Of Libraries and Irritable Mothers

Week 2

Monday, patching again (Y-G-B is love) but this time I manned the Dubbing station. It is interesting to find out the origins of the settings we have on our editing softwares. Now I sort of understand their true functions and how they were manually set. Appreciation of the traditional in its truest sense. Sir Jeff took me along to GMA’s library to see where the original and edited tapes are stored. He had to pick up some master tapes. I continued to segment shows of Sir Roly. The way it works in the editing room is that each person has their own shows to take care of. After finishing Love City, Sir Roly asked me to segment I Love You which was breather for me since it’s a comedy with Love City being a drama.

Now when I saw segment at this point I mean writing down the time codes of the spots where Sir Roly can cut them and insert title cards himself. It was on Tuesday when I got to use the machine and edit materials myself. Sir Eric taught me how to do it, then asked me to repeat it. When he decided I got it, he let me do it alone. He gave me My Monster Mom for SNBO to cut into 9 segments first. I can not fathom why they actually used Annabelle Rama to act. She just can’t. Thus the title of the movie is indeed suitable. I’m not even going mention the sound design. At least I now understood the language of linear editing.

Back to the Future

Week 1 at GMA

I was assigned to the Editing team of the Program Management Department, or I should say I had myself re-assigned there from the News Department. This is so because on the “Duties and Responsibilities” handout of the News Department, it only said “Observing” under post-production. So there I was expecting to edit canned shows and anime. I knew I wasn’t going to be exposed to, for lack of a better term, “real” editing since these were canned shows. I also knew that the Post-production Department handled the kind of editing I would want to be exposed to but unfortunately, the Post-production Department of GMA are a bunch of recluses (read: they don’t accept interns).

Program Management’s Editing Team are a bunch of friendly people, I couldn’t ask for any other helpful and kind group to mingle with. I scheduled my internship on Mondays and Tuesdays and so on my first Monday, the unspoken obligatory norm of introductions took place. What followed, would I guess be the second unspoken obligatory norm, the introductory lecture followed by hours of observation. And so Sir Eric Barba, the head of the Editing team, briefed me on the daily grind and how to use the machines… The Machines. I knew I was going to be editing canned shows thus I imagined just simple editing, splicing, adding title cards and the like. But I honestly wasn’t prepared for what was placed before me. The grand daddy of what we call editing paraphernalia. We now have Final Cut Pro but then there was the Beta. Linear editing was right before my eyes. There were Digi Betas but Betas were the superior race. Sir Eric told me to watch him edit, he was editing “Pangarap na Ginto” to be aired the following Sunday on SNBO. Of course I didn’t get half of how he was doing this, his hands were trained with time and so to me they were moving at warp speed, with me mentally gaping.

Tuesday was patching day. Sir Jeff taught (or aggravatingly tried to teach) me how to patch the dubbing station (aka the recording station). This is where they use the original tapes from abroad to record into their own beta or digi beta tapes. If you’re picturing the patching of your typical home surround sound system, you are mistaken my friend. There are 6 machines thus numerous combinations of patches. I’ll try to take a photo of it but for now I can only say that there are about 4 levels of patching at work and that doesn’t even include the synching you have to do to the two tapes. Sir Jeff ran through it then tested me by asking be to patch one machine to another, it took me about 3 times to get it right. I was so embarrassed at my imbecility. After recovering from my utter failure, Sir Roly instructed me to watch upcoming episodes of Love City (hours of Jerry Yan can make one nauseous). He wanted me to choose where to strategically cut the scene to insert commercials. So I cut the whole episode into about 3 parts. There I was cutting at cheesy and somewhat predictable parts, doing what I considered typical. This is entertainment.

I am born to be wild.(Roar!!!!!!!!!!!!!) 

My Week 2 at GMA 7

I forgot to mention last week what kind of program is Born to be Wild (BTBW). They consider it as environmental public affairs featuring wild and extinct fauna and flora endemic in the Philippines. This week’s episode features Wildlife for Sale which will also be aired as segment of this Sunday’s Special Assignments.

                 A week before the airing, the segment producer and cameraman shot the main story abroad where animals are exported for trade. The filler sequences like reenactment is what the BTBW worked out this week and I was able to help.

                I borrowed police costume from SCENARIO INC., their Costume Department. It’s like a huge Ukay-Ukay stall where used costumes are kept for future use by other programs. The costume I borrowed was owned by Bubble Gang so I had it signed by their production manager. This gave me the opportunity to wander around the Editing Room (I was able to escape the guard!) and Entertainment Department where I found the PM.

