TELEVISION AND TV PRODUCTION INTERNSHIP ON A COMMUNITY TV STATION

WORK CONTENT AND DESCRIPTION

Television is an exciting medium to work in, whether you are going out on site with a film crew, playing a role in interviewing, helping to write and edit a story or even helping in administration. This project offers you the chance to intern with a not-for-profit community television service which provides individuals and community, cultural or educational organisations access to airtime, training and equipment to produce programs for broadcast.

To sum up the 4 weeks I have spent on my TV placement in Perth, I have thoroughly enjoyed receiving hands on experience. I feel that where in the UK you would not be used for anything more than making the tea, here you are granted the freedom to be creative; to think and research interesting briefs and then to be allowed to go and shoot them at various locations. The pace of life may not be as busy as UK media offices, but it is a perfect opportunity to ease yourself into the industry, without it being too daunting. Carmen Butcher

You'll work in areas such as camera and sound, script writing, research, presenting, business administration (doing administration work is a great way to get to know the organisation), and marketing. If you have a specialised interest, for example, marketing or editing, we will do our best to allocate you more time in that area. Generally, though, you may be asked to help with in the areas of:

• Administration
• Production
• Editing
• Scriptwriting
• Research
• Public Relations
• Fundraising;
• and have the opportunity to be a member of a support crew on location.

The work that you'll be involved in will depend on what is required and available at the time of your placement.

I came back to the UK from my travels in May and in September I was offered a 6 month contract with MTV as their creative intern, and upon nearing the end of my contract, have now been offered a year contract at the BBC as production co-ordinator. I just wanted to say a massive thank you for my experience, both work and culturally, in Australia. I would hugely recommend this to anyone, especially those who want to break into media via an alternative path. Even for those who do not want to obtain a career in the media, my employer said she was impressed with the month I did in Australia, because it showed I had the initiative to get out there and do something productive, and it was something that stood out amongst the hundreds of CVs she received! Carmen Butcher

ABOUT COMMUNITY TELEVISION

Almost all of the people who work in community television - writers, presenters, producers, editors, and camera operators - are volunteers. They are people who volunteer because they want to develop the skills associated with television production and to gain important industry experience, or simply for the sheer enjoyment and thrill of working in television.

Community television produces and broadcasts locally-produced programs that are relevant to the community, including educational institutions, independent film makers, ethnic and specialist interest groups and local businesses. Local news, entertainment and information are presented as a way of addressing issues and presenting information that commercial or government-funded stations do not cover. Volunteers can learn about producing and presenting television programs and how to run a television station.

The service provided by community television reflects a diverse range of expressions and views; cultivates a sense of community; encourages participation, learning, innovation and promotes competence in audio-visual skills. As a result, community television produces programmes with the community and for the community which reflect Australia’s rich multicultural diversity and heritage. The principal aim is to encourage participation and provide access to the airwaves for all of the metropolitan community, as well as special interest, ethnic and minority groups. Community television stations are non-profit organisations. This means that they do not make money from the services they provide. Instead these stations use sponsorship arrangements to cover their day-to-day running costs.

Community television provides numerous opportunities for producers and community members to use the production equipment and facilities in order to present the many distinctive programmes offered. Community television in Western Australia has a unique eleven year track record of multi-award winning quality television productions which have been broadcast for community TV stations throughout Australia in both digital and analogue. Productions can now also be viewed by a wide audience of Community Television in the USA!

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ACCOMMODATION

Your accommodation is located in the CBD (Central Business District) of Perth, Western Australia. Therefore you are very central, close to the main train station and shopping district. You'll live in a centrally located lodge that is friendly and relaxing, making it ideal for long term stays. You'll most likely have your own room, but will share a bathroom with others on your floor. There is an excellent kitchen and storage area for cooking meals and plenty of space to relax.

Entertainment at the Lodge currently includes a pool table, cheap internet access, arcade machines and cable TV (Foxtel), to name a few, but with all the sunshine Perth has, you’ll be out and about enjoying the many outdoor activities! You are literally a stroll from the Swan River and free CBD transport. Trains and buses are also only a few minutes away to take you to Fremantle, King’s Park or to the many other things to do in the region!

The city centre boasts great shopping, restaurants and pubs or you can head over to Northbridge for more pubs, nightclubs and multicultural cuisine. You'll get to work via bus, which stops outside your accommodation.

