Backtracking Numero Uno

Okay, I know, I know, I suck at blogging. It's June, and I've been done with my internship at WABC for a month and a half, and for some reason the last post is an updated version of my first day on the job. Such a total failure. So to tie up loose ends (before I embark on a NEW blog, which I hopefully will be more conscientious with, about Caribbean cooking in the four weeks before I go to Rome, which, I'll admit, is sort of a strange project - one might ask, why not Italian food, Christina? For the sake of congruity? Ah, well. This parenthetical statement has gone on long enough)...so to tie up loose ends, here is part one of the tail end of my internship in the Creative Services Department of WABC, as excerpted from my Internship Essay entitled, "Blogging WABC: The (Current) Life and Times of Christina Tesoro, Creative Services Intern/Writer Extraordinaire, Spring 2010."

Finishing up at WABC

Okay, so I haven’t been quite the faithful blogger, but I’m taking 18 credits, working around 16 hours a week, and interning from 9 to 5 on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The fact that I haven’t collapsed from exhaustion is nothing to sneer at. Anyway, it’s my last week at WABC this week, and I’m kind of sad about it. I learned a lot. Since my last post, I’ve actually worked with two more writers – Brandon and Rachel.

Brandon was the third writer I worked with, and he had a somewhat interesting approach to writing promos. He told me that I should totally disregard the time constraints altogether when it comes to writing my scripts, and just go with it – I can always cut it down to size later, and at least I’ll have a lot of material to work with. I’m never one to turn down new methods, so I tried it. Worked pretty well. The only thing I didn’t like was the way Brandon talked about writing promos. He said to me, “Look, the promos you write aren’t going to end up on TV anyway, so just go with it and don’t hold yourself back.” While this is true, the promos that I write are really only drafts, and holding back with writing is one of the worst things a writer can do…I don’t know. It’s discouraging as an intern to hear, “What you’re writing doesn’t really count for anything, anyway, so don’t even try to follow the rules of the trade.”

I know that’s not what he was really saying…It's true, the promos that I wrote could never have ended up on TV anyway. Like, legally, they weren't allowed to - apparently there's this law so companies can't use interns and make them do stuff that a regular person (i.e. college graduate of real-person status out in the Real World) would do, and get paid for. And besides, Brandon's advice did work. Instead of worrying about fitting an entire story into a 15-second long sentence, I ran with the story, played with the language, and was able to have a "shitty first draft" (as Anne Lamott would say) that I could later cut down to size and make into a stronger, more enticing promo. Go me.

The other writer I’ve worked with is a freelancer named Rachel. She comes in occasionally when one of the other writers can’t come in. She seems nice, although I’ve only worked with her twice in the entire time I’ve been here. She looks like a short, pregnant version of Angelina Jolie. The most important thing I noticed about her is that she does things differently from the other (male) writers. She uses different music in the promos – instead of the standard, official-sounding horns a-blaring, she used two different music clips. One was a mysterious sounding, kind of creepy riff that accompanied a story about rats running rampant in Brooklyn, and the other was a weird percussion-sounding riff that went along with a medical breakthrough about heart-stints. Even though I didn’t get to talk to her too much, this really made me like Rachel. And I don’t want to generalize, but I think maybe she’s extra-creative ‘cause she’s a chica. And girls are just so much cooler than guys, ha!

So there you have it, my friends. Ya'll will just have to wait for the final, final day at WABC, even though it happened several weeks ago already.

Day 1 at WABC

Here's a slightly touched up record of my first day at WABC, since I only jotted down notes on the actual day and typed them all up today.


***
January 28, 2010 – First day of internship.

To the casual observer, what I’m about to describe may not seem noteworthy. It may even seem boring. But one of the first tasks I had upon arriving at WABC, at the corner of West 67th Street and Columbus Ave., was to read through The Log for today and highlight all the promos. (The Log lists absolutely everything that is going to be airing on a given day on Channel 7, and the duration of each program, commercial, and promo). I was told I would know what to highlight based on the four digit code; promos were listed in the 8000’s (except for the Oprah promos, which were in the 65,000’s). As I was doing this first task (being exceptionally careful to highlight within the lines, and nearly breaking out into a sweat whenever I accidentally highlighted a non-eight-thousand number) I noticed that one of the commercials I saw was actually being played on T.V. at that very moment. And something about that just seemed really, really cool to me. (Okay so maybe my heightened sense of nervousness on my first day added to this.)

It also happened to be snowing, so The Log was subject to change at any time. Case in point, around lunch time, my supervisor got up and ran downstairs to “put a spot in” (aka do the old switcheroo when it comes to programming, I believe). When she came back, I snuck a look at The Log to see what had been changed. Apparently a new promo was going to be put in where a 20 second timeslot for Grey’s Anatomy should have been – the addition was a promo for the five o’clock news, letting people know that coverage of the “snowmaggedon” would be fully covered by the Eyewitness News Team, and encouraging them to tune in at 5PM. Once again, I was mildly impressed. This was a completely different vantage point from me. Even though promos generally fill 15 and 20 second time slots and the promos that I’m going to write are only for practice, I get to see what happens inside a T.V. station instead of just watching the boob tube from the living room. Its sort of like being able to tell the future – if I thought it would impress her, I could call up my mom and tell her exactly what commercials to expect in the next five minutes (on channel 7 at least). It probably wouldn’t impress her, though, so I don’t. But I think it’s neat.

