To work as a producer on television and promotional video, taking on problems as they arise on set and coming up with creative solutions.
Courage to Dream: The Leg Up Farm Story
This was a 30 minute television special that aired on abc27-WHTM in June 2012. I managed the set, wrote much of the stand-up, and worked with the host, Mike Ovadia. I was present at meetings with abc representatives, took useful notes, and assisted the cameraman/editor, Myles Klinger. I found a royalty-free song for use at the end of the special and I wrote out a music cue sheet for the network.
The entire video can be viewed on abc27's website:
http://www.abc27.com/category/237341/leg-up-farm
Carson Long Military Academy
Carson Long provided us with a script to use, but it needed heavy revising before it could be used as an a/v script. I greatly changed the script, acted as a production manager, and oversaw the process. This video has one long form video and then several short videos that will be broken up on their website. The main video and script are below.
Opening
| Col. Brown | Hi, I’m Col Matt Brown, the president of Carson Long Military Academy. Carson Long is an all-boys boarding school located in south central Pennsylvania near Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. Carson Long provides a program that many parents and kids seek in the aspects of structure, discipline, ceremony and traditions, ethics, honor and a quality education. We do this in three ways: academics, opportunity, and leadership. First, academics. If you come to Carson Long, your grades will improve. We have mandatory study halls, we have a small student-teacher ratio, and 85% of my faculty lives on campus: the help is always here. Second is opportunity. Many of our students come from large public schools that may not work for them. Maybe it works for their brother, maybe it works for their sister, but they’re looking for something different, something unique. Carson Long provides extracurricular activities, sports, a music and arts program. Also, if you come to Carson Long, 30% of our population are international students. Your roommate may be from another country. And third is leadership. When I talk to young boys about leadership, I talk about accountability and responsibility and consequences to their actions. Our program stresses character building and development. If you take those aspects throughout your life, you’ll be very successful in the future. |
History
| Ext. sign Founded plaque Dorm Chapel Gymnasium Infirmary Museum Library | CLMA is a direct descendant of New Bloomfield Academy, founded by Robert Finley in 1836. It is the oldest boarding school in the United States to offer military training. The campus in New Bloomfield is composed of 50 acres that include five dormitory buildings, a Cadet Chapel with a workout room and a recreation room, a gymnasium, an infirmary, a museum, and a library. Carson Long Military Academy is fully accredited and is governed by a 15-member Board of Trustees, with an active and supportive alumni association. |
Academics/JROTC
| Classroom JROTC School organization Teacher talking to student | The student to teacher ratio is only seven to one, which ensures that each student will receive individualized attention. The student body represents 13 states and 12 countries, and international students can take English as a Second Language classes. Students participate in supervised study halls. The JROTC military training curriculum is prescribed by the Department of the Army. Subjects include: military courtesy, customs, organizations, history, and traditions of the army; health and first aid; map reading; and leadership and moral guidance. School organizations include drum and bugle corps, Key Club, school newspaper, yearbook, glee club, weight-lifting club, ski club, and music lessons. The male faculty members serve not only as classroom teachers but also as live-in dormitory supervisors and military tactical officers. They are able to give round-the-clock counseling services to help students face daily challenges. |
Athletics/Extracurricular Activities
| Sports footage/photos Drill team Photos/footage of event mentioned | Carson Long Military Academy offers a wide range of varsity and intramural sports. We have football, baseball, soccer, track and field, tennis, basketball, wrestling, and ice hockey. JROTC activities include military police, Raiders (military skills), color guard, and drill team. Social events include formal and informal dances, entertainment programs, alumni homecoming, parents’ days, overnight camping, day trips to local attractions, movies, and volunteering for senior citizens. Many of these activities take place on weekends. Students that are not on restriction are also permitted to walk into town two times a week. |
Cadet Life
| Dorms | At Carson Long, students build life skills. New cadets are responsible for themselves, including cleaning their room, doing their extra duty, and maintaining their personal grooming and appearance. Under faculty supervision, cadets have opportunities to lead others as a task leader, squad leader, team captain, platoon sergeant, platoon leader, or staff officer. Graduates of CLMA are well-equipped to handle all that life requires. |
Admissions
| Titles | The school admits students of any race, color, creed and national or ethnic origin. New students are accepted in grades 6-12. The Admissions Committee selects students who are of good character and who have average or above-average ability. |
My last producing project for this internship is a modern-day parable that a client has commissioned to help better explain his personal salvation story and to act as an ice-breaker. I am currently scheduling auditions to fill the roles and the script is below. This script is tentative and subject to change.
Bill approaches the doctor's office and pulls open the door. He hesitantly steps up to the desk where a
young lady wearing glasses peers up at him.
