Stephen Dyer, a junior in the Communications Technology program at York College,is midway through an internship program with NFL Films for the fall of 2010. The highly competitive program lasts through the entirety of the football season and culminates a week after the Superbowl in February.

As a part of the requirements for the internship program, Stephen is asked to keep a weekly journal of his experiences. The journal is meant to help with reflection and as a way for the CT Program to document his professional progress.

As a football fan, I have been monitoring his internship with much curiosity throughout the semester. When reading his latest entry, I was amazed by the career experience that Stephen was having at NFL Films. So much so.. I have to share it with all of you. Enjoy.

Stephen. NFL Films Intern. Excerpt, Week 7

“If this week is any indication of what this internship is going to consist of it’s going to be everything I hoped it would be.

While working on my project on Thursday I was asked to stop what I was doing to go pick up the Jets who had broken down on route 38 on their way to Philadelphia. I had to drive a 16 passenger van, which I never drove before. So me and another intern had to drive two miles to pick up a couple of coaches some players and people from NFL Films then take them to Philadelphia. They were playing the Eagles that night in their final preseason game.

After that little adventure I got back to the office to continue working on my project. Only to realize that I was kicked out of the office I was working on. Which meant I had to continue my work in another office. While digitizing my last few tapes the whole AVID system in the building froze. Which, to make a long story short, messed up everything I had done the last two days. So at about 6 o’clock in the evening I had to re-digitize every tape which was about 20 or more tapes, and my project was due the next day. So I stayed until 10 o’clock that night until I finished digitizing every tape and even some extras that I thought I could use. Friday I check my email as we are required to everyday. I see that I was sent an email the day before saying that I was needed as a stand-in for a tech rehearsal for the show Inside the NFL that is shown on Showtime.

I was one of four interns selected for this dress rehearsal and they said they needed us from 10:45 until 4 in the afternoon. I was nervous because I thought I had to finish the highlight reel by Friday. Since I finished digitizing the night before I started to look at all the Highlights and decide how I was going to put it together. I did that for about and hour and then asked my supervisor if they needed me or wanted me for the tech rehearsal. She said they needed me because they needed to set the lighting for people with my skin tone. I already knew the answer to the question I just wanted to see if I could get out of it. On my way down to the studio I stopped by the producer’s office and told him that they needed me and he said the project could wait. I definitely felt relieved, because I wanted to go to the tech rehearsal. The rehearsal was cool. I was a stand in for Warren Sapp originally. Then they decided to switch me and make me the stand-in for James Brown, the host of the show. We met the whole crew for the show including the director. She did even seem like the director when I was introduced to her. She just seemed like part of the crew. When she walked into the studio and started giving direction I asked if she was the director and another intern told me she was. The Lighting guy named Romer was the funniest guy in there. You can definitely tell he starts trouble with anyone who wants it. This poor guy must have not known what he was getting into because he started with Romer and was roasted for about fifteen minutes straight . It was hilarious because everyone was laughing at him. They gave us free lunch which of course was the best part. After the were done with us at about 4:30 I went back to working on my project.

I was there until about 10 o’clock at night. I wanted to make sure I finished a rough cut because I don’t come in until Wednesday. I was able to do that and felt good about what I put together. When I was walking out another producer asked me what I was doing there so late. I told him I was just finishing up a project I was working on. He said “ dude what are you still doing here ten o’clock on a Friday night?” Then he said “ You are to dedicated. I hope whoever you are doing this for appreciates it.” I just laughed and continued on my way out the door.”