TRF Boot Camp 2013: Chelsea Brobst

This summer, I got to experience the famed Newhouse “Boot Camp” as a member of the TRF graduate program. Like many others, I had a lot of fear and anxiety about heading into something called “boot camp.” We did not spend six weeks in a physical boot camp, although at times it was physically exhausting. We did spend, instead, six weeks in a mental and creative boot camp.

We cranked out scripts and films, edited tons of footage with software the majority of the people in my program had never used and had to read hundreds of pages for Professor Thompson’s exam. The six weeks flew by and I gained more insight and skills than I thought I ever could in such a short time frame.

At first I was upset about being in school in the middle of July. To me, summer is not meant for school. But, I am so glad I did come to school in the summer since it gave me time to get used to everything in Syracuse before the fall semester began.

I did not have to weave my way through thousands of undergraduates. I was able to learn my way around campus. I was not distracted by the excitement of sporting events. And I got to get to know the people in my program very well. As our teachers keep reminding us, this business is all about relationships and we never know who we may need in the future.

It’s only been a few weeks into the fall semester, but I can already see how beneficial this summer was for my graduate career. I don’t have to spend time now learning Final Cut Pro X. I don’t have to worry about how to work a camera and the supporting equipment. And I don’t have to stress over any of the logistics of “The Cage” or the edit suites.

There were some rough moments throughout, but all of the professors are more than willing to talk and help out. It was definitely rough going into the first film without any prior film or screenwriting experience. But because of the relationships I had formed with my peers, I felt comfortable enough to put myself out there and try different things. I was able to gain experience that I would not have been able to get if I did not go through boot camp.

One of the most challenging courses was the one with Professor Thompson. Professor Thompson is probably one of the best teachers I’ve had and he is extremely knowledgeable. I won’t ever be able to watch television the same way again after his class, but I learned so much and now have a much deeper understanding of television.

While boot camp was definitely challenging at times, it was extremely worthwhile. Anyone who is frightened about heading into boot camp, don’t be. It is a great experience. Challenging, but great. You will have to work and you will have to put yourself out there, but nothing in life that is worth anything comes easy.