The work of Media Services worker depends on week to week because some weeks are busier than others. The 19 members meet every Monday and Friday to figure out scheduling for the week. The usual tasks are the Chapel services on Wednesdays and Thursdays. After Chapel, there is another task to edit the service or edit videos from other departments at their request. There are also other office tasks given to the student workers as well.
The Different Skills
A person in Media Services can learn a variety of different skills like how a camera works like framing, the logical things about cameras, such as the iris, ND filters, cards, etc. The student also learns more about audio equipment and the different types of cables, examples being video cables, audio cables, and power cables.
Justin Hilliard said that he learned a lot of people skills, “I am not a people person, so coming in and sharing the same talents with other people, that like the same thing as you, just building with them is amazing.”
One of Sydnie Wilson’s skills was to be a leader for the camera operators by being the director over the last three years in Media Services.
“How to become a good leader, how to be a leader who communicates well and gets their points across so that the person or people they are working with can understand it correctly,” she said.
The Media Services Have Impacted the Student Workers
For Wilson, it was her leadership position.
“I never thought I would ever be able to fit into the position, but here I am now. I’ve got many new hires. I am training and leading a group of camera operators and production crew when it comes to setting up events and running events. That was probably the biggest thing that changed me over these years: leadership,” she said.
For Mikala Turner, it was in early December.
“I had no experience in directing, yet, and there was a basketball game coming up for both men’s and women’s here at Olivet, and someone couldn’t do it last minute who’s supposed to direct,” she said. “My boss Rob said that I could do it, that I would be good to do it and I kind of freaked out because that seems like a big responsibility, but with the right training he put me in that position knowing that yeah I was nervous but that I’d do a good job and just the faith that he had in me and it turning out well was just a great experience.”
While Working as a Team
Wilson said, “you must be able to trust your teammates’ skills and trust that they know and understand what you are looking for.” She also talked about the importance of communication and discussing task they might not have yet learned, trusting they will implement it.
“I think one of the biggest ones is trust,” she said.
She continued to say it is important to consider other people’s ideas for working as a team, not just going with your own. It is important to be friendly to others and form good friendships.
Advice for Others Who Want to Join the Team
It’s not like any other job you’ve probably had before because it can be overwhelming at times because you are constantly learning new information. I take a while to master some things, so it is a really big responsibility just be prepared for that going into it.
Mikala turner
If you want to learn behind the scenes and get involved, this is a great opportunity to network with people. You can meet great artists just by working and participating, and you get paid for doing it.
Justin Hilliard
