Cameron Downing could be a poster child for why internships work. After graduating from Full Sail’s Film program earlier this year, he headed back to his hometown near Des Moines, Iowa to work as an intern on the television show, The Woodsmith Shop, a nationally syndicated how-to program for budding woodworkers. Three months later, he landed a full-time gig at August Home Publishing, the show’s parent company.

As the video production specialist, Cameron runs the control room during the show’s shooting and then helps process the resultant footage. “I assist in editing the episodes as well as web promos and DVD promos,” says Cameron, who also helps with camerawork on the show from time to time. “In addition to my Woodsmith Shop duties, I help create videos for various magazines around the company, which includes lighting, shooting, directing talent and editing.”

The Woodsmith Shop is a 30-minute show that typically focuses on one woodworking project per episode. All the footage, shot using three camera angles, is collected on three Blu-ray decks in the control room where Cameron works. “I then import the footage off the decks and onto the computer, sort and name the files, and create a rough cut to begin editing,” he says.  

Originally from Pella, Iowa, about an hour away, Cameron commuted to work over the summer but then moved to downtown Des Moines when he was hired full-time. "Downtown Des Moines is small metropolitan city that's actually really cool, it's really been transformed in the past few years,” says Cameron, who has been doing some independent film work on the side, including shooting a recent music video.

"My ultimate goal would be working in cinematography on movies. It's the whole reason I went to film school," says Cameron, who at 20 years of age can see himself living out west at some point. "But I'm doing something in my field. I enjoy working here at August Home and I'll continue pursuing freelance opportunities to help me expand my knowledge of film and cinematography."