Michael's Los Angeles Reflection

             To say that this summer was fun would be an insult, because it was so much more than something words to describe. This was one of the best experiences of my life. I learned more than I ever thought was possible, I made a new family, and I gained a new place to call home. This was easily the best summer of my life.

 

   

                I came out here to work, but I never expected everything that would come with it. I got to work with equipment I never had even gotten to touch before, I learned office and social skills and how to work myself into the Hollywood system, and I gained connections that are amazingly valuable. At Psychic Bunny I was able to network with their clients and see how a small production system works with rental houses for lighting and equipment, as well as wardrobe. One cool thing I did was going to the Call of Duty costuming department! I got to see how the prep work in pre-production played into the costume and design of the war piece they were making.

                      

                At the Institute, I made so much progress in the field that I want to go into, even though a majority was office work. I got to keep up with trends in the film industry and see where production patterns were forming; I got to read scripts and do coverage for films that aren’t even out yet; and I was referred to EJ Misisco, a first camera assistant to Dion Beebe, ASC, and Oscar winning DP.  These past few days I have gotten to work first hand with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment and learned how to handle cinematic gear that I have never even been in contact with before. REDs and Arri Alexas surround me on a daily basis, and I am ecstatic to just be in the same room as them.

  

            This summer has been much more than work to me. It has been a time where I have explored a new place I call home, and where I have developed my cinematic style even further. There were countless times where Stephen and I would text each other and just go off and shoot some part of the city. It was amazing. The subjects we would have were incredible. The speakers were incredible as well. Joaquin Sedillo literally made my summer just by showing up to dinner with us. It led to coffee and a one on one meeting where I learned more than I ever thought I would before I came out here.

   Along with that I also have gained a family. I was never that close with many people in the TCF department, until this class. I have met people with the same caliber and passion as I hold and together we have decided to just create. That’s all I wanted and now because of this class, we all have the opportunity to work together. I wouldn’t trade any moment this summer for anything else. We all grew together whether it be Christina’s Milk obsession, to Stephen’s watermelon, to the snapchat marathon of Katie and the spoken word poems by Daniel, this summer is not one that I will ever forget. Thank you all for the experience of a lifetime and I can’t wait to see what else is in store!

Sincerely,

Mikey T