FOOD:
Food is not included in this project so you should budget for meals. We feel that a good guide would be a weekly budget of around AUD$70-90.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Got any questions? Please email us: info@travellersworldwide.com

EXPLORING ART THROUGH THE EYES OF THE ARTIST:
'The Gallery Watch Experience - Through The Eyes of the Presenter'
by Travellers Intern Frankie Aldaiji.
An account of Frankie's first presenting role assigned to him via the TV work experience programme.

Gallery East in North Fremantle, WA, was the venue for the most recent episode of Gallery Watch to be screened on Friday April 20th. For those not familiar with the contents of the program, it’s basically a weekly show focusing on visual artists displaying their works in and around Perth galleries, and in this case involved me, the presenter meeting up with and chatting to the painters as they talk us through the thinking behind their creations.

Established in 1991, the gallery is run by directors David Forrest and Jánis Nedéla. Director of Gallery East since 1992 and Chairman of The Association of Western Australian Art Galleries, David boasts a wealth of knowledge on the work of artists and craft practitioners presently working within Western Australia. Jánis himself is and an established Western Australian Artist himself contains impressive works within Galerie Dusseldorf, Perth's foremost contemporary art gallery, and with Uber Gallery, Melbourne.

Two of the nation’s finest painters were exhibiting on the night at Gallery East. With renaissance inspired artist Drusilla Williams showcasing her work under the theme 'Fishes and Loaves', focusing on still lifes, and cleverly combining the use of colour and light to good effect. Established artist Phillip Cook displayed his fine pieces under the banner of ‘Here and Elsewhere’ a reference to landscapes we see all around us in our daily lives.

Filming for the program was undertaken by acclaimed producer Tibor Meszaros who came up with the concept for the show itself more than six years ago, which has been hitting the screens of Access 31 Perth, Channel 31 Melbourne and currently in the past two years on Aurora channel 183 on the Foxtel Digital network. Indeed it was at Gallery East where the very first episode shooting of Gallery Watch was made.

Assigned with the unforgiving task of tracking my movements on camera, Tibor quite often reminded me that the mic was indeed not actually an ice cream cone, as I continuously held it all too close to my mouth, making for an extremely thankless task of picking up my voice!

Being my first time presenting a program of any kind on television, I couldn’t help but feel an attack of the butterflies occur more often than once. Indeed at times any preparation I had undertaken prior to being recorded seemingly, and regularly made an exit for the nearest open window.

Further excitement and intrigue was provided when director Jánis Nedéla took numerous still photos of myself interviewing the artists at the kind request of the Foxtel Digital Network, informing us that the pictures will appear in the June issue of their Programme Guide. Apologies for my alarming dress sense in advance, the striped shirt has now been retired you'll all be pleased to know!

Nevertheless, a good time was had by all, with complimentary glasses of wine flowing as freely as the conversation. The artists discussed at great length their work, and what and who inspired or influenced them to get to where they are today. Visitors to the gallery were also forthcoming and straight-talking in providing their interpretations and opinions on the pictures, making for an interesting and informative watch!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BOOK YOUR PLACEMENT?

Once you have applied for a placement, we'll contact you and send you our Welcome Pack. You'll also receive Log-on details and password for our Volunteer Extranet where you'll have access to all the documentation and information which we've put together to facilitate preparations for your adventure! Your Project Co-ordinator for your country will liaise with you throughout the arrangements process, as well as while you're on your placement and on your return home.

The documents you'll have access to also include a Country Factfile, Safety Guide and any manuals that may assist you on your particular programme (e.g. Teaching Guide, Sports Manuals, Enrichment Suggestions for Animal Care, etc.). We do all we can to make your stay one that you'll never forget. This is a truly awesome, elegant and beautiful country.

As with all our destinations, the culture and heritage is different to what you're used to ... which, although one of the most exciting aspects of travelling, should be borne in mind. Self-reliance and independence are highly appreciated in all our destinations and will help you to make the most of this wonderful opportunity!

TRAVELLERS' SUPPORT AND BACKUP: Read about the excellent Support & Backup we provide before you leave and during your programme.

I absolutely loved my project! Annette was wonderful!! She really made me feel like I had a support system from the second I met her at the airport. Alicia Garcia

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OPTIONAL ADD-ON ACTIVITIES:

Make the most of your time there! To help you do that, we've put together some exciting activities, courses and tours that you can add to your itinerary. These are designed to be fun, but also to enable you to learn, and expand your personal and professional development enjoyment ... but mostly for your enjoyment! :-)

Terms and Conditions apply for Add-Ons, please see here.

