SolidLine Media Blog

The SolidLine Summer Intern: Why did I sign up for this? Week 1
By Michael Radostits, Summer Intern
SolidLine Media

My first day kicked off quite well. It was exciting going out on a shoot for the first day. I met the rest of the crew at this condo high rise, and immediately we got to work unpacking the truck and getting it to the 21st floor. I thought the view from the condo was awesome, but we were there for work. Putting all the equipment together was somewhat overwhelming. I hadn’t used any of the equipment Solidline uses, so I was trying my best to remember what went where. The interview for Transparent Health went great, although it was a tough subject to talk about. Mrs. Blackman, our interviewee, did a wonderful job with the interview. When the day wrapped up, it was once again tough figuring out what equipment went in what case, but the crew was helpful. I almost had a heart attack when I was lowering down a C-stand and a screw on the stand used for tightening other equipment down came out, dropped about three feet, and landed on a glass table top. Fortunately for me, the glass held strong, I survived, and the day was over.

I load gear from the truck with Ed while on location in Chicago on my first day.

Heading to Notre Dame was a great experience. I had never been to the campus. We all met up downtown outside the office, and I got my first look at the inside living quarters of the SolidLine Media truck. The truck, bus, or whatever you want to call it was something to see. I loved the set up inside, and it was great having all the equipment packed up in the back. Now sleeping in a Wal-Mart parking lot was an interesting experience, but definitely not a bad one. We parked outside a South Bend Wal-Mart after setting up our cameras at Notre Dame, and we were able to sit around, grill, and get to know each other a little better. I also got to experience the Wal-Mart shopping experience with the team. Greg Vass had a decently bruised ankle, so he rolled around Wal-Mart in a handicap cart. He was excited, and so were the rest of us. Showering the next morning was nuts. Making a warm water temperature was tough, but I figured it out.

Shopping with injured Greg during production trip to Notre Dame

Loading food and drink to the bus in Indiana

They made me take the carts back to WalMart after loading truck

We had quite an interesting shoot at Notre Dame for Learning Point Associates. The day was a bit long, but I was surprised that I was able to use a camera and actually shoot some stuff. Again, a heart attack almost occurred when I wheeled out an enormous cart full of equipment, caught the curb, and spilled it all over the street outside the building. I’m glad Greg was able to get pictures taken to make sure the screw-up was documented.

I knocked over a cart at Notre Dame full of film gear.

I got back on my feet after tipping over the cart and continued to load the truck with the crew.

Here is Greg, Ed, and myself outside the location at Notre Dame. Greg pretty much got made fun of all day by everyone, including the client!

Michael and Greg are obsessed with the golf cart. For real, they take pictures of it everywhere...

Heading out to the Boston area, I was very excited. I always wanted to head out east, but never really got the chance to. The bus drive out there was extremely long. Much longer than I expected. I really underestimated how long it was going to take to drive through the state of New York. It felt like a day in itself heading out there.

Michael Kromm taught me how to fuel a semi truck. 150 gallons goes fast.

Stopping off for the night in Ohio

When we arrived in Boston, we were fortunate enough to stay with a family friend, Ann, that lived right outside the city. We weren’t supposed to be driving the huge truck on her street, so we wanted to sneak the truck into her driveway as quick as possible. Ann had some trees hanging over the end of the driveway at the street, so I was able to take my landscaping experience and put myself to work with Greg…cutting down limbs while Michael drove the truck into the driveway. We did make it in after a while, but I was wounded. A tree branch scratched my face, but I guess it was alright…kept me looking a little tough. I was the odd ball out at dinner. Ann and her husband Michael insisted we ate dinner with them, so they set their eyes on ordering seafood. Now I hate seafood, so I ordered a cheeseburger, which was still quite tasty.

I trimmed trees from the ground in Boston before we could get the truck down the drive.

It was a tight fit for the truck to get through the tree covered drive

Holding trees back from the truck

Greg Vass cuts limbs from the other end of the roof. Not sure why he decided to go up there, especially since he still had the air cast on his foot. But I didn't say anything...

Finally, the rig is parked for the night and the Boston seafood dinner can begin

The next morning at our shoot, everything seemed to go great. We had a small time frame to get things done, so we worked efficiently and fast to get things done. I enjoyed seeing some of Harvard, and the Harvard Faculty Club, where we had our shoot, was a great building to shoot in. I handled the boom microphone for a bit, which was beyond tiring. Standing in those awkward positions holding a mic completely above you’re head was exhausting, but I was able to get it done. We had a great ride back, drove though the night, got back to Chicago at 4 a.m., and called it a successful trip.

On location at the Harvard Faculty Club. Getting ready to boom Dr. Lucian Leape.

Loading the truck on the streets of Cambridge, MA. Then back to Chicago...

And that’s what I did during my first week as Summer Intern at SolidLine Media. I wonder what will be next? Stay tuned…

You can contact summer intern Mike Radostits (aka “Cornbread”) at cornbread@solidlinemedia.com. 

For more information about SolidLine Media, visit us online at www.solidlinemedia.com.  Or call 312-939-8600.

Copyright 2009 SolidLine Media, a division of KV Media Group, Inc.