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Exploring an internship with Odu Theatre Lela Hernandez

Self Evaluation:

What was you biggest "wow" moment?

My biggest "wow" moment this semester was when I was able to see the separate stages of the theatrical production of "Tag: You're It!". I was able to help with everything form the set building and design to working on the production's lighting design with my mentor Woody Robinson. I had never had the opportunity to see how many layers of work go into a production but after seeing everything tie in together, I was amazed how the separate pieces complimented each other for a stronger whole. Overall getting to see the finished product made for such a satisfying experience.

Tag: You're It! Rehearsal directed by Brittney Harris

What did you learn from your internship about yourself as a professional?

I learned primarily the importance of self-regulation when completing multiple projects. The first time I did my internship was in fall of 2020, so I was able to have a bit more flexibility with where I needed to be for my position. This year however I quickly learned that theatre is a place where being "over zoom" isn't really an option. This allows for a more creative process but meant my time management was kicked into overdrive during production nights where I would have to jump from work to classes and back to the theatre before our run of show. I didn't mind being as busy as I was, but it took some time to learn when to be able to say "Okay, now I need to take a break". This was an integral part of working as an intern as it allowed me to still feel accomplished while working with the department without burning myself out.

What would you do differently in a future work experience?

In a future work experience I would niched down a bit more on what I was trying to accomplish with my internship. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, but I found working on the light board for all the different events to be much more fulfilling than say running sound through Q lab. It allowed me to explore what creatively suited the various events we were doing and bring out subtle moments that would have been missed otherwise. I would have liked to further explore the light board and all of the opportunities a lighting designer may have.

What SMART goals were met, which weren’t? Why or why not?

My SMART goals this semester I tried to formulate to be more realistic than ones I have set in the past. I was able to use the light board confidently pretty quickly and was more specifically able to run it alone for the UDT dance concert in November. This was a great achievement for me as I had never been able to do this prior. I was also able to set up many of the lighting instruments needed for both Tag! You're It, and for Macbeth. This also allowed me to be able to teach other students how they set up the glowing cauldron and raining blood for the witch's scene. That being said, I was not able to run the Midas sound board as much as I originally thought I would be able. I also realized it is a much more complicated piece of equipment than anticipated, but I was grateful I was able to explore it!

Macbeth, directed by Chris Hanna

What’s next for you professionally?

Now that I have gained skills as a lighting technician, I have been able to reach out to other local theatre companies like the Sandler Center and Virginia Stage Company to help be an extra pair of hands when needed. I really enjoyed working with Woody this semester so I plan to continue helping out on sets whenever I can. I did not know this at the time of applying with him, but behind the curtain technicians are always in short supply, so having the experience I do already having worked with industry standard equipment has given me the confidence to apply to other production houses.

How will you prepare/take action based on what you've learned during this internship?

Primarily this internship helped me to realize that there's a wide opportunity for behind the scenes roles found in all production types. For example, I was really surprised to see how often videographers are hired to film local productions. This was not something I was aware of and is simple work compared to the filmmaking I am used to on set. Overall, this experience opened up many pathways that I can further explore down my career.

What classes at ODU have helped get you to this point?

Ironically a combination of the fil/theatre classes really gave me the opportunity to showcase my skills as an intern. I had created my own set and production for the Principals of Directing class and learned to manage behind the scenes work when I was in the advanced filmmaking class. Both courses helped me get the position as an intern with Woody!

MAKING A MONSTER - shORT fILM

The experience I gained from my previous internship gave me the skillset I needed in order to write and direct my own short film this summer. I was a big project that took over four months of planning with a crew of over twenty-five people. I took the skills I learned from that internship and was able to combine it with what I learned this semester, which allowed me to direct "Date Night" in November. Learning to manage and work with other people is such an important skill, and I was glad that after seeing the behind the scenes for shows, I was able to appreciate the people I worked with even more.

date Night: Jasmine

Overall Internship Evaluation

Analysis of what the internship did well

Overall, I found this internship gave me a new perspective on all of the hard work needed for any kind of production. I had to really work physically to do tasks I would've ordinarily assumed were simple ones. It also allowed me to reach out to other local theatre groups and work with them, giving me plenty of connections outside of ODU.

Advice for org to improve intern experience

I really appreciated the ability to turn in assignments whenever it was feasible for the student. It allowed me to really focus in on my work during production days, without falling behind in my classes. Honestly the only thing I would change is for ODU to advertise this program more to students.

Advice for new intern working in that space?

Don't be afraid to reach out about opportunities within the theatre department. They are always looking for an extra pair of hands and are incredibly welcoming to all students. I almost regret not reaching out to them sooner, as I graduate this spring and would have loved to work with them further. Also, get out of your comfort zone and try the different technical roles too, I wouldn't have enjoyed lighting as much as I did if I never gave it a chance.

Cast and Crew of Tag: You're It!