Andrew Daume
This month, I had the opportunity to shadow a professional producer and editor at Boston 25 News Station. I got this opportunity when a Boston 25 reporter was doing a story on crosswalk safety. As I approached the bustling road, she pulled me aside, stuck the microphone in my face, and I gave my thoughts. I gave some half-hearted answer, but I didn’t care about the crosswalk story; I was too focused on the Boston 25 logo on her Patagonia vest. Once I was done with my 30-second interview, she thanked me and turned away. Instead of walking away, as everyone else did, I took initiative and walked right up to her and her cameraman. They both gave me an email contact and sent me on my way. That day, I emailed the contact, landed an interview, and one week later, I had a date lined up.
This type of networking is exactly what college is all about. I have always been told to utilize any connection possible, no matter how distant. Although I didn’t know this reporter, I knew she was working for a news station in Boston. All I needed was that single connection point; in this case, being a communications student with a personal focus in journalism was enough to get me that interview. It’s these types of in-the-moment sparks of determination that launch entire careers, and that every student should force themselves to learn.
I found myself driving to a massive square building with a large purple “Jordan’s Furniture” plastered on the side. That’s where I met the Marketing manager, Matt, and marketing producer, Konner, for a promotional holiday shoot. The shoot was for the locally famous “stuff the sleigh” toy drive that donates toys to kids in need that Jordan spearheads. Once there, Matt and Konner started setting up while I watched. For this shoot, they brought in a life-size sleigh and tons of toys for decoration. Then Eliot Tatelman aka the guy you see in the Jordan’s furniture commercials, pulled up in his McLaren sports car. (I guess all of those commercials really paid off) Then we shot the promo.
Overall, this was much quicker and less effort than I expected a promotional video to be, especially one premiering on the Boston 25 Channel and New England local stations. The shoot had one single camera, a tripod, and 2 lights. Simple, easy, and effective. They let Eliot say his lines with multiple takes, although he was clearly used to acting in promos, then before I knew it I was looking at the back of his McLaren license plate as he peeled out of the parking lot. This promo shoot showed me that the professional landscape that I’ve been intimidated by isn’t so different from the work I do daily in the Cushing TV studio. We use similar cameras, similar lights, and the professionals I was intimidated by are now just friends. This intimidation has stopped me from taking so many big risks, and it shouldn’t stop you either.
After the shoot, I met Konner and Matt at the studio, and they gave me a tour of the whole space. I even got to witness the 3 pm live update of the day’s top stories. Then I spent the rest of the workday with Konnor and watched him edit a promotional “coming up next” clip for an investigative story on the safety of assisted living facilities. As an editor, it was incredible to watch Konner take an edit that I would consider complete and add so many new elements to make it as engaging as possible. I spent hours with him as he turned a collection of footage into a masterful array of clips built solely to engage the viewer. What he does is very similar to what the MCTV members do every week; the only difference is the professionalism and specificity to a task, as opposed to the more learning-first approach present with college shoots. Both contain a large amount of learning as you go.
It showed me how one year of professional work can catapult you into such new heights, while simultaneously teaching me that there isn’t an impossible bar for most jobs out there, despite what my inner monologue tells me every time I submit a job application.
Overall, this experience taught me loads about networking, the professional world, and what to expect post-undergrad. It was a great learning opportunity, and I encourage my fellow students to take the initiative and get that interview, talk to that professional, and send that email. It might just kickstart your career.