                The researcher asked me to look for talents for the reenactment. I completed the list with me as one of it. (haha) Two hours before the shoot at PAWB, they asked me to look for birds as props! I’m about to ask them if they’re kidding but they seem not. I opened my facebook account hoping that any friend has, but failed! I went to Nepa Q-Mart, the nearest market, to look for some but they sell it in VERY HIGH prices. We called at Wildlife Rescue Center and they lend us some birds. Good! The shoot resumed.

                I portrayed as one of the wildlife traders. We shot 3 sequences with each as having at least 5 takes depending on the director and cameraman. It took us 1 and a half hour to accomplish the 3 sequences. I learned a lot during the shoot!

1. Wildlife in Filipino is Buhay-Ilang.
2. The cheapest equipment at GMA 7 is the clip (lapel) worth 500 pesos. Video Camera is worth 300,000 pesos, tripod is 50,000 pesos and light (frezie) is 20,000 pesos.
3. Wildlife entrance fee is 8 pesos for adult and 5 pesos for student.
4. Preparation (shots, venue, props) is important.
5. In case the floor is wet and the sequence demands you to tumble on floor, be resourceful! Tumble on wall and twist the camera, as we did.

                 After the shoot, there’s free food at Mang Inasal with rice all you can! Both my stomach and brain were full. I’m starting to love this internship.

clippings, transcriptions and realizations

For my 4th week, I clipped both telebabad and Sunday shows of GMA 7. For their Sunday shows, it included Lovebug, Mel and Joey and Pepito Manaloto. Pepito Manaloto is one of the latest shows in GMA. It is a reality-sitcom tells the story of Pepito who became a millionaire for winning in the national lottery.

There was this segment wherein Pepito was lured by his companions into entering a “gentleman’s club.” When Pepito asked what “gentleman’s club" means, an unfamiliar man appeared on the screen. This man turned out to be the spokespersomn of the “Gentleman’s Club” which is a true establishment and the next thing I know he was promoting his business.I wondered whether such portion was ethical or not.hehe

Besides the clippings, I was also asked to transcribe Cesar Montano’s interview. When they told me that that I’ll be transcribing Cesar’s press conference, I wondered, again.hehe It was only then when I opened the audio file that I realized that Cesar Montano has already moved to GMA 7. So he has already signed a one-year network contract with the Kapuso. I just thought that transcribing the audio clip, I was able to get a scoop which not everyone knows about yet. or may be not? :P

It turned out that he will be making a teleserye on GMA of which the title is not yet allowed to be revealed. I also learned that he’s planning to make epic movies which I also think are pretty good stories. One is about Francisco Dagohoy and the other is about the 15 first OFWs also known as the Sacada. Again, I had a hard time transcribing the audio file because of the recording quality. Cesar’s voice was sometimes muffled and the same went for the voice of the interviewer.

This week I realized the importance of our transcriptions. It was used for writing articles which are posted online. Today I found that my transcription last week of Aljur Abrenico and Kris Bernal’s interview was used for an article on line and again it felt nice knowing that my work has been acknowledged and utilized. :))

good start

My week kicked off right last Monday when I was briefed by my boss and Weber Shandwick's Director for Operations, Sir Luigi Avancena, about their company and how they operate.

I was so amazed by how they're so lean but mean, winning awards here and there.

He shared with me their company profile, their fundamental mission for communications and about their partnerships with the world's leading brands. I learned about how they deliver results and how they make a difference as a PR firm.


After learning fundamental information about the company, I was greatly amazed. I thought to myself how privileged I am that I'm working as an intern in Weber.

This week wouldn't be the way it is if I won't mention how I was taught about how they make PR plans as well. Ms. Mel, their Accounts Associate taught me how they arrive at communication plans and how they initially start with mind-mapping. The highlight of this week though was when Nina and I presented our PR plan for Weber's client. Sir Luigi gamely listened to us as we tried to sell our Big Idea. After our short presentation, we were told that our pitch was a good start. (Yay, For us!)

We proceeded to do our tasks of monitoring newspapers,



preparing news clippings



photocopying them



and sorting them after




We had a consultation with Ms. Mel and Ms. Carmi, Weber's esteemed writer after accomplishing the above mentioned tasks. They really gave insights on how to develop our PR plan. I learned something very important in the process --that you have to do a study concerning your accounts and support every claims you make with pertinent documents, articles, graphs, statistics or photos. They are essential to making a good PR plan that would pass for an excellent pitch.

ma-PR

From the very start I was really eyeing on getting a PR or advertising internship because of my interest on the field and my saturation to TV.

I work for Fleishman-Hillard Inc, one of the world’s leading strategic communications firms. Based in St. Louis, USA, the firm operates throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Latin America through its 80 owned offices. Their accomplishments include being named Best Large Agency to Work For and Large Agency of the Year. FH is also beneficiary of some of the industry’s most distinguished honors, ranging from the prestigious Silver Anvil, SABRE and CIPRA awards, to the coveted Webby. So much for introduction, I just want to say that I am simply pressured to do good.

