A most newsworthy day

What an incredible day to finish an internship. News about the manhunt for the Boston Marathon bombing suspect dominates the homepage of the Baltimore Sun's website and plays constantly on CNN. I got a chance to contribute to the coverage by editing this video package. Yvonne Wenger interviewed Boston residents visiting a makeshift memorial at Boylston and Berkley streets, which were essentially deserted during the city lockdown.



Being in the newsroom during times like these is fascinating. Everyone huddles around the TVs when one of the uncles speaks. They share information at their desks but also have water cooler-like chats about the news and its coverage.

I've been following the story on a CNN live stream and Boston police scanners. I grew up in Montgomery Village and I am familiar with the area where the uncles live, so it is especially intriguing for me to imagine the media circus that unfolded in the tiny town.

I will write a wrap-up of my internship in the next week, maybe on Wednesday when I realize I don't have to be anywhere from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day!

Appalachian Spring and Super Heroes and Squirrels!

Here is the post you've all been waiting for: the Appalachian Spring video! Tonight is the premiere of the ballet at the Baltimore School for the Arts and the show is completely sold out. My coworker, Dana, and I are going to try to get in anyway. For those of you planning to attend and those who won't make it, this video hopefully captures the experience!



Here's Tim Smith's article about the production.

I'm also checking off names on my unofficial "Maryland celebrities I've met" list. Last Friday I filmed an editorial board interview with Baltimore City State's Attorney Greg Bernstein. On Wednesday I filmed another editorial board interview, this time with Governor Martin O'Malley. It was an awesome experience to meet the governor and listen to his opinions on Title IX, gun control and his possible presidential campaign. You can see clips from the interview on this week's video page.

I also finished one of my last video projects as a Baltimore Sun intern. Before spring break I pitched the idea for a video highlighting the "ZAP! POW! BAM! The Super hero" exhibit at the Jewish Museum of Maryland. I enjoyed visiting the exhibit. With a bit of help from one of my supervisors, Chris, you can actually see Mark Pinkert, who was previously shrouded in shadow (Confused? Just watch it).




And today I edited a video about squirrels. I don't think any embellishment is necessary. Enjoy!

Opening Day at Oriole Park!

Today I joined the throngs of fans at Camden Yards as they celebrated Opening Day.

Fans decked out in orange and black attire came out in droves on this beautiful Friday, even if they didn't have a ticket to the game.

I met a roller-skating saxophonist who dressed up like an oriole (and made plenty of money performing on the sidewalk), a man who dyed his beard orange, two Orioles luchadors, and a guy with a tattoo that proves he bleeds orange and black.

Check out the colorful faces of Opening Day!


And here's the link to the video.

Next week I'll be able to share a few more projects I've been working on, including the Appalachian Spring video and the Zap! Pow! Bam! superhero exhibit at the Jewish Museum of Maryland.

Randy Edsall talks Terps football

I'm back from spring break, which means I'll be writing more blog entries and posting more videos.

Wednesday was a very cool day because I got to meet the head coach of the Maryland football team, Randy Edsall. Sure, I go to UMD and I could probably stop by the Gossett Team House to meet him, but it was even more awesome to be part of the "behind the scenes" action as we filmed an interview with him.

My job was to hold the boom mic during the interview, which I was thrilled to do because I contolled the sound quality of the video I would eventually edit.

Here's the first of what will be many video interviews with Coach Edsall. This one is about a scrimmage at Dunbar High School tomorrow.


And here's Kevin Cowherd's column, which he wrote following the interview.

Today I edited a video about the Baltimore School for the Arts production of "Appalachian Spring," a Martha Graham ballet that has never been performed by a high school before. I loved working on this video and I can't wait to share it with you when it goes live in a few weeks (closer to the show dates, April 12 and 13).

Now if you excuse me, I shall be playing Aaron Copeland's score for "Appalachian Spring" nonstop this weekend.

Let's Play Pinball!

Here's my video about the National Pinball Museum's last weekend of operation before it closed its doors March 3. I pitched this idea and I had a lot of fun filming and editing the footage. Check it out and share it with friends!

Just copy this link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/videogallery/74730675/VIDEO-Pinball-Museum-now-closed-in-downtown-Baltimore

Maryland 83 Duke 81

Here's the post I promised about my footage from the Duke game:

Last Saturday I went to the Maryland basketball game versus Duke. My friends and I took shifts waiting in line outside the Comcast Center from 6 a.m. to 3p.m., when students were admitted to the arena.

Regardless of where you stood in line, all the hours waiting were wasted when the doors opened. Students raced up the hill and pushed toward the gates, trying to get as close to the front as possible. I was pressed between friends and strangers in a wave of students that overwhelmed the security officers trying to contain the crowd.

When we finally made it inside, we found seats with friends who had grabbed a row earlier. We then learned the flash mob dance. Our performance during the media time out surprised fans and the video of it was widely circulated the next day.

The game, of course, was an emotional roller coaster. Maryland students are so invested in what some call a "fantasy rivalry" with Duke. Every time we stole the ball from the opponent, made a free throw, or earned any points, the student section exploded with screams and cheers. Whenever our team lost the ball or missed a shot, a collective moan or groan resounded through the arena.

It was a nail-biter at the end, but with successful free throws from Seth Allen, we made it over the threshold to topple Duke. Students were already crowding the steps so they they rush the court. We were sitting close to the floor and my friends started climbing over seats to get ever closer.

As soon as the buzzer sounded, it was a mad dash to the court. I grabbed railings and seats to keep from falling. In their effort to get on the floor themselves, students helped push me down to the court. Once on solid ground, we raced, arms in the air, cell phones in our hands, to celebrate and capture the moment.

I could describe what I saw, but I'll just let you watch and see for yourself:


Click here to see it on the Baltimore Sun's website! More clicks=better rank for my videos!

After filming the revelry for posterity, I texted my supervisor to see if he wanted the footage. I knew a photographer was there from the Sun but I doubt he jumped into the wild crowd to take pictures or video. My text didn't go through until I had left the stadium, and with his confirmation, I copied my best footage to a Drop Box folder from my cell phone.

The rest is history, I suppose. The raw video was posted online shortly after I sent it over and it has done well on the website. The video was viewed 87 times that night through the next day, making it the eighth most popular video on the website that weekend.

This experience helped me see that I can enjoy awesome experiences like rushing the court while also capturing it as a journalist. Sometimes I am so interested in recording everything that I don't truly experience it myself. Instead of shooting this footage for the Baltimore Sun, I shot it for myself using the skills I have acquired through this internship. Because of my attentiveness to a steady shot, I captured high quality video suitable for the website...which is so awesome and rewarding!

Look for my next blog with videos I worked on today!

Fires and Film Festivals

Happy Wednesday! Check out two videos I worked on today: one about a "twice baked" fire in Northeast Baltimore and one about a film festival featuring people with developmental disabilities.

For the fire video, I got to try my hand at recording a voice over. You may be able to tell that I have a cold: my voice isn't as enthusiastic as usual.

Look for a post in the next few days about my raw video from the floor of the Duke game last Saturday.