

I have been really into video production for the past two years, but I’m also really interested in Math and Science, so I’ve been taking technical classes at Evergreen like GIS while learning a ton every time I have a shift at TCTV. I’ve met politicians, members of the community running for the neighborhood council, a few colorful characters, and even a couple of former Greeners that are now employees of TCTV.

This last shift I worked, I got to sit in on a Digital Field and editing class taught by former intern/Greener Peter Gudmunson. There was a big class, and I for one would be intimidated if I had to sit there in front of 10 people and speak confidently about Video Production. I hope this is one of the skills I’ll learn at this internship.

Before I moved to Olympia this summer, I first started searching the CODA database for jobsthere were a lot of awesome jobs. I couldn’t decide which one I liked the most!

Week 1

A work study position at Thurston County Television got my attention, so I wrote to the email address and sent them my resume and explained how it was important for me to work and volunteer while attending school. I started corresponding with Robert Kam, the Public Access manager at TCTV, who was very helpful and responsive to my emails. I hadn’t moved to Olympia yet but I already felt like I had a friend there, and it made me look forward to moving here even more.

While I wasn’t 100% sure what I was doing or what the process was, I put a lot of effort into finding as many opportunities as I could to find places to grow and learn outside of the classroom setting.

I didn’t know if I was going to be awarded work study, because you need to apply very early on to get your application in to Financial Aid. The student employment office was very helpful, and I set up a meeting and sent in a letter to be put on the standby list for Work Study. The experience of meeting with the office and writing a letter introduced me to the process and helped me learn more about how how things work at Evergreen.

I spent all summer looking for work, going on interviews, and believe it or not, studying! I knew going back to school would be a big transition so I made sure I was hitting the books regularly.

After I found out that I wouldn’t be getting work study, I expressed to Robert Kam that I would still be interested in volunteering. I also signed up for one of their classes – a 4-part Studio production class taught by Dan Bennett and Eric Oderman, so that I could become familiar with

their equipment and facilities. I was interviewed by Robert and Peter Eperson, the Community Initiatives Manager. Then they made my day by telling me I’m their newest intern!

I’m always excited to go to TCTV – everyone is really nice and it feels like you’re being welcomed into a family! The other night I was going to ride off into the night when one of the producers, Kate, stopped me and gave me a bright orange construction vest to wear on the way home.

There’s lot of cool shoots coming up, in fact this Saturday I get to ride along and help with running a remote shoot! I’ve never had an opportunity like this and I am feel very fortunate to be able to benefit the unique experience provided by an Internship learning contract in my first quarter at Evergreen!