See you in Shanghai!

The second week at the Miss Universe Organization was very similar to the first. Lots of editing, organizing, graphic design, etc. I've designed a bunch of "promos" for the Miss USA website (the graphics that run on the top of the screen, linking to videos), as well as edited a few. I also have done a bit of shooting, going out to a disclosed globally-known feather-craftsman's shop and filming Miss USA have a makeup lesson with a world renowned makeup artist.

I'm starting to get used to everything, but still working through some kinks. I'm really going to have to work through them fast, as I leave on sunday for Shanghai, China for a week with Miss USA. We will be at the Shanghai World Expo until July 3rd. I'm going to keep this post short, but expect an extended one during/after the trip. My cameras will be in hand at all times, so I'll have some pictures.

-Jeff

Week 1 at MUO

The first week of work at the Miss Universe Organization has been really fun, and I can tell I am going to enjoy the next 6 months. Everyone at MUO is really great, and the office atmosphere is very relaxed. Everyone seems to enjoy what they are doing. Day 1 both Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez and Miss USA Rima Fakih wandered into the New Media department to chat with Colin our boss, and we (Matt and I, the new interns) were introduced. Teen USA Stormi Henley was hanging around for most of wednesday, and after saying hi to us, threw on a remarkably realistic wig and wandered around the office.

All of the work we’ve done so far has been in front of a computer. Installing software, rendering video, converting video, organizing video. We’ve each had our hand at a bit of video editing as well. I cut together a web video for Miss USA, about her photoshoot with photographer Fadil Berisha (viewable here). Matt cut together a video blog with Miss Universe that we shot before she and USA went off to Rwanda for a week or so. That should be online monday. We also had some time to play a mini round-robin tournament of connect four.

Outside of work, we’ve been doing some wandering around NYC. On Sunday before we started we made the venture out to the corner of 9th and 34th, home of the infamous B&H Photo/Video. This megastore is the mecca of video and photography nerds, with every product imaginable sitting out on shelves for you to play with, and eventually purchase. There are salespeople in every isle, and every person is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. On this trip I managed to hold myself back from impulse buys, and purchased the things I was planning to buy.

Mariana from work organizes random outings to do every couple weeks, and on tuesday she wandered into our office and asked “Does anyone want to go fencing on thursday?”. Not to pass up on an opportunity like this, we agreed, and last night we wandered down to a fencing studio off of times square. We got an hour-and a half lesson on fencing techniques, and got to fence each other for the last half hour. It was actually really fun, and I learned a lot about the techniques and rules of sabre fencing.

So at the end of week 1 I am thoroughly enjoying my experience in NYC, and I can’t wait to start traveling and shooting with the girls

Chapter 1: Lost in New York

Hello Friends and Family,

Many of you may be wondering how this whole Miss Universe Internship started for me, and how I got on board. I couldn't believe the opportunity myself when I first heard about it. I suppose it all started with a few short conversations with my friend (and co-intern) Jeff Kolada, and Nicole Little. That is all it took for me to become interested in the Miss Universe Organization, and the internship they offer to Ohio University students biannually. Before I knew it (with a lot of help from Tina Stewart and Beth Novak) I was sending in my application, and receiving emails about my starting date.

Jeff and I arrived here the morning of June the 12th with bins full of personal belongings, hearts full of excitement, and not to mention, no real place to live. We are currently staying with Jeff's Aunt and Uncle, and his two cousins David and Jacob, all of which have been overly accommodating and extremely friendly. Their house is in Flushing, Queens, which is about a 45 minute commute from where we work on the corner of 56th st. and 6th Avenue in Manhattan. After a weekend of readying ourselves and becoming familiar with the city, Jeff and I started work on Monday. We were introduced around our humble little office, high up in this beautiful skyscraper, and were put to work almost immediately. My task: piece together an intro for the Miss Teen USA pageant. A pageant that airs to hundreds of thousands of people, mind you. I set to work ripping DVDs of past pageants and slowly but surely compiling all of the "crowning moments" from 27 years worth of Miss Teen USA pageants. This piece will eventually be part of the opening of the actual Miss Teen USA show. We also did a video blog for Miss Universe on the first day which should be published to the Miss Universe youtube channel within the next couple of days. Everyone here at MUO has been very friendly and helpful getting me started. I can't wait to get to know everyone better.

