This is the collection of my internship work through University of North Florida and the Communications Department.  My internship experience took place at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium located on Windward Passage in Clearwater Florida.

CMA (Clearwater Marine Aquarium) is a 501 C Non-Profit organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and releases animals for a variety of species. The aquarium gained major publicity with the making of Dolphin Tale & Dolphin Tale 2 inspired by true events.

As a video assistant intern I am privileged to work under the  CMA video manager,  Joe Malo, and help put together video packages for online media, television material, and possibly even more.  I’ve even had the honor of working with one of the stars Nathan Gamble, who played Sawyer in the Dolphin Tale movies.

For example last year the aquarium launched it’s online web series called Rescue Clearwater.  This is a documentary set-up where we talk about interesting stories at the aquarium relating to our animals.  Season 2 is going to be launching in April and I have had the honor of help assembling a few of the video shorts.

At the aquarium, we have frequent Make-A-Wish encounters where guests get to interact with our resident dolphins.  These guests are usually suffering from terminal illnesses or overcoming immeasurable odds in everyday life.  We document these encounters and share their stories with the world.  The impact a dolphin can have on someone is truly remarkable, but I don’t think the aquarium knew just how much of a difference Winter would make to the rest of the world.

Below are video projects I got to be a part of editing, filling and other jobs based on the needs of the aquarium.  The playlists for these videos can be seen also on the link below through my YouTube Channel.  All videos are posted through the Clearwater Marine Aquarium channel.

While attending as an intern for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, I pitched a project for the web department to post videos illustrating what the internships were about.  The videos are no uploaded to both their YouTube channel and their website at SeeWinter.com.

Link: Internship Playlist

Internship Videos: Marketing

Description:  Not all of the internships at Clearwater Marine Aquarium require direct contact with the animals.  It’s possible to be a part of the same mission, but from a different point of view.  This video is designed for social media platforms.  It illustrates the skills required to be a part of our marketing team for a high-profile non-profit organization.

Position: Camera operations, video editor, motion graphics, event planner, sound editor, social media marketer, and fact checker

Internship Videos: Marine Mammals

Description:  In this video, we follow the hard work of one of our most competitive internships offered at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium:  Marine Mammals.  The primary work performed by the marine mammal trainers is with North  American River otters and Bottlenose Dolphins.  The video is designed for social media platforms.  While working under the supervision of marine mammal trainers, interns work with permanent resident animals exclusively.

Position: Camera operations, video editor, motion graphics, event planner, sound editor, social media marketer, and fact checker

Internship Videos: Sea Turtle Rehab

Description:  In this Internship video, I follow sea turtle staff and interns at the aquarium as they care for these endangered species.  The video itself was designed for social media.  Interns follow the three “R’s” of CMA with rehab sea turtles, and perform assigned veterinary care for resident sea turtles.

Position:  Camera operations, video editor, motion graphics, event planner, sound editor, social media marketer, and fact checker

Internship Videos: Education

Description:  In this Internship video, I follow education staff and interns as they explain the primary tasks of potential interns.  The video is designed for social media.  Interns’ primary goals involves collecting research data and educating the general public at both the aquarium and at events.

Position:  Camera operations, video editor, motion graphics, event planner, sound editor, social media marketer, and fact checker

Internship Videos: Guest Experience

Description:  In this Internship video, I follow guest experience staff and interns a day-in-the-life at the aquarium.  This video pitches to potential candidates what is in stored for them while attending.  The video is designed for social media.  Interns’ primary goals are interacting with the general public during regular operating hours at the aquarium.

Position:  Camera operations, video editor, motion graphics, social media marketer, event planner, sound editor and fact checker

Rescue Clearwater Season 2: Ep. 2 Dolphin Transfer

Description:  In this episode of Rescue Clearwater, I provided a more hands-on role during the production process and even got a quick cameo appearance in the video.  This video turns back the clock and revisits a successful rehab story with a departure from CMA after six months of critical care.

Position: Camera operations, music editor, live camera operator, and post production

Cheeto Sea Horse Release

Description:  For the first time in recent history, CMA released a Lined Sea Horse after an incredible survival story.  Cheeto was rescued around early May and took the Internet by storm.  This sea horse even had news media coverage and had a live camera on her during rehabilitation until her release.  The first video is the Facebook Live broadcast and the second is the post production package.

Position: Camera operations, video editing, sound production, and graphics

Manatee Rescue in New Port Richey

Description:  Clearwater Marine Aquarium is known for their work in rehabilitating dolphins and sea turtles.  However, they also participate with other marine life in the local area.  In New Port Richey, CMA responded to manatee stranding and helped with the relocation of a mother and calf manatee.  Due to to the mother’s injuries, both were taken in for rehab procedures to Lowery Park Zoo in Tampa.

Position: Camera operations and journal reporting

Rescue Clearwater Season 2: Ep. 1 Baby Dolphin Rescue

Description: Rescue Clearwater released its first episode for the year.  This story illustrates MMPL a spotted dolphin calf rescued on July 4th, 2014.  My participation was small, however I learned a lot about the work required to create a “TV Show” environment.

Position: Camera operations and camera archive retrieval

Release of Rescue Sea Turtle – Vulcan

Description:  Vulcan is the fourth sea turtle released this year.  These videos illustrate our mission of rescue, rehab, and release.  In regards of total population, turtles are usually are most abundant residents at the aquarium.

Position: Camera operations, interviewer, Go Pro operations, and video and sound editing

Meet Otter Kit – “Murray”

Description:  In the Spring season, it’s common to have an intake of river otter pups due to mating season.  It’s also common for people to report otters abandoned by their parents.  In order for the otter kits to grow, the mothers practice leaving the den so the kits can learn to be adults.  So sometimes the findings are false.  But “Murray” was found by a good Samaritan and this was the aquarium’s first otter intake in two years.

Position: Camera operations, video & sound editing

Inspirational Story – Meghan

Description: Inspire Lines are videos we make frequently with guests whom visit Winter and Hope.  Usually the guests are suffering from conditions and relate to Winter’s story of perseverance.  This story is about a Kansas City girl named Meghan who has overcome multiple challenges in her life, with one of those challenges being blind.

Position: Video and sound editing

Know Before You Before You Go

Description:  This is a featured video used on the YouTube page and the website page for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA).  It explains the the experience for guests to anticipate before arriving at CMA.  This featured Nathan Gamble, who played Sawyer from the Dolphin Tale movies, which were filmed at CMA.

Position: Assisted with logging and editing

“BB” Hawksbill Sea Turtle Rehab & Release

Description:  This is a documentation of “BB” a Hawks Bill Sea Turtle released after successfully going through rehabilitation at CMA.  This is a rare turtle to have at the aquarium due to the migration patterns of these sea turtles.

Position: Assisted with logging & editing

“The Three Chipmunks” Sea Turtles Update

Description:  Three turtles were brought in from  the New England area during a cold snap in February 2016.  This video documents their healthy recovery almost a year into their rehabilitation.

Positions: Camera operator, video logger, and video editor