Blog 10
The most rewarding part of this experience was accomplishing a self determined goal. I was able to make a very complex makeup and complete it. Knowing I could accomplish a huge goal showed me how rewarding my internship could be. Since I completed my project so early in the internship, I was able to find relevance and importance in the work that I did. No mater how small the task I could see the importance in the long run.
As a whole the experience has defiantly been worth the hectic schedule I have gained insight into a creative industry similar to the one I want to pursue. I also have gained a variety of new skills, such as the very basics of excel spreadsheets, when to use skews vs.nails, and how to construct a giant puppet out of foam.
To be honest I expected something completely different from my internship. I expected this to be an opportunity to shadow someone someone in the technical theater department at the Denver Center. In reality I was at a different building and in a different setting then I anticipated. In reality I was at the Newman center in the education department making schedules and and moving furniture.
My exceptions were completely built through my own surmise. After being at the Denver Center for several weeks I began to enjoy the experience, and I realized how my internship pertained to my dream career.
I learned a variety of different skills from making connections and networking to learning how to do make a spreadsheet. The most important thing I learned was the variety of simple skills. They all add up and help build my resume.
Blog 9
This experience has given me the opportunity to complete my most involved makeup yet. I have gotten a pretty awesome look what it’s like to work at a big arts company.
Even though working at the theater isn’t exactly what I want to do my time here has given me a lot of insight into what to expect from working in a big company. The movie industry has makeup companies just as big as the Denver Center so getting a feel for the office side of things is helping me get a feel for what to expect in any creative field I go into.
I have also leaned a lot about how fast things move. There are tight deadlines and high expectations that you have to be prepared for. But after realizing all of the realties of creative industry I also realized how much more I want to be in special effects makeup. I can almost picture myself having my dream career, because of all the exposure to the arts that I’ve gotten at the Denver Center.
Being in any of the workshops or design studios is really what made me know that special effects makeup was right for me. When I worked on the dragon for the Hobbit over the summer I was excited to go to the design studio every day and work on the dragon for another eight hours, and even now I get excited when the ask me to paint some simple stage props.
I love working on big projects, and being a small part of something great. I know that the makeup industry is right for me and being at the Denver Center has helped me realize my goals.
Blog 8:
There are a lot of huge differences between working in the creative business and working on personal projects. At the Denver Center the biggest difference I’ve found is tight deadlines. If something needs to be done by a specific date, it has to be done, there are no exceptions.
In my personal world of art I do not have to answer to anybody but myself, but in the set and prop design area of the Denver Center you have to make sure that what ever you are building fits the exact guidelines and specifications that the production requires.
Sure, there is still a lot of creative freedom, but there is also a lot more pressure on you to produce the perfect end product. When you are building pieces for a set it is on you to figure how to do it and make sure it works.
I have also noticed that there is a lot more collaboration, in putting together a play then there is when you are working on your own piece. The collaboration doesn’t just happen between props people and props people, or costumes people and costumes people, it happens between everyone involved in the production.
Learning how to work with people that have completely different style, or idea than you is challenging. I experienced this while I was working on Smoug the dragon this summer. We had exactly 5 days to make an 18-foot long dragon that could move. This alone was no easy task for four kids who had never made a prop this big before, and on top of that we had never met each other before and all had completely different art styles. We collaborated with each other and figured it out; in the end the dragon was ready for it debut five short days later.
I have learned a lot about working in the creative business, and it has made me more determined and excited to enter the creative industry one day.
Blog 7:
Everyone at my internship treats me just fine; I wouldn’t say I have a particularly strong relationship with anyone, but everyone is nice. Absolutely anybody that has asked me to do a job has thanked me, and walked me through what I need to do if I don’t understand the task.
It is very difficult to focus on building strong work relationships in such a big office, especially when I am only there for a few hours a week. I am happy to say that I haven’t formed any negative relationships, and I think it would be pretty hard to do in such a friendly environment.
Until this week I didn’t really focus on connecting with people, but now that I am trying to talk to more people I’ve noticed that they are all friendly, and easy to talk to.
If I ever have an intern, or I am working at a place that hires interns I would probably treat the same way as I am treated at the Denver Center. I would also talk to them about my career, and how I got there, because the obvious reason that the intern is there is to learn about the field I would be working in.
My experience at the Denver Center has been pretty positive, and if I ever have an intern I would make sure to treat them how I was treated here.
Blog 6:
My internship based project has probably been the best part of my internship. I was able to incorporate special effects makeup, which is the creative field I am hoping to get into.
For my project I created A Zombie prosthetic for Zombie Crawl Downtown. I brought my internship and the project together by using the same creative process that we went through when I helped build the dragon at the Denver Center workshop this past summer.I started with some sketches, and a material list, and even used a technique to measure my face for the makeup that I used to make beards at the Denver Center Hobbit work shop.
The piece could not have turned out better, especially because I made it so it could be reused. I also utilized what little theatrical skills I have to bring the prosthetic to life at zombie crawl, growling and snarling through the streets. The makeup was fully functional which means I could talk, eat and drink with it on, so I made edible blood that I could drool and spit out of my mouth for photos, and videos.