So far I haven’t had too much to do today, with the exception of The Log (my first task every day, according to my supervisor). I’m eventually going to be going to news meetings, meeting producers and directors and working with script writers, researching stories and drafting promos. So far I don’t really know what to expect. I did have my first writing assignment today, though, in which I wrote a letter to all the people in the office who so far have remained elusive. My supervisor, AM, read it and edited it, and then I printed copies to stick in everyone’s mailbox. It made me a little self-conscious to be introducing myself that way, but I tried to be lighthearted and a little funny. After all, I doubt anyone likes a stuffy intern.

***

And here's my first writing assignment:

My name is Christina Tesoro. I’m in my third year at Hunter College, currently finishing up my Creative Writing Major and I will begin my Media Studies major this semester.

I was born and raised in Bayside, Queens. People have told me that this is basically the boonies, but I consider myself at least 200% city girl. I live at the Brookdale Residence Hall on 25th and 1st and never intend to leave New York City if I can help it!

I have so many interests. When I was in high school, I was involved in softball and fencing, drama, and Benjamin N. Cardozo’s first A Capella Choir. In my sophomore year, I was the editor of the Cardozo poetry magazine, Salmagundi. In my junior year I started a female empowerment club, and had a lead in SING!, the annual student-run musical theatre production in which all the grades competed against each other for best original musical. In my senior year I was a starter for the girl’s fencing team, and co-wrote and directed SING! with a friend, and that year, we won.

Unfortunately, I haven’t had as much free time at Hunter. Aside from my course load, I work part time as a receptionist in an ophthalmologist’s office. My duties are to administer eye drops and perform visual field tests and other ocular tests and imaging. But ophthalmology is the only career I have no interest in whatsoever. I’m not a huge fan of other people’s eyeballs.

Other than that, I’ve thought about being a detective, a high school teacher, a journalist, a psychologist, an actress, a food critic, a forensic scientist, an FBI agent (or an actress playing an FBI agent), a lawyer, a travel writer, a chef, a pop star (but only for a minute), a magazine editor, a professor, a poet…

The one constant in my life has been my love for writing. Writing is something that I have done for my whole life, in diaries, short stories, poems, and essays. It comes naturally to me and I love it. But it is difficult to find a way to incorporate my love for writing into a feasible career plan. As romantic as it sounds, I know that the life of a starving bohemian writer isn’t for me. Part of the reason I applied for this internship at Creative Services was the chance to take my passion for writing and apply it to something real.

By working at the Creative Services Department at WABC, I’ll be able to research media for promos (something I’m admittedly still a little fuzzy on, but hey – that’s why I’m an intern) and then work with promotional script writers. I want to work somewhere that writing is incorporated into the job, and where creativity is not optional, or merely encouraged, but absolutely necessary. I want to experience forms of writing that I’m not familiar with as of yet. Most importantly, in the future I want to work at a job that I love. Eyeballs just aren’t going to cut it.

5 o' clock PROMOS

5PM (20s)

TONIGHT AT 5 ON CHANNEL 7 EYEWITNESS NEWS…THE THREAT THAT KEPT KIDS OUT OF THIS NEW JERSEY SCHOOL FOR MOST OF THE WEEK!

PLUS…THE DECADES-LONG SCANDAL THAT MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE VATICAN. NOW EYEWITNESS NEWS IS BRINGING TO LIGHT THE CRIMES THAT THE POPE IS ACCUSED OF COVERING UP!

PLUS…YOU WONT BELIEVE WHAT CAUSED THIS GERIATRIC GUNSLINGER TO QUICKDRAW IN THE MIDDLE OF FOREST HILLS!

***

In all seriousness, though, this cover-up that the Pope is involved in is really disgusting. I do believe that's called obstruction of justice, and people go to prison for that. Therefore "God's representative on Earth" should be thrown in jail.

Just another reason why I think organized religion should be outlawed. It does way more harm than good. And honestly, even if the Pope had "defrocked" Father Murphy, what would that have done? The bastard should have gone to jail.

I really like the prison system. What goes around comes around in the very best way. Hammurabi would be proud.

I'm bummed now. This blows.

