In our second week here at DOUBLE R PRODUCTIONS we got to assist with the NAB Congressional Public Service Announcements. It was a new experience for me because I have never been in the Rayburn building before. Walking in was a little bit intimidating at first because of all the security and watching all our equipment go through the metal detector. However, we found the room and started to set up. That’s where I met the rest of our crew, which we would be working with. At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect but as we set up they gave helpful tips and advice to make the shoot go smoothly. The first Congressman came into room with his own direction in mind. I remembered to keep smiling and continue telling him, “this way Congressman”. He got in and got out, even with a few laughs for the blooper reel. The process got easier as the day went on and my jitters went away. This was a great firsthand experience filming with a real crew.
So far, Washington D.C. has been an interesting experience. This past weekend I went to the Arboretum. It was neat to see all the plants from different areas of the world. Also I visited the National Mall at night, which in my opinion is the best time to visit. The monuments looked great as they were all lit up and there were no crowds, it was definitely worth seeing at night. We took the metro there, which was another challenge I had to overcome, when coming to a new city for the summer. I’m not used to taking public transportation every day but it was something I needed to get used to. It’s getting easier navigating my way through the train system, although I still have to use Google Maps most of the time. Here’s a tip for future interns, I paid for a monthly plan so I don’t have to be inconvenienced by continuously loading money onto my Metro card.
I can’t wait to explore the rest of city. I have been given many suggestions on where to go and what to do, I am excited to see what D.C. has to offer. I want to try new foods, see the museums, and anything else that will fill my day with adventure. The PSA shoot was a great firsthand experience filming. I learned a lot and would like to experience more shoots like this so I can gain more knowledge in the video industry.