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LOCATION | SIGHTSEEING:

Try to see some of the country while you're there. It's big (huge!) and each different region is exciting and very, very beautiful. Our great location is in Perth, a city rich in culture and filled with theatres, art galleries and museums. The city is modern and vibrant - a fun, friendly and 'laid back' place, with clear skies and a sunny climate. Western Australia is locally known as the 'state of excitement!'

Some of its more famous attractions include Kings Park, Scarborough Beach, Fremantle and the Swan River. Fremantle (or as the local’s call it, ‘Freo’) is the city’s port and is rich in history. At weekends you will find markets, entertainment and plenty of alfresco style cafes to laze in. Perth has restaurants to suit all tastes - the most popular cuisine is of course the great Australian BBQ. Barbeque facilities are abundant in local parks - take your own food and cook up a feast, Australian style!

THE BEST OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
(Courtesy of Western Australia Tourism - www.westernaustralia.com)

• Fremantle - Spend a few days in Fremantle is an absolute must. Just a 30 minute drive from Perth's city centre. Freo, as it's known by locals is a vibrant port city you can't miss.
• Rottnest Island - Just offshore from Perth, Rottnest Island is where the locals go to swim at white-sand beaches, snorkel in turquoise water over shipwrecks, or kick back and go fishing. Rotto, as it's called locally, is a car-free zone, which adds to its relaxed feel.
• Margaret River - No trip to Western Australia is complete without a pit stop at Margaret River. Originally a chilled out surfie town, Margaret River has evolved into the ultimate smorgasbord of good food, fine wine and spectacular scenery - just a three-and-a-half hour drive south of Perth.
• Albany - Prepare to be blown away by Albany's dramatic convict history, set against a backdrop of rugged granite coastline, green seas and a wild beauty that tugs at the heartstrings. Step back in time and explore convict jails, old taverns, whaling ships and settlers' cottages and grand National Trust homes in beautifully landscaped grounds.
• Denmark - where towering tall trees meet the ocean. A relaxed village atmosphere, romantic timber milling history and incredible coastal scenery.
• Ningaloo Reef - Take a dive with hundreds of tropical fish, amazing coral formations and the world's biggest fish, the whale shark.
• Monkey Mia - Monkey Mia is one of Western Australia's most famous dolphin watching destinations.
• Shark Bay - The Shark Bay World Heritage Area was Western Australia's first World Heritage Listed site. Shark Bay's wilderness and natural wonders make for a unique holiday.
• The Pinnacles - The extraordinary ancient rock formations are located about a three-hour drive north of Perth near the coastal town of Cervantes.
• Kalgoorlie - Western Australia's largest goldfields town famed for its fascinating gold rush history, fabulous old buildings and old gold miners' ghost towns.
• Esperance - For squeaky-white beaches, getting off the beaten track and bunking down under the stars. This place is so relaxed even the kangaroos sun bake on the beach!
• Bunbury - just two hours drive south of Perth, it is located on a spectacular peninsular surrounded by blue waters of the Indian Ocean, Koombana Bay and the Leschenault Inlet.

TRAVEL:

Read about Travel arrangements and what happens when you arrive in your new country.

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REVIEWS AND FEEDBACK:

KEIRA ROWSOME
Volunteering in Perth

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for helping me arrange my project in Perth. I had such an amazing time and left with an unforgettable experience.

I'll definitely advise 'Travellers' to anybody hoping for a similar opportunity and experience! I'm already planning my return to Australia after I finish University! Thank you again!

NAFISA SAYANI
British
TV and TV Production Work Experience Internship in Perth

In terms of experience within the television industry, I learnt a lot from having the opportunity to present several community television programmes. I was also able to observe the daily workings of community television, and I gained an insight by observing editing, audio recording, and camera work. Dealing with the administration side of things gave me confidence in dealing with different people and helped me understand more about how the organisation was run.

The most valuable experience I gained was the amazing opportunity to present several programmes, which I gained a lot of confidence from, and which was definitely the most exciting part of the placement. I also met many different and friendly people, both at work and at the lodge, and the level of hospitality from everyone contributed greatly to making my time in Perth interesting and enjoyable.

I would definitely recommend the placement to anyone interested in working in the television industry, as it offers invaluable experience in editing, presenting, as well as an insight into the world of community television. The people try to get you as involved as possible, and encourage you to learn all you can. This placement would be perfect for someone who has a keen interest in television, in particular in the local community. To get the most out of the placement, the ideal candidate should be bubbly, confident and willing to get involved and tackle new challenges.

