While at film school, I was the Unit Production Manager for a one-time, live, 30-minute TV show and a 16mm short film. I was also a rotating position member of the camera team (cameraman, 1st A.C., 2nd A.C., and Camera Bitch) for a short 35mm film.
The show ("Excess Hollywood") was a shitty little Access Hollywood parody that we had to do over and over until we got the grade we wanted. Shitty, but I learned a lot, like, if you want something done right, do it yourself. Our anchors bailed out on us after two hours work. They failed to "get" my writing anyway, so me and my co-writer stepped up and did it ourselves. Grade went from an 82 to a 93.
The 16mm ("The Spark") was about a caveman who meets God. I learned a lot there, too, like, pre-plan your Pre-Pro meetings and don't sit on the fence about issues. We did pretty good and made a fucking unbelievable cave out of wood strips, screws, styrofoam, pneumatic sanders, and paint. Also made "an infinitely white room." I also got my hands dirty with caveman makeup and performed stunt-work. The short turned out ok.
The 35mm ("Taken Back") was a learning experience. I found out our writer had ripped-off Roald Dahl (of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" fame) by stealing the man's short story "Skin." Unfortunately, I didn't find out until we were halfway through our Pre-Pro. I found out, of all places, during Casting, and by that point, we were too far in to do another project. Someone came up to our table and asked me what the flick was about. I gave her two sentences and she told me the rest of the script. Fortunately, we were able to get permission from Dahl's estate. Flick went to Cannes because one of our classmates had gotten a job there. Not much, but...
As a member of the camera team, I learned how to put together and take apart a 35mm camera so well, that I was offered an internship (which I had to turn down, due to lack of living expences). Loading magazines, building cameras, properly wrapping cable...Them's were the days...Ahh...
