Producing The Next Chapter
Many times in movies, after the girl has been dating a great guy for a while, you see the best friend come over and ask the main character: What are you going to do when he pops the question? And either, she gets excited because she's played the scenario out in her head a million times over and has planned out exactly what she's going to say. Or, she's a bit more nervous than excited because she's unsure about what the moment will be like because, frankly, this next step is bigger than she imagined.
Well, as a senior in my last semester at USC, the BIG question for me is: What are you going to do when you graduate? And, I fall somewhere in between those two responses. I'm excited, but also a bit uncertain as to what this next chapter holds. This semester, I've found that I enjoy both working on-camera and behind the scenes, and taking this 403 producing class had a lot to do with that. Because of it, I have gained a set of skills that are invaluable to whatever path I take.
I had no idea what I was getting into going into this position. Because, you really don't know what it takes to produce an entire newscast until you're the one who has to do it. Yes, as a reporter or multimedia journalist, you've said hi to your producers and have reported to them for your individual stories. But, what happens when one story turns into 15-20 stories? And, you're responsible for knowing the elements in each of them and structuring them together? Well, that's when you realize what a producer is and the importance of the role you play.
That said, will I produce a newscast sometime in the future? It's possible. Having worked in the position, I value and admire the skillset of amazing producers and have learned to love the news! You have to be a great multitasker, planner, organizer, writer, thinker, and creator. And most importantly, you have to be a great leader. These are just some of the skills that I have taken away from my experience in the newsroom, and can apply to whatever role I'll play in the future. Whether I decide to go into news or not, I now have unique qualities that will help me succeed in any field I choose to enter.