Receptionist
Hello. Do you have an appointment?
Bill
No...I was told that I didn't need one here.
Receptionist
Oh, you really don't. I'll just need your name.
Bill
Bill Rogerson
Receptionist
Ok, great. Go ahead and have a seat.
Bill looks confused. He goes to turn but then hesitates. The receptionist has already returned her
attention to the computer.
Bill
So... that's it?
Receptionist
Excuse me?
Bill
You just need my name? Aren't there a million forms I need to fill out? Don't you need my insurance
card?
Receptionist
No. Just have a seat.
Bill
Are you going to bill me?
Receptionist
We will not. The doctor will take you just as you are.
Bill, still skeptical, turns and finds a seat. He is sitting caddy-corner from a man in several bandages and
bruises, who looks pretty worse for wear. Bill turns to the man.
Bill
So, will you level with me? They don't want to see my insurance card, they aren't going to bill me.
This place doesn't look like a free clinic. Is this doctor really any good?
The man, Chris, smiles as best as he can through his bandages.
Chris
Are you kidding? The doctor is amazing. No other doctor will care for you the way he will.
Bill
No offense meant, but you don't look like you're in such great shape right now.
Chris
Oh, I know. But you should have seen me before! I was in a terrible car accident, but I knew that I
had this doctor to come to. And even though I was in a lot of pain and I've been injured, I'm alive and
doing alright. I know I'm getting the best possible care. And the best part? The doctor has a medicine
that will cure anything.
Bill
You're not serious...
Chris
Of course I am.
Bill
So that's why they act like this place is free...because the medicine is outrageously expensive.
Chris
Not at all. That's free too. All you have to do is accept it and take it regularly. I know I'll be healed if I
just keep coming back to the doctor.
Jen, a middle-aged woman, has been eavesdropping. She's slightly annoyed as she butts into the
conversation.
Jen
You think you'll be healed? You'll just have to keep coming back again! It's a scam, really.
Chris
Just because you have to return regularly? No, it is not a scam.
Jen
(turning to Bill)
My son was here before when he was ill. The doctor gave him the medicine, and yes, it really
worked. He was better the same evening... You should have seen him! He was laying in his bed running
a high fever in the afternoon, and by sundown he was running around outside! It was amazing.
Bill
So, what's the problem?
Jen
He's sick again! The medicine only cured him for a little while.
Tom and Mary, a slightly older couple, are sitting next to Jen.
Tom
Excuse me, but did you bring your son in after he got better?
Jen
No... He was already cured, so I assumed he would be fine.
Tom
There's the problem... You have to bring him in for check-ups. Just because he was cured in the past
doesn't mean he'll be healthy forever. Plus, the doctor wants to see your son. He wants to see all of us
and make sure we are healthy.
Jen
But why would the doctor care that I'm healthy? I'm not one of his patients!
Tom
It doesn't matter. The doctor cares about everyone.
Jen
(turning to his wife)
Is that true? Do you think that too?
Mary
Oh, I usually just send Tom in each week. I wait here.
Bill
So you don't see the doctor yourself?
Mary shakes her head.
Tom
She'd rather stay out here and knit. I've been telling her for years to come in with me and get the
medicine from the doctor. But she won't.
Mary
I'm not going to see a doctor. I am perfectly healthy, thank you very much.
Tom
I know, dear. But even the healthy need check-ups. And the doctor asks about you every single time
I'm in to see him.
Mary looks surprised.
Mary
He does?
Bill
I've never heard of a doctor who takes so much personal interest in his patients.
Tom
You know why that is?
Bill shakes his head, but Tom is looking lovingly at his wife. Chris pipes in.
Chris
It's because he loves you.
Bill ponders this as the phone rings. The receptionist answers it, then hangs up.
Receptionist
Bill Rogerson? The doctor will see you now, if you're ready.
Reflections:
Producing is so much responsibility, but there's nothing more rewarding to me. I'm the one who is responsible for fixing problems and helping everything go smoothly. I have to cover others' mistakes if they occur. I have to come up with the ideas and I have to win the clients over. Really, producing requires little talent (depending on who you ask, of course) but a lot of patience and planning. Sometimes, my patience has been tested when things didn't go as planned. I've had to re-write scripts and proposals several times to get it right. I've had to work closely with Myles, whom I worked with much of the time because he did all the shooting and editing. I've learned how different personalities function in the workplace. There are some people that just aren't going to work well with my personality and I understand that, but I've also learned that I can do my best to be other-centered and accommodating. Messiah College has helped me maintain an attitude of service, which has been essential to this industry for me. It's kind of the opposite idea that most people take on, but I loved working at Rutan Productions because they are also God-centered and have an attitude of service.
