My ILP is going very well. I am a film intern with Judith Redding, an independent film maker in Philadelphia. This month I worked mostly on editing my first video. In October I shot lots of footage with a Canon Vixia Judith lent me and started to choose my clips for the video. Then this past month of November I worked with those clips to arrange and cut them down. I had maybe 4 hours of footage and from that had a 2:45 video. Then in November after I arranged my clips and edited them it ended up to be about 1:30. My video currently is silent, but Judith showed me audio and song sites and gave me resources on Creative Commons and how to legally use sound clips. My video is due at the end of the year, so I hope to finish editing the clips and perhaps add some music to my video or audio. I am excited for my next project, and hope to get a better editing software for my videos, also!

What went well?: What went well in my ILP with Judith is the fact that she has given me so many tools to succeed in my filming and editing process. She gave me a video camera, a book on camera shots, an iMovie manual, and some other odds and ends- for example, a list of films I should watch. Something also incredibly helpful is that she always explains to me how things would be in the real world of filming, or tips for scenarios I might be in or forms I might need to fill out. She has helped me both with my video editing, and how to include audio and music legally in my videos, with the proper copyrights.

What are you looking forward to?: I am looking very forward to when I have edited all of my footage and I can show Judith. I only have snippets so far, but it is great discussing how I might achieve my next scenes or edit the footage to tell a certain story. iMovie gave me trouble at first, but then I figured it out and I am really looking forward to spending a ton of time turning all of my random clips into beautiful art. I also look forward to my meetings with Judith every week (obviously) because she is really cool and the best ILP host EVER! She is so knowledgeable and her work is amazing.

What stands out that has happened so far?: What stands out to me that has happened so far is how practical my ILP is. When Judith first brought me the video camera I am using, we went through the whole thing like I would if I were renting one in real life. She had a mock form for me to fill out and everything. She also emailed me permission forms some film contests require for the people you may happen to have in your videos. What also really stood out to me is how she asks me challenging questions like how can I do a scene if I don't have access to this or that or I can't shoot in a particular place. I have learned some very helpful tips that way! And lots about my video camera, too- like white balance and the other settings on the camera.

What you think is important: I think it is very important to recognize the fact that Judith is only a filmographer, not an educator, but that she has given me so many resources and taught me so well already. Taking time out of her schedule each week, she always brings papers for me or lesson plans she has created to ease me along the filmmaking process. And, whenever she has shoots I am allowed to come, too! All around, I am just so appreciative and lucky to get an ILP that will really help me advance in my film career and my skill, too.

So far, I have just secured this ILP and spent Wednesday afternoon conversing with my mentor about what my tasks will be and when we can meet in person. So far, I am very excited about meeting my mentor and learning from her as well as being an intern for such a great blog and person. My tasks so far have been to email her about timing and to coordinate a day and place in which we can meet to finalize a weekly schedule. I am anticipating meeting her and look forward to my year as a helper for Polish for Pennies!