Links to the stories:

http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/03/bomb_threat_closes_vorhees_hig.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/world/europe/25vatican.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/opinion/25thur1.html?hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1269547314-YdLDfi7u0gnYCC9/enGucg

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jkTKm-OfTfodzI3CKtata76kkEYAD9ELR8D01

Today's Promos a la Christina

03.18.10 PROMO DRAFT #1

5PM (20s):

TONIGHT AT 5 ON CHANNEL 7…THE SCHOOL SEX SCANDAL THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED…EYEWITNESS NEWS TELLS YOU WHAT IMPORTANT DETAILS MAY HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED…

PLUS…ANOTHER RECALL! BUT THIS TIME IT’S YOUR KID’S SAFETY, NOT YOUR CAR, THAT’S AT RISK!

PLUS…A VIOLENT HATE CRIME…AND THE LONG ISLAND TEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER! TONIGHT AT FIVE ON CHANNEL 7 EYEWITNESS NEWS!


6PM (15s):

NEXT AT 6 ON CHANNEL 7 EYETWITNESS NEWS…MEET THE MOST WANTED COUPLE IN NEW YORK!

PLUS…HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR NEXT CAB GETS YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO GO…WITHOUT TAKING YOUR WALLET FOR AN EXTRA RIDE! TONIGHT AT 6 ON CHANNEL 7 EYEWITNESS NEWS!


I.D. (4s):
IS YOUR BABY’S SAFETY AT RISK? TONIGHT ON CHANNEL 7 EYEWITNESS NEWS!



And, if my promos worked the way they should and piqued your interest, here are the stories that go with them. Enjoy!

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2010/03/jersey_city_teacher_charged_wi.html

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-18/graco-recalls-1-2-million-high-chairs-after-children-fall.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iyOq7mhNW2WjpPOWuAd607cd0xxgD9EH52AO0

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/03/18/2010-03-18_cops_have_visited_elderly_bklyn_couples_home_at_least_50_times_looking_for_crimi.html

http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/93485?fp=1

Things to Do

So here's my current list of things to do:

Start a blog (check)

Email writing samples to Baruch professor about fall workshop (check)

Email latest pieces to Winn for Monday's meeting (check)

(I'm usually never so on top of things, and given that today is St. Patrick's Day, this either means I'm incredibly lucky, or I have no life whatsoever.)

I meant to start this blog a while ago, like when I first started my internship at WABC. But one thing got in the way of another, and I'm nearly 2 months into this internship, and just starting to blog now. No worries, though.

If I had been writing this blog from when I wanted to start it, this post would have a context. As it is, I'm just going to start from here and work backwards over spring break. So. Jumping in. My first post.

Had an incredible conversation today with Scott at WABC as he was putting together the 5 and 6 o'clock promos. About writing, about jobs, about life post college. He asked me where I see myself going with writing, a question that makes me a little uncomfortable (read: terrifies me) but that I love to talk about anyway. When someone asks "What do you want to do with your writing/what do you want to do with your life" and actually lets me talk about it, it makes me feel like I'm not crazy for wanting to be a writer.

I think the concept of what a writer is (or, perhaps more precisely, what a writer does with all her damn time) has changed, and for the better. All I know about my future is that I want to be writing something, anything (well, almost anything) every day.

The reason my dad gets so nervous when I talk about "being a writer," I think, is because he pictures me living in a tiny apartment, with peeling paint, no heat, water that is consistently brown and unusable, and heroin addicts for neighbors. In this nightmare of my fathers, I will be skinny because I can't afford food and my hair will perhaps be falling out. I might be an alcoholic. We might have to go on "Intervention." I will spend my days making no money whatsoever and becoming steadily depressed as my rejection slips pile up (but at least I can burn them for heat, I suppose!) but nevertheless I will keep poking away at a typewriter (a typewriter, Dad, really?) and hyperventilating in the dark.

But that's not what a writer is. I don't even know if that's even what a writer ever was, actually, and in any case, that's not the type of writer I want to be.

I've been thinking a lot about my future. What kind of career do I want, where do I want to live, when should I go to grad school. I have some time left...a little over a year, actually, which ties my stomach into knots but also makes me so incredibly excited. Mostly I feel nauseous, though, especially when I think about how shitty our economy is. One of the few downsides of interning at WABC is that I now read the newspaper. I actually know what's going on now. I've learned the hardway that ignorance really is bliss. And boy is our economy in the shitter. What if I don't get a job?

ANYWAY. Being a writer is a lot more lucrative than I had originally thought. Scott was telling me that reading, writing, and being able to communicate is vital, and those are the things I like to do best. I'm writing promos right now, and I wouldn't mind writing promos, its creative in a way that I'm not used to, and I like it. But with writing...there aren't really any limitations. I could write promos. I would write menus. I could write scripts or short stories. I could write poems.

Scott said something that I haven't really heard too many people say, and actually mean. He said something like, "If this is what you like, then go for it. And keep going for it." He told me about a comedian who said he never wanted to come up with a Plan B, because that would make it too easy to give up on Plan A. So Plan B became "Keep working on Plan A." And that's the approach I want to take with my writing. I'm going to have a job that I enjoy, that forces me to be creative, and to write. And while I maybe might still end up an alcoholic, I'm going to make it work.