Jason McLuvin Semko

Yeah I've heard many other Panavision's have around 3 prep techs and a few bays. The Hollywood location has around 11 prep techs and 15 prep bays (5 being rooms)...Woodland Hills (about a 20 minute drive no traffic) has 17-20 prep bays...(about 6 private rooms for features). All of us at Hollywood are really friendly, probably because we are all the same ages (around 22-30) and are in the same positions with same aspirations for the future.

This name is for you Mark. Hi guys. I have some info on the two-year program and short internship from personal experience. The obvious, they are both very rewarding, but the two year by far. Yes, it's scrubbing cases and cleaning filters in the short internship, but you are also pulling equipment for preps and learning how the gear works. The short internship is only offered to college students needing to gain credit...it is unpaid and they do not hire anyone willing to work for free. Since it's college, it's offered around the semesters...Fall, Spring, Summer. The Two-Year program on the other hand is phenomenal. You have much more pressure and responsibility and work 11-12 hour days on average (the perfect preparation for the freelance world, and OT) ...but also more fun, you get to bond with a lot of other two years and full time staff who all share the same interests. About 6 Two Years are hired a year and there are many more applications than spots. Unfortunately we have not been hiring much because of the actors and potential writers strike, but my boss is interested in getting more help when he will be allowed. Don't be misled to believe that you need to have a ton of experience to get the job. Personality is huge...and I'm not saying I have a great personality, but many of the two years are very sharp, nice, confident, and do very well under a lot of pressure. That's part of the fun, being around them. The pay is $10 an hour for the first year, $11 the second year (when you live like a rockstar) The first year you are in Shipping. You scan barcodes and clean cases. That's pretty much it. You check in all the camera packages, make sure nothing is damaged and/or missing. The second year is gold. You prep all the Panavision and Plus8 (a newly acquired company that we recently merged with that handles all digital...Star Wars I, II, III and Cloverfield are some) cameras. You learn all the professional gear, and meet all the pros that use them. I've always told close friends that "you basically get paid to learn and network for a year". Once you're done, you know a ton of people, know all the equipment, and if you play your cards right, skip all the little specs and PA positions and move up...one guy went right onto Iron Man as a PA (okay I said no PA...but it's Iron Man!...another is now the loader on Dirty Sexy Money...and many are doing very well in commercials) PS. I can't help you get the internship by pretending your my bud and telling my boss you are a real winner...that's all you :), Good Luck!