Boom, Boom, Pow!

When I came to Chapman as an incoming Film Production student, I did not really know what that major really encompasses. I had made my own short films and internet videos in high school, but, looking back on them now, they pale in comparison to the work I have already been able to accomplish in just one year at Dodge College. I told myself, when coming to Chapman, that I would take a couple of months to sort of figure things out and learn about filming more before I worried about going on set. However, as if destiny was calling my name, a senior Orientation Assistant sat down at my dinner table one day during my orientation week and started talking energetically about the thesis film that he would be directing in a couple of weeks. He seemed as if he could talk for days and days on end, educating me in everything film related. Before he left my table, he imparted with me the best piece of advice I have yet received at Chapman: get on set as early as possible, and with an open mind. Now, his opinion directly conflicted with my “wait-a-couple-of-months” strategy; but who was I to argue with this friendly, zealous, and seemingly all-knowing senior?

So, a few weeks later, a month into my first semester at Chapman, I started work on my first senior thesis set. My role: boom operator. I had no experience, and had only met the director once, and yet felt like I knew everyone on set as soon as I got there. The whole crew was made up of upper-classmen except for me and a couple of other freshmen, yet all of the underclassmen on set were treated with respect and given plenty of support and instruction. During the first weekend of that first thesis set experience, I was able to learn more than I did throughout the entire semester about making a successful film. I learned how to effectively set up plant microphones, lavalieres, and how to keep the boom microphone just on the edge of the camera frame in order to get the best possible production sound. I learned how to successfully manage a film set, through the excellent example of the ensemble cast of Dodge superstars that were leading the production. Most importantly, I learned that I wanted to pursue a career as a sound designer.

Though, I was, at first, a little upset that I landed to tiring job of boom operator, considering that I was, at the time, much more interested in working with cameras; but, holding the director’s advice close, I kept an open mind. I had so much fun and everything seemed so natural that first on-set weekend that I knew I had found my calling.

To all incoming Film Production freshmen and any other aspiring filmmakers at Chapman, I say don’t be intimidated by working on any set. The general attitude of Dodge students is to be as supportive as possible and every set I have been on to date has fully embraced that ideology. Take an active role and challenge yourself to respond to at least one of the numerous emails that are sent out weekly asking for help on student films in your first semester. You don’t need any experience on set to make your first one an amazing one. Have a great rest of the summer everybody! See you on set!

- Nate Grady-Reitan