Can you describe a typical day?
I started work at 9.15am, unless otherwise informed, and started off by going through the organisation's e-mails with Peter, the chairperson of the organisation. We would check to see if anything interesting had come through and print out any relevant information.
I spent most of the morning doing administration work (calling people to arrange interviews, replying to e-mails, doing research for upcoming interviews) and then I would have an hour of lunch at 12pm, which I spent in the city centre.
In the afternoon, I would often work with the organisation's executive producer, maybe checking through tapes before they got sent off, observing audio recording, or organising arrangements for filming on location. Sometimes I also sat in the edit suite in the afternoon and watched Kelvin, who edited the raw material.
High school students came in on certain days for work experience, and I would spend these days supervising them and helping them carry out activities such as filming around Perth city or creating media slideshows. On days when there was professional filming to be done, I often had to come in earlier than usual or stay later. On such a day, we would go to a location to interview people and take shots, and this was when I was allowed the opportunity to present some of the programmes.
On Monday evenings, I took part in Peter's Video Drama Club, where he encouraged me to experiment with cutting and switching recorded material of club members performing monologues. These evenings, I would finish at 8pm, but other days I finished around 5pm, unless we were filming on location.

Where would you recommend volunteers to visit? (ie tourist places, restaurants, bars etc)
I would recommend volunteers visit Perth City Centre first of all, and shopaholics will enjoy browsing the shops on Friday night, when most places are open until 9pm. Swan River is a walk away, and beautiful during the evening. Northbridge is definitely an experience at night, and one particular nightspot, The Shed, is a fun place to have a few drinks, because of it's reputation as a typically Australian open-air bar.
Fremantle is a good place to visit during both the day and night, and taking a ferry is a great way to travel there - Make sure you get some gelato on the cappuccino strip and head to Cicerelli's for the best fish and chips. I would also recommend the torchlight tour at Fremantle prison, as it is very interesting, and creates a spooky atmosphere. King's Park is a lovely place to take a walk on a sunny day, as it is huge and there are some beautiful views.
One of my personal favourite places to relax was the beach at Cottesloe, where we watched the sunset on more than one occasion, and it is not far at all on the train. The Burswood Casino is one place to put on your list of places to visit at night, and even if you're not one to gamble, the club there, called The Ruby Room is a lot of fun.
For any British volunteers feeling homesick, there is an English pub in Perth City Centre called The Moon and Sixpence, which does a great roast dinner! Finally, if volunteers want to catch a glimpse of a kangaroo (what better thing to do in Australia?!), they should go for a walk around Harrison Island, and take a camera!

The Lodge is a perfect place for volunteers travelling alone, because everyone there is so welcoming that you settle in straight away. It was also great that I was introduced to the other volunteers when I arrived, so I got to know them. This was very useful, because when I wasn't at work, I visited most places with people that I had met at the Lodge, and I don't think I would have been so adventurous by myself. There was such a multi-cultural mix and I have made friends from all over the world, who I intend to keep in touch with, and maybe even visit in the future.

CARMEN BUTCHER
British
TV and TV Production Work Experience Internship in Perth

To sum up the 4 weeks I have spent at the TV station, I have thoroughly enjoyed receiving hands on experience. I feel that where in the UK you would not be used for anything more than making the tea, at the TV station you are granted the freedom to be creative; to think and research interesting briefs and then to be allowed to go and shoot them at various locations. The pace of life may not be as busy as UK media offices, but it is a perfect opportunity to ease yourself into the industry, without it being too daunting. It have also gained the initiative to work that much harder and to gain more experience within the industry further on in my travels.

Week ONE:
Start the week off by briefing and planning a comedy spoof. Ideas are passed around and the subject turns to that of ‘Australian Idol’- The presenters seem to be very dead pan in their work, the singers very over the top and the conversation tends to base around the fact that they take themselves very seriously. The first day is spent by writing a script, which goes very smoothly.
The second day we spend by rehearsing and using the studio to shoot the production. A lot of fun is had by all, by using karaoke machines and acting out the spoof. It takes the day to shoot the piece. We are informed that the segments we have shot will be used in one of their programmes ‘School’s out’ which is targeted at young people, who will hopefully also be tempted by work experience after watching it.
As the piece is finished by Wednesday, I spend Thursday going out on a shoot with Loretta, who is at the TV station to work as a camera woman. We shoot several locations within Perth city in order to use the footage for an advertisement for the TV station Perth; we have been told that the TV’s icon will be appearing in and out of the shots.
Friday is spent finishing the city shoot. I feel in the first week I have had plenty of practical experience, which I wasn’t expecting to receive within the first week. I am now familiar with being in front of the camera, as well as familiarising myself behind it.

