I never realized there were so many tasks to pay attention to on a professional video shoot. That is until I assisted taping interviews for Phi Beta Kappa, our client that wants a welcome video for its website. We shot PBK members speaking about the organization and b-roll of the PBK headquarters, a historic mansion on New Hampshire Avenue in Northwest DC. Details really count when you want to accomplish a high-quality finished product. Professional sound requires professional microphones and being near a busy street, we often had to pause taping for passing ambulances and loud car horns. The most valuable lesson I learned from my first shoot is that production assistants must anticipate the needs of the producer, the sound technician, the client and the interviewee, while remaining unobtrusive and inconspicuous. This reminds me of what Rosemary often says, “There are two things you don’t want to see being made: Television and sausage.” While I agree with her about the sausage thing, I on the other hand think that the production process is incredibly interesting and I can’t wait to be a part of more!
— Caitlin Findlay