I did complete my project earlier than expected because being prepared for zombie crawl meant a really tight deadline. So now I am think about adding a second part onto my project, I haven’t talked to Jessica, my sponsor yet, but I do have a list of ideas to go over with her.
Having the opportunity to bring special effects makeup into my internship was pretty perfect because makeup is truly my dream career and any practice I can get to make something awesome is a great way to build my portfolio.
Blog 5:
My internship is going very well, most of the people on the floor know who I am, these new work relationships make me fill more welcome, and comfortable at my internship.
It feels really good to get my internship based project done, because now I feel ahead of the game on at least one thing in this program. Although now that I am done with that I will probably have some down time. Since Jessica has been out of the office for her traveling Shakespeare program I haven’t had a lot of new jobs.
Everyone at the Denver Center has been really busy these past couple of days and they haven’t really had time to find work for me, so I’ve been sticking to organizing props and costumes.
As for forming work relationships, I am getting to know a lot more people since Jessica has not been around the office, and this is pretty good because the more people that know me the more new jobs I get.
I wouldn’t necessarily call any of my work relationships strong because there are so many people to get to know that are so busy all the time. But at least I haven”t formed any negative work relationships.
In order to make my experience better I think the best thing I can do is strengthen my work relationships, and find some time to get to know the people in my office. Once I do that I think I’ll get a few different jobs and it will be a little more interesting than organizing furs in the isolated costume room.
Blog 4:
Unless I have an assigned task, my time is spent organizing props and costumes. I have worked my way through most props and just started on costumes last week. I hope shuffling, folding and dusting has contributed to my work place by making things easier to find, or at least quicker.
I do not have a set list of responsibilities, but I know what I’m supposed to do. that may not be defined as responsibilities, but as I have touched on previously, I know what I am supposed to do without having to bother anyone when I walk into my work place. I check the intern board, and if there isn’t any work there I go back to props and costumes and continue organizing.
Thinking about it made me realize that the little things I do can count as responsibilities too. For instance, when I get to work I check my email, when I cant go into work, I inform Jessica, my intern sponsor. The little things have become part of my responsibilities at the Denver Center, because communication is a huge part of being a good employ.
My contributions, might be small, but they do have an impact on the people in my work place, and my responsibilities might not be clear cut, but they do help help my sponsor and other people in the office rely and me. I am learning a lot through this internship, and my responsibilities and contributions are a very important part of what I am learning.
Blog 3:
Actions speak louder than words. Cliche, I know, but getting settled into my internship has made me very conscious of my actions, and making sure I am continuing to be one step ahead, so my coworkers don’t have to take time out of their busy schedules to find something for me to do.
I am now able to tell by the actions of my coworkers if they are to busy, or stressed with their day’s work load to find a job for me. In this situation I make sure my actions remain positive by staying cheerful, and cleaning out a closet, or organizing props; things I know I can do on my own that will be beneficial later on. They key thing at my workplace is to remain productive, so I am not wasting my time or my coworkers’ time.
Just in this last week I have noticed that whenever I put forward my best effort to be productive and helpful for the person I am working for that day, or the person that has assigned me a task, they notices my efforts. They always make sure to thank me, and reassure me that what I did has helped them out.
My positive approach to any task at the Denver Center has made it easier for my coworkers to give me tasks, because they know that I will take the job with a smile and motivation to finish it. Positive actions have helped me and my coworkers, because they know I am willing to do the work, and I know they appreciate me for my time.
Blog 2:
With one week of my internship completed, I finally have a second to catch up, and reflect about what I did.
My favorite part of this week was being invited to go to a small event on Thursday. Jessica, my sponsor was in a small scale production of Romeo and Juliet that took place in an alley down town, and I was encouraged to go watch their performance.
I was not only excited that I was going to watch my sponsor in action, I was also excited that by my third day as an intern I got to see the creative, and artistic part of my sponsors job, since up until that point all I had seen her do is office work. The production may have been short and sweet, but it gave me a whole lot of insight on the specific creative industry I will be working in for the next few months.
The third day of working for the Denver Center felt like what I expected out of this opportunity in general. I did see first hand how they combine theater and education, and before the event I didn’t fully understand, what it was the DCPA department I was working for did. Now I feel more informed, and more excited to be a part of this organization because I know what kind of creative events and projects I can look forward to. I also know more about what my sponsors job entails. One small event made me even more excited than I already am to continue my internship.
Blog 1:
Although today was my first day, I’m already learning so much about the people that work at the Denver Center. I can’t keep all of their names straight yet, but it’s been fun getting to know so many people not only in educational theater department, but in various other departments of the technical theater like costumes, lighting design and puppet making.
In my first day I got to experience what I think will be the two main sides of my internship; the first was making a spread sheet and doing some other office work, and the second was unwrapping a couple hundred chairs (we’re still not done with that).
Aside from what would be deemed an “intern Task” I was invited to help pull costumes for an upcoming show, and help out with Saturday rehearsals, I thought I would have to wait a few weeks before I would be able to participate in the more creative side of theater, so I am very excited for the opportunity.
After meeting so many new people and taking on a couple of jobs that I have not done before, I realized that it wasn’t necessary for me to code switch, because all the people at the Denver Center made me feel very welcome, and the relaxed office environment made it easy to fit right in.