Week TWO:
This week we are mainly concentrating on a ‘Market Survey’ in order to help in the application process for gaining a new television license. We help study the questionnaires and some members of the team are sent out to hand them to the public and film this. I take many of the questionnaires back to friends at the hostel, who look over them to discuss what type of television programmes they enjoy, which ones they do not, and also whether they were of community television or not. The planning of the questionnaires and preparation for the application of a new television license takes up most of the week.
However, I do spend one day researching a local Australian artist in preparation for an interview we are going to be holding with her about her art. After researching her work, I think of interview questions to ask her about her art and why she enjoys it. I also contact her to arrange the interview for a segmented piece we can use. A few of the crew members are arranging a shoot at the ‘Swan festival of lights’ and I help them research and call people to interview.
This week I feel I have gained experience in research, planning interview questions, and also the foundation of television and programming from studying the questionnaires drawn up. This week has not been as practical as the last week but I feel I have learnt a good theoretical base in regards to research of the media and also what makes a good interview question.

Week THREE:
I have been prepared for this week to be a little crazy within the office- the TV station are applying for a new television license to take over the former ‘ACCESS 31’. If successful, they plan on calling it ‘NEW VISIONS 31’ and will be community based. In order to apply for the TV license, the office need to send out several requests for people who are in general contact with the TV station for their support in the application process. My week is therefore spent doing administration. First, we must type up the letter that we will send to supporters asking for their help. We then go through a list of contacts who we need to send the information to, and email them on a group basis.
However, by the middle of the week, we don’t seem to have received many responses, so tackle it in a more personal matter. We create thorough lists with full contact details of each person we need to contact, and go through the list one by one. We also call each person to alert them of the email we are sending through so that we receive a prompt response from them. Within the new emails, we send out a more personal email so the process ends up taking quite a while up until the end of the week. After approaching each person separately, we receive a much heavier response.
Again, the week hasn’t been as practical, but I have learnt a lot about TV application process, as well as using Microsoft Excel and Word to a great extent.

Week FOUR:
My final week at the TV station has proved to be more practical again than the previous two. I start the week off by being shown the editing suite that the TV station uses. The program that the TV station uses is adobe Premiere, and we are shown how to create a new file for specific edits, and we are able to play around with an episode in order to practice how to do it. This proves very interesting and useful, and has created quite an interest with editing for me.
We then look into briefs for projects that we are able to do, and one of the girls suggests looking at the art of street performance within Perth, as it is a very vibrant and cultural city. A day is spent thinking of questions to ask them, and also researching the history of the busker.
We go out to shoot and end up speaking to a street performer; however the weather is looking quite rainy which doesn’t make for good performing conditions. We decide to go back another day and make our way to a community centre that Claudia is at to film a dance and interview a few elderly members about the dancing and music in order to keep up with the community feel of the channel. I interview them on camera.
We spent my final day going out and interviewing the buskers on camera so I gain some presenting experience as well as the rest of the practical experience I have received. I thoroughly enjoy this and also learn a few tricks of the trade via some tips given to me by Claudia, a regular presenter at the TV station.

After some time back in the UK:
I completed a month's TV work experience in Perth, organised and arranged by yourselves. In the UK, I had struggled to obtain media work experience other than the odd week here and there, and was looking for a way to get some sound media experience whilst travelling, as I had always wanted to travel after University and thought your program was an excellent way to combine the two.

The stay arranged by yourselves was great; the accommodation was nice, I had contacts in Perth in case I ran into trouble, and made loads of new friends. I then went on to travel all of Australia (and a week in New Zealand! ) for an additional 6 months (although I had originally planned to go home waaay earlier than that!). I came back to the UK from my travels in May and in September I was offered a 6 month contract with MTV as their creative intern, and upon nearing the end of my contract, have now been offered a year contract at the BBC as production co ordinator.

I just wanted to say a massive thank you for my experience, both work and culturally, in Australia. I would hugely recommend this to anyone, especially those who want to break into media via an alternative path. Even for those who do not want to obtain a career in the media, my employer said she was impressed with the month I did in Australia, because it showed I had the initiative to get out there and do something productive, and it was something that stood out amongst the hundreds of CVs she received!

I really hope you continue with your programs across the world, and that people benefit from them as much as I did. It really is something I will never forget. Thanks a million.

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