Three weeks feels cruelly short. I only have one more day left at Double R, and this is, regrettably, my last blog post. I have learned so much about the business in the little time I’ve been here, but I still wish that I could stay another two months like the luckier collegiate interns.
The past two days, I’ve been out with the filming crew as we shot interviews and B-roll for a project on the 35th anniversary of Humanities DC. As Field Coordinator Lauren Grant told me, “These are the kinds of shoots we like most,” and it was easy to see why. The settings were eclectic and colorful, like the restaurant Busboys and Poets, where one wall boasted a montage of civil rights activists and the other, a collection of flamboyantly decorated breasts.
The people we met were equally diverse, but they all shared a passion for the arts and humanities of DC. For example, we interviewed academic chairmen and chairwomen, poets, entrepreneurs, activists, and a producer. Plus, we filmed the street band Positive Funk as they performed at the Howard Theatre. As I danced along to the beat of their conga drums, I was very struck by the fact that I was still at work. Meeting fascinating people, visiting historic DC locations, and jamming to local vibes does NOT feel like the average 9-to-5. Granted, we’re not playing around… there’s a lot of logistics, gear, and effort involved in a two-day shoot. Nonetheless, I feel more blessed than burdened when I’m working with Double R.
On a more sentimental note, I am so grateful to my co-workers and friends at Double R, who have treated me like a team-member since Day One and shown me the ropes of an exciting industry. To Paul and Michael, I am in awe of the work you do; those Avid machines are a formidable labyrinth to the average human, but thank God we have super-editors like yourselves to do the tricky stuff. Your patience is impressive. To Jose, thank you for making my first cinematic masterpiece a reality and practically securing your Oscar with that harrowing performance of the mind-controlled lover. Also, thanks for teaching me the basics of Avid and answering all my little questions; te lo agradezco! To Lauren and Flannery, you girls are an inspiration! You work so hard (often past hours) and help others with a gracious heart that is very rare these days. Thanks for making this place feel like home for me, and keep up the good work. To Catherine, I am touched by how much you have reached out to me these past three weeks. I will forever treasure your “pearls of wisdom” and our conversations, both in the office and over lavender hot chocolate. Finally, to Rosemary, you are one heck of a leader, and your team is all the greater for it. Thanks for being the President that always answers the intern’s questions, feeds the crew, and treats everyone with dignity and respect (even the homeless man “building a rocket-ship”.)
This is an incredibly hard-working, generous, and grounded team. If you’re reading this and happen to be an intern/prospective intern, I am already jealous. I’m known to be sappy when it comes to goodbyes, especially when they come before I want them to…But this is just ciao, not adieu, so see you all soon and gracias por todo que han hecho por mi!