The Manila office's clients include Avaya, HSBC, BBDO, TBWA, Etihad Airways, Boehringer-Ingelhheim, and Moldex Realty among others.

On my first day, Ms. Cosette Romero, Philippine General Manager, introduced me to the account manager and my supervisor, Ms. Christine Tria and to the two other account executives. There was a mini-turnover of responsibility from the outgoing interns to me, so to speak and a little celebration for, them.

The bosses and the outgoing interns (in light colors) and I didn't know Fridays are casual-wear days!

Afterwhich, I didn’t notice that work was quickly piling up in my workplace. The next thing I knew I was scanning broadsheets, editing a radio interview script and manipulating photos for release. Later that day, we were gathered in the conference room to brainstorm for a European trade commission project here in Manila. Fleishman Hillard is pitching an event plan for them that will run for a week. My PR class in the university got me prepared for this I tell you!

The daily paper monitoring is just inevitable in a PR firm and it should be the last time I will talk about it. Hell yes to charcoal black fingertips and the aroma of freshly-baked newspaper. It is not a for-interns-only job and that it only confirms my fondness of FH, the bosses do what we do!

Marga and I also did the media rounds with her supervisor on our first week. We went to seven major publications around the metro, sending press releases and goodies to the different periodicals. My first time in any of those places, a surprise for a MassComm student like me.

Field trip anyone? In order of our visit was – Manila Standard Today, Malaya, Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, The Daily Tribune, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Business Mirror. I guess that makes up for my non-visit in my four years in college.

L-R: The interns with Ms. Dinah Ventura, lifestyle editor of The Daily Tribune; Ms. Lourdes Fernandez, EIC of Business Mirror and; Ms. Isabel de Leon, Manila Bulletin lifestyle editor.

All in all, I met two editors-in chief, three lifestyle editors (all of which looked like their part), two section editors, one motoring editor, an advertising officer and eight security guards that let us in regardless of our new faces. Everyone in just one afternoon.

At the end of the day, it is about smiling and shaking hands. You just have to be ma-PR. After all, it is PR.

-Pao Goze

Twist and Shout!

DAY 5- July 13, 2010

Week 2

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“Twist and Shout” is a musical game show hosted by Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera on ABS-CBN. It has different obstacles that were situated to distract the contestants while singing. The said program received good ratings for exposing the most natural expressions of the featured artists on the show.

Since the Public Relations Department of ABS-CBN is responsible for establishing rapport with the press people and prospective advertisers, Sir Jan (PR writer) immediately responded to the request of The Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) for the show’s candid photos. PDI said that they will publish it for the article they made about “Twist and Shout”.

This has paved the way for me to be an “official photographer”. “,) I was tasked to cover the taping of “Twist and Shout” to air on July 17 and 18, 2010. Little did I know that I would have to cover it by myself because Sir Ryan (Corp Comm Photographer) was absent on that day. The next thing I knew, I was already in the studio holding the department’s Canon DSLR . ",)

Sir Jan (my immediate head) introduced me to the staff of the show and to some artists who were already in the studio to rehearse their song pieces. I was able to meet The Pilipinas Got Talent finalists including, Kaye of Ezra Band, Sherwin Baguion, Ingrid and Markki Stroem. It was an “artista overload” for me, but the most memorable part was that I finally saw Martin and Gary V live on the stage and just a few centimetres away from me.

The taping ran from 1:00-9:00 PM, rehearsals and breaks are already included. Between the gaps, the audience are instructed on how they can win the same price the guests would bring home. The audience also have a chance to win cash while watching the show live. When the first episode was finished, there was a 1 hour break allotted for the audience to leave the studio while the utility cleaned the area and restored some props. During this time, I assisted Tita Chips (field cashier of “Twist and Shout”) who is responsible for the monetary concerns of the said show. She documented the winners for the episode. As Tita Chips opened her bag, I was able to see the bundles of money that were in it. OMG. Buti hindi siya nahohold-up :D

Moving on, I felt more relaxed and more at home during the taping of the second episode. By that time, I already know where to place myself without thinking if the camera might pan on my side. Good thing the staff were kind enough to make me join them on their perfect spot, the ideal place for me to take nice shots.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take picture with Gary V because after the second episode he already left. So just to satisfy my desire to have a picture taken with an artist, I just asked for a picture with Markki Stroem. I would like to admit he is more admirable in person because he’s so down to earth and he has a really nice body. I super liked when he changed his shirt off-cam, I witnessed how the audience stared at him while he’s taking his shirt off. Cheers to the abs! :D

P.S. As much as I wanted to brag about my performance as a photographer, the "amateur" pictures I have taken were at the department's DSLR. I will try to get a copy from my boss so I can officially brag about it. HAHAHA!! :D