In The Field

OUR INTERN EXPERIENCES AROUND SC

The Grande Finale: HORRY COUNTY SHOOT! <-- Click here!
7/25/12

Today is the end of something great, the last hoorah, the last film shoot of our internship. It's hard to imagine today is the end of such a great learning experience but what better way to end everything than a shoot at the beach. At sunset we headed out to Pawley's Island to the Original Hammock Shop and helped make a hammock, then boogied our way to the Pavilion to film the "Shagger's Hall of Fame", and wrapped up our shoot with a story on the Waccamaw River. Once again we were able to conduct all of the interviews and film all of the b-roll, putting all of the lessons we have learned to the test!

What we learned:
1. Hammocks were first created in Pawleys Island. The epitome of the 'island life'.
2. The Shag is SC's state dance! So get your boogey shoes on and shag.
3. The shag was originally called "fast-dancing" and the "jitterbug".
4. Sonic slushes are the perfect treat for the last shoot!

To the left, to the left... to the right, to the right. Slide baby slide. 

 Using the slider!

ABBEVILLE COUNTY SHOOT  <-- Click here!
7/19/12

Today we ventured to the famously haunted Abbeville county to highlight some delicious goodies and sparkling finds! First stop, Swartzenstuber Bakery! The mennonite bakery sells a mouth watering variety of baked goods from their famous 3 layer pound cake to homemade dinner roles. After filming and wiping the drool from our faces it was off to Diamond Hill Mine. The mine allows customers to excavate for smokey quartz and amethyst. We had the opportunity to see some sparkling treasures and dig around a little ourselves.

What we learned:
1. CAUTION- If a potential interviewee does not act interested in being in a story, move on to another story. (or else you risk being stood up)
2. Be adventuresome. If the tripod is holding you back, find another way to stabilize those artsy shots.
3. When hunting for gems, pick up everything that sparkles... you never know what bling bling it is.

Jenny filming at Diamond Hill Mine. 

"INTERN STORIES" SHOOT  <-- Click here!
7/18/12

So you want to know what the buzz is about for today's shoot? Today was our "intern story shoot". We were allowed to pick 2 stories covering anything our little hearts desired. So what crazy story ideas did we come up with? Drum roll please.... BeeCity and Oyotunji African Village! Jenny and I covered every aspect of these off the map stories, from the story idea to filming all of the shots to editing both packages. Be on the look out for our potential masterpieces on the website soon!

What we learned:
1. An epi pen: the key to filming honey bees when you're allergic.
2. Oyotunji village is the only true Nigerian village in America.
3. Always keep tabs of your lens cap... and quadruple check your pockets for them.
4. When interviewing a king, make sure to film his "good side".
5. Never pull a bee's stinger out directly, scratch it out to the side... immediately!

Meagan filming in Oyotunji African Village!

CHEROKEE COUNTY SHOOT  <-- Click here!
7/17/12

Today we headed to the mecca of peaches, Cherokee County. Here we filmed at Strawberry Hill Farms USA, Gaffney Embroidery, and Parkdale Mills. The sweetness of the peaches must be contagious because everyone we interviewed was so nice! Strawberry Hill even gave us each a bag of peaches to take home... now that's what I call southern hospitality. Today was also an excellent learning experience in the textile tile industry. Did you know that stars on American flags are created separately from the stripes? Gaffney Embroidery creates these "star fields" for our star spangled banners!

What we learned:
1. Always make sure to reformat the camera before every shoot!
2. Never change the level of the tripod with the camera still attached. (a BIG no no)
3. Homemade ice cream trumps all. Delish.

Capturing some b-roll together!

BERKELEY/CHARLESTON- round 2 <-- Click here!
7/13/12

With the forecast calling for clear"er" skies, we headed back to Berkeley County for some gator' huntin'. We rode around in a boat for a couple hours trying to spot one of these scaly creatures with no luck. Even though we never caught the gators on film, we did score some useful b-roll and two solid interviews. After our hunting excursion, we hurried to beat the rain again. We made it to the Cooper River just in the knick of time to film our second interview and then finished up in downtown Charleston. Thankfully we didn't have too long of a rain "delay" after all.

What we learned:
1. Alligator's are camera shy.
2. Alligator hunting in SC is different from what you may see on "Swamp People"
3. Filming wildlife is harder than it looks. I.e. mother nature is very unpredictable.
4. FLIP cameras make a unique way to film b-roll in the wild.
5. When filming in direct sunlight, lather yourself with sunscreen. Or become a lobster

Jenny filming our alligator hunting shoot!

