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VMM Public Media Intern Helps Produce Story
On Camp for Children With Speech Impairments
By Edmund Frazer Myer, Public Media Intern
Vision Maker Media
My Vision Maker Media (VMM) 10-week internship included job-shadowing professionals, hands-on learning and meeting professionals in the industry who want to share Native American stories. This experience offered an opportunity to meet, learn from and work for video production crews.
As a communication major at
Washington State University (WSU), I had the support of my professor, Ben Shors, to get me started at
Northwest Public Television (NWPTV) on campus. Affiliated with the local PBS station, NWPTV provided training in video logging and how to set up equipment.
In June, I traveled to Oakland, California, for the VMM Filmmaker Training. Meeting others with the same passion to produce Native stories increased my enthusiasm and made me realize that I can contribute by doing Native American stories.
On a shoot for WSU Spokane, I was part of producing a story on
Camp Candoo, a camp for children with speech impairments. That experience gave me an idea for a variety of film topics.
From my interactions with Native Americans from various regions, I realize that Natives have a similar sense of humor and mannerisms. I've also realized they have very complex differences such as traditions and rituals.
The last two weeks of my internship I bought a camera and started shooting video on my reservation, where I learned more about my tribe, practiced operating the camera, gathered material for a short story on my tribe's language and set up interviews.
I met with challenges: setting up interviews, getting people to open up with the camera rolling. I also learned first-hand the importance of using a good microphone to capture quality audio. Reviewing my footage afterward with Ben Shors, I recognized mistakes I won't make again and realized what needs to be added to the story.
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