Destined to seek, destined to know...

Lin_See — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 07:29:00 GMT

Today was a 12 hour day.

I never thought I would have a job where I would be willing to work 12 hours a day. Now, granted, this isn't so much a job in that I don't get paid, but the fact that I DON'T get paid and am still willing to work 12 hour days says something. I don't know exactly what that is. Maybe that I am crazy. I don't know.

I definitely think that if I do end up working out here at some point then I will have to completely forgo the thought of ever having any kind of life. Ha. I don't know how those guys do it. They work pretty much 24/7.

Anyway.

I spent a lot of today in the writer's room. Not much was going on, but I did get to listen in to a Notes call. That's where the studio gives the writers notes about their script. It's kind of like a critique session. Sort of. It was interesting.

I think the most interesting part was just listening to the studio exec. talk. Before today I kind of always pictured studio and network execs as "suits." Suits who really were only interested in the bottom line, even if that means sacrificing the story. But listening today I got a completely different picture. Sure, the bottom line is definitely at the forefront of the conversation as are other practical production elements. But as I was listening to the comments the exec was making and his explanations for his notes and how his thought process worked in coming up with those notes, I realized this was a guy who definitely has a clue. He understands how to tell a story and his comments, while not always popular with the guys, at least were based in a desire to really make the story great.

So that was enlightening. It makes me less scared and apprehensive about the possibility of applying for the NBC Associates program and essentially becoming one of these guys.

I also learned a little bit about how the "industry" is structured. I mean I had a pretty good idea about it all, but until you are a part of it, I think it's easy to confuse the process. So since we had lots of time today, I just started asking questions. I'm sure it got pretty annoying, but I kind of think that if there are things I don't know, I should ask since that's kind of the point of this whole internship.

So, maybe it's pretty self-explanatory, but here is what I got. The writer's are at the "production" level, as is the actual production up in Vancouver. From there up it goes Studio, then Network. Because the show is produced by NBCUniversal, essentially the network pays the studio (itself) to produce the show. This kind of seems to make the idea of having a network level AND a studio level seem redundant. But where they split is the point where the show goes into syndication, or the DVD's go in sale. All of those things are released by and owned by the studio.

It's still very confusing in my head, but whatever. Also, the network is split into two "departments" there is a network exec. in charge of production and then network execs who are creative execs. The creative execs are basically involved in the writing and creation process. They also schedule meetings and make deals with talent. Whereas the production side, while still involved in the creation process, is more involved things like budget and production issues. They are also the ones who, in the end, actually MAKE the deals with the talent, directors, etc. Those are people who the creative execs bring in and talk to and then from there if they want to make a deal with them, they go to the production side and the details are worked out.

Wow, that probably makes no sense, but since this blog is SUPPOSED to be about my internship, I figured I should probably post something that is relevant to my classmates and such who are interested in this. And since I had to sign a confidentiality agreement, there's not always a lot I can talk about, but I'm pretty sure this structure and process is similar across studios and really isn't a big secret so I can share it.

Now you know.

On a completely unrelated note I had my first Pinkberry today.

It looked a little like this:

I had a coffee flavored one with strawberries and chocolate chips. I was completely unfamiliar with pinkberry and after the guys explained to me what it was I was a little scared to try it.

Basically it's frozen yogurt, only NOT frozen ice cream yogurt, it's actual YOGURT. So it's like really really really cold Danon. It comes in three flavors -- plain, coffee, and green tea. And you can get a ton of different toppings like Cap'n Crunch, Fruity Pebbles, Cocoa Puffs, Chocolate Chips, and tons of fruit.

So I tried it.

It was AMAZING!

I think I could stay in L.A. just for the Pinkberry...

and of course...

the Henry's...(ha ha Dad!!!!)

Eureka! An Internship at NBC/Universal : PinkBerry

Destined to seek, destined to know...