Hi, my name is Viandra McCarthy, and I am a new producer in the MediaLab program. As a producer I oversee my colleagues, research information and prepare everyone for the day or week. Producing is a big but rewarding task. My focus for week three of the Type Cast production is to continue collecting research, make sure interviews with our subjects are on point, and organize what we’ve captured so far to figure out what’s missing.

 

One accomplishment I’m really proud of is the interview fellow producer Kenya Zeigler and I did with student actor and poet Joshua Ramos. The interview ran smoothly and it was our first studio set-up. I was really moved by how open Joshua was about his personal life and struggles living with Type I diabetes. I’m not sure if I would have had the courage and strength to let everyone see the skeletons in my closet. Joshua was a very good interviewee because he was realistic, down to earth and relatable. 

 

I’ve learned through my own research and through interviews with doctors at the Naomi Berrie Research Center that Type 2 diabetes, the adult onset version of the disease, is totally preventable and that sometimes our health is related to the neighborhoods we live in. For instance, in lower income neighborhoods there are a lot more fast food restaurants and cheap unhealthy substitutions for fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

 

 

Being a part of the Type Cast production I’ve learned how to take the lead a little, and I’ve become more outgoing and confident in my work. This was a huge step for me because I am a reserved person. I’ve also learned skills that could help me in the media world—skills that I might not have learned until college. Best of all, I’ve made some really good friends.

 

That's all for now.  Next week we move into post-production. Keep checking back for more updates on Type Cast!