There is quite a bit of travel on the horizon for Jeff and I. Jeff leaves for Shanghai, China on June 28th, and theres possible trips to India, Detroit, and the Bahamas (among a few other possibilities) for me before the actual Teen USA pageant in the Bahamas near the middle of July. Following the Teen pageant, Jeff and I will be sent off to Las Vegas for just about the entire month of August. Needless to say, having never traveled abroad, I am ecstatic.

This city is nothing short of awesome, and this internship is nothing short of an amazing gift. Being able to get up and come to a place like this every morning to do what I love, is honestly a wonderful dream come true. A dream I will enthusiastically continue to blog about for those interested.

Kevin McCallister survived a few days alone by himself in New York. So this next six months should be a breeze for me, right? Fortunately for me, I'm a few years older, and hopefully, a few years wiser than my childhood idol, and I can not wait to embark on the journey that has been laid out in front of me.

<-- Me with Jean-Claude Van Damme in Prague. Bloodsport was not discussed, but JCVD was.

Dear Readers,

I would like to begin this go-round by correcting an error in my last blog entry concerning Roustam Tariko. Mr. Tariko is not a chocolatier. He is, in fact, a businessman who has had dealing in the importation and sale of chocolate. According to Wikipedia, a chocolatier is someone who makes confectionary from chocolate. Curiously, this is different than a chocolate maker who creates chocolate from cocoa beans and other ingredients. Childhood viewings of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, featuring a great performance by Gene Wilder, had lead me astray in my chocolate definitions, for that, I am sorry.

Speaking of Russia, the video featuring Miss Universe and her visit to Russia is up on the Miss Universe website. It is available to view here

My video detailing Stefania’s adventures in Panama and the Czech Republic is currently awaiting final approval. We traveled to Panama for a Sony event for the countries South American vendors. 3D TV people, it’s gonna be big. The trip was quick and before we knew it we were back on a plane. We flew from Panama City to Houston, Texas and then from Houston to Frankfurt, Germany. Germany is not without their sense of humor as their airport is filled with bratwurst, sauerkraut, potato salad and soft pretzels with mustard. We dined like Kaisers. The plane trip from Germany to Prague was only 45 min and was refreshing following the non-sense of crossing one and a half continents and an ocean.

Prague is a beautiful city as anyone who has been there, or has read about it, will tell you. The Miss Czech Republic pageant that our group was attending was being held in an ancient looking factory. The inside, however, was done up in grand fashion for the evening. The idea behind the event was putting something glamorous into something ugly, much like Megan Fox in the Transformers movies. The event was intense and featured Fear Factor challenges for the contestants to complete and a stage element that shot flames into the air during the swimsuit competition giving audience members a visual metaphor laden performance. Stefania announced and sashed the new Miss Czech Republic immediately following Jean-Claude Van Damme kicking a bottle off the hosts’ head. If that sounds ridiculous check out the video that will most likely be posted tomorrow on www.missuniverse.com.

The trip home was smooth sailing as I was bumped up from coach to first class due to overbooking. The amble foot room and my chairs uncanny recline mode gave me a one-way ticket to R.E.M town. When I awoke to find myself in New York, I realized what teleporting would feel like if it were real. If you are wondering, you feel slightly groggy and have a kink in your neck.

From Miss Russia With Love.

Dear Reader,

I recently returned from a trip abroad to Russia. Miss Universe, Roston Ogata, our security guard Nelson and I were put up in the Ritz-Carlton in Moscow, which beautifully overlooked the Kremlin. After a day of getting settled and adjusting to the time difference, we sat for a barrage of interviews from the best and brightest of the Russian press before we recollected ourselves and prepared for dinner.