BERKELEY/CHARLESTON COUNTY SHOOT ft. the great flood  <-- Click here!
7/10-11/12

This week we packed our overnight bags and headed down to the low country for a two day shoot! Unfortunately bad weather trailed behind us. The rolling thunder and cracks of lightening didn't ruin everything though and we were still able to come back with a few stories. The first day we filmed in Berkeley County. We covered the Mepkin Abbey, the Cooper River, and alligator hunting (yes, like "Swamp People"). Well actually the gator hunting was postponed due to a monsoon like storm but we are rescheduling the shoot for Friday. Luckily in Charleston we were able to film our story on dolphin conservation and our interview about Charleston as the "Silicon Harbor" before the flooding set in. Yes, you heard right... flooding! After wading through 3ft deep water to get back to the van, we decided to reschedule the rest of the stories we had planned for the second day as well. There is light after the storm, however! We aren't letting the stormy weather rain on our parade and we successfully rescheduled all of our interviews.

What we learned:
1. Filming tips: (a) if the air conditioner turns on during an interview, re- ask the question so the audio matches the rest of the interview (b) tailor your questions to get the interviewee to respond in complete sentences (c) if there is a shot you want to capture but can't use the tripod, make a freeze frame of the shot when editing
2. You are not supposed to get closer than 50yds to wild dolphins
3. One of the largest alligators was caught in SC and tipped the scale at over 1,000 lbs!
4. If it starts monsooning in Charleston while you are at the market, run! Or stay if you want to experience flooding first hand.
5. The Mepkin Abbey in Berkeley County is one of 12 Trappist Monasteries in the US!

Berkeley County monsoon delay. 

Filming in flooded Charleston Market.

Jenny reporting live from the flood.

MCCORMICK SHOOT! <-- Click here!
7/03/12

Today we traveled to the quaint town of McCormick, SC. While there we covered a story on the historic Dorn Gin & Mill and Lake Thurmond. We had to take a raincheck on our story about eco-tourism in McCormick, literally. With a storm blowing over the "Thunder over Thurmond" kayaking event, we rescheduled the story for a later date.

What we learned:
1. If you film in 110 degree temperatures, it's likely the camera could over heat so be cautious!
2. Lake Thurmond is called Clark Hill Lake in GA.
3. Subway makes a nice air-conditioned hang out spot.
4. Ideal interviews are short, sweet, and fully informed.

Dorn Gin & Mill 

GREENWOOD SHOOT! <-- Click here!
6/26/12

Today we filmed in Greendwood County. We interviewed The Links Golf Course, The Mill House Pizza Restaurant, and the new Veterans Center! We were able to drive golf carts, eat pizza, and take a full tour of the new VA center!

What we learned:
1. Light and wind contributes a large deal to outside interviews.
2. Always ask permission from people to film them if we're trying to get B-roll in restaurants.
3. Duct tape is the jack of all trades.

SUMMERVILLE SHOOT <-- Click here!
6/21/12

Today we filmed in Summerville/Dorchester County. We interviewed the all time most winningest football coach, Coach McKissick, covered a story on Summerville as the "Birthplace of Sweet Tea," and highlighted a local coffee roaster that brews and serves their own coffee! This was the first shoot we had the opportunity to shoot b-roll for one of the packages so we can't wait to see how it turned out. 

What we learned:

1. Summerville is the "Birthplace of Sweet Tea." (Who knew?)

2. How to film b-roll on our own with a Canon 7d and a 70-200mm lens.

3. If a car hasn't been driven in a few months... it may be infested with ants. 

"Birthplace of Sweet Tea"

ANDERSON SHOOT! <-- Click here!
6/14/12

Today we shot our three stories in Anderson County! We toured the revitalized downtown area, visited the first kayak launch of it's kind on the the Saluda River (& kayaked!), and we covered the economic growth of the "Electric City." This is our first shoot we will edit the footage, so be on the look out for our finished projects on the ETV "Shorts" page!

What we learned:
1. How to balance light on an interviewees face using a reflection panel.
2. The Arby's in Pickens is quite upscale.
3. What cameras are best to buy for personal use.
4. How to properly change the zoom lens' on the Canon 7d.

Revitalization in downtown Anderson!

Making It Grow! <-- Click here!
6/12/12

We got the chance to work with the production crew at SCETV's Making It Grow in Sumter! While we were there we learned how to work the cameras, met the AMAZING crew and guests, ran camera 2 during the live show and even got our names in the credits! We can't wait to spend more Tuesday evenings as we can here!

On the live set!

PICKENS SHOOT! <-- Click here!
6/07/12

During our Pickens shoot, we interviewed Dennis Chastain to talk about Sassafras Mountatin, Allen Coleman to talk about the Hagood Mill, and Will Hiott to talk about the Hopewell Home (Andrew Picken's home).

What we learned:
1. How to research filming locations and stories.
2. You can see 4 states from the peak of Sassafras Mountain.
3. Learned that blue painted ceilings on porches keep spiders from creating webs!

GREENVILLE SHOOT!
5/31/12

On our Greenville shoot we saw manmade grown diamonds at SCIO Diamonds, toured the NEXT Innovation Center, and ride Zikes!

What we learned:
1. The basics of filming with a DSLR- Canon 7d.
2. We took turns filming the interviewees and recording audio with a DR-100 audio recorder.
3. How to set up the tripod and use a sliding tool for cool video effects!