We were whisked away by town cars with our lovely guide, Irina. Our mission was dinner and out host was a mister Roustam Tariko, a wealthy chocolatier and owner of the Russian Standard brand of vodka as well as the Miss Russia Organization, among other things. The dinner was held in a room adorned with hundred-year-old woodwork and included a gigantic fireplace adding cozy warmth to the Russian bite outside. Champagne and conversation flowed as we met the soon-to-be former Miss Russia as well as Preston Mendenhall, the coordinator of the coming night's event. Roustam made his appearance, and the feast was on. We dined on a delicious assortment of caviar, latkas, dumplings, salads and cooked lamb all the while being serenaded by gypsies. Heaven existed, for a night at least, in that room in Moscow.

The next day our group received a tour of the Kremlin and Red Square. We viewed, inside and outside, the famed Russian Orthodox Churches with their golden rounded tops and ancient paintings of epiphanies and miracles. These churches and the beautiful architecture of the buildings around us provided ample opportunities for snapshots. We moved onto Red Square and viewed the Tomb of Lenin. Red Square was packed with men and women old and young alike making a day of it with an ice skating rink and various balloon and tchotchke vendors. Due to the freezing air and the impending event, we retired to our hotel to freshen up and prepare for Miss Russia.

The pageant was held about thirty minutes outside of Moscow. Stefania, Miss Universe, was to be a judge in the pageant, a first for her. The pageant was much more visual and entertaining than I imagined it would be. Towering LED panels covered the entire stage and blasted out tele-pop light beams while Russia’s finest rockers shredded and pounded the collective viscera as goddesses walked amongst us.

After a long night out it was time to pack up and leave for a ten-hour airplane flight where, left with my thoughts, I could only wonder if the past two days were real or a very lovely dream.

New York, New York

Dear Reader,

Haven't posted in awhile because, well, we have been really busy here in New York. We have trips to Russia, Czech Republic, Panama, and Puerto Rico coming up so excitement is in the air. Having moved into permanent housing, and with a month of work under my belt, I finally feel settled here for the first time. New York is like a playground for adults having a community for any niche of music, food or culture. Exploring these niches has been extremely rewarding in the short time I've been here.

One of my only gripes with the city is the extraordinary measures one must go through to complete mundane tasks such as shipping a package. Having to plan so much, however, has helped me tighten up my life and become more organized as well as increase my ability to look ahead to events. Hopefully, I can continue moving towards a more proactive lifestyle and eliminate reactionary elements of my day-to-day.

We received news that two more OU interns will be joining us for the spring quarter. We cannot wait. It will feel good to have more people to reminisce about Athens with.

Stay Healthy everybody,

Andrew

Work, work, work at MUO

Life here in New York is still very busy, but in the best possible way! Andrew and I have been following the three title holders around to all kinds of charity events, appearances, and volunteer trips. Now we are working hard to catch up on all of the editing work that needs to be done in the office. Here are links to four new videos that Andrew and I edited.

Fadil Shoot Part 1 (shot by Andrew and Nicole, edited by Nicole)
Fadil Shoot Part 2 (shot by Andrew and Nicole, edited by Andrew)
Same Sky (edited by Nicole)
Salsa Part 2 (edited by Andrew)

On Thursday of last week I got to go with Miss USA on a trip to West Point, which was amazing! The campus was beautiful and filled with history. The cadets led our tour and told us all about what life is like at a military academy. It was very inspiring, but it also made me happy that I go to a normal university and not a military one. One of the highlights of the trip was the train ride up the Hudson river. It was refreshing to get out of the city and see all of the beautiful scenery that surrounds the academy. Video coming soon!

The other cool event I went to last week was the Viennese Opera Ball, which was the fanciest event that I will probably ever go to in my life. Held at the Waldorf Hotel, there were all kinds of foreign dignitaries, debutantes, and celebrities there. Even some of the cadets we had met at West Point the day before were invited. Right now, I'm working on a video about Miss USA learning how to waltz for the event. The night was filled with ballroom dancing and performances from opera singers and ballerinas. I even got to snatch a steak dinner from an empty seat at Miss USA's table. It was a long night, but I got a lot of great footage! Again, video coming soon! Keep watching Missuniverse.com for more content.

I hear that everyone back in Ohio got covered in snow last Friday and then again today! We luckily missed the first snow storm, but we definitely got hit today. The MUO office had to close early so that everyone could make it home safely. The snow is still falling, so let's hope that tomorrow we can still make it to work. So much to do!!