It's All a Matter of Timing

The Good – a Rare Lot Sale – and the Bad – web Problems
While Instructor is Away

July 9, 2007

Sheila Faris-Penn, director of web communications for University Advancement, is spending seven weeks as an application developer intern at Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Marketing’s New Media Division, thanks to a Staff Development Award she received this spring.

Inside Online asked Faris-Penn to provide a weekly blog about the experience. This is her third submission.

Week 3

Who Ya Gonna Call?

At the end of last week, we made a point of creating at least one page for the Content Management System (my part of the DAMM Project) that worked. It connected to the database on the server, just like it was supposed to, and I could search for, add, delete and update records. It was beautiful. I had a long list of pages that needed to be finished, and I was going to use the working page as a basic template.

This was necessary because I wasn’t going to be able to ask for help: my instructor was going on vacation for the week. Well, that’s okay. There was a lot of stuff I needed to do, that I’ve learned how to do (sort of) and I had the one working page to reference. I’d be fine <insert scary music here>.

When I got to work at the beginning of Week 3, the page that had worked no longer worked. My connection to the database didn’t work. And I had no idea why or how to fix the problems.

I made the assumption that it must be a server thing (since my computer and the files hadn’t been touched), and that I could just keep working on pages as planned (I just wouldn’t be able to test them). Then I sent a request to my instructor via e-mail hoping that he’d check it during his vacation. Fingers crossed.

I did talk to one person I’d been introduced to as the “database doctor.” He helped me to discover that part of it was a permission issue (I didn’t have the correct rights set up to access the database). My instructor answered his e-mail and we straightened out the access issue.

One problem down.

The other problem wasn’t a show-stopper. There was a lot to do; this wasn’t keeping me from working or from learning. So I kept working on what I knew to do and figured it would work itself out.

Signs of Green-ness

Spread out all over the building are these little signs. Each is about the size of a 3x5 card. They’re EVERYWHERE. Sometimes they’re in groups of two or three. They’re literally on every wall. And even though they don’t have anything at all to do with the entertainment business, they’re really cool. They’re environmental signs.

The building I work in, which is across the street from Gate 4 into the Warner Bros. Lot, is a certified “green” building. Everything from its construction to its maintenance was done with the environment in mind. I think this is particularly wonderful. The little signs document this.

Each sign contains a statement that discusses part of the building, its furnishings or its maintenance. It talks about how the building was made from recycled or earth-friendly materials or an earth-friendly process. Or it talks about the cleaning products used in the building and what they’re made of (or what they’re avoiding). And others tell about how things are recycled or reused in the office.

And here’s what’s really cool: under each statement, on every little plaque, is a sentence or two that describes specifically how this helps the environment or promotes a healthy workspace. I guess what I like about this practice, other than the fact that it shows how much they’re doing to help the environment, is that it promotes awareness. There are so many little things that could be done, and this helps bring them all to mind. Plus, it really makes the WB look good.

We should do this! Even if the buildings themselves may not be “green,” every little thing we’ve decided to do should be promoted. [Editor’s note: See what Cal State Fullerton is doing at http://campusapps.fullerton.edu/news/inside/2007/green_campus.html]

Smoking Break

Outside of the building, away from the street, is a really nice courtyard. There’s a table with chairs and a bench, and some really pretty landscaping. It’s not very large, but it’s nice. Except for the ashtray on the table. This is where those who have the need go to smoke.

I don’t smoke.

I’ve been to this courtyard a few times, though, which is why I know it’s there. Enough people on the project smoke that we’ve had a couple of informal strategy meetings there. I’ve never really thought before about what goes on when someone leaves to take a “bio break” to smoke. Now I have a better reference.

Forgive the upcoming “Friends” reference, but since it’s Warner Bros. it’s appropriate. In “The One Where Rachel Smokes,” Rachel starts smoking at her new job just so she won’t be left out of the decisions; I know how she felt! But don’t worry, I haven’t (either smoked or been left out). Thankfully we’re advanced enough in the project so those type of meetings aren’t necessary. Or if they are, I don’t know about them…

Lot Sale

Well, it just so happens that I was here when they decided to find another home for some couches. And chairs, art, fake diplomas/certificates, costumes, iron skillets, toys, beds, dishes, tables, wall art, glasses, “family portraits,” shoes, boots … everything including the kitchen sink. (Seriously, there were sinks.) It turns out Warner Bros. Studios had a “Lot Sale” going on.

I found out about it by accident. I was having lunch at the cafeteria on the lot and I saw ropes set up with and people lining up to get in. I thought, maybe they’re filming something, and went to check it out.

They had two huge sound stages FULL of former “props” that they were selling cheap. Every time they have a kitchen set on a TV show, it has to have dishes, right? Along with everything that makes up a “normal” looking kitchen or living room. There were tables and tables of drinking glasses, for example. There was, you should pardon the pun, a LOT of stuff!

There wasn’t anything with the WB logo on it (or my UA officemates would have scored). And there were signs everywhere that this was not for resale (reselling it could get the offender fired). It was only for the staff and friends of WB. And most importantly, the proceeds from the sale went to the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

Much of the stuff had seen better days. They probably weren’t getting rid of the good stuff, though some was still in its packaging.

But I love a good sale, and I did pick up some stuff: toys for my sons, a funky charm bracelet, a weird, black and turquoise beer glass (‘cause it was cool-looking and only $1), a turkey-shaped basket (again, ‘cause it was cool-looking and only $1), a book, a stapler, a bread basket and some colored paperclips, all for $12. (I didn’t think I could get the stools onto the train, or I’d have gotten them too <grin>.)

I went back the next day; the sale was going on until Sunday and I wanted to check out the OTHER sound stage. This time I looked over the costumes (most of which were meant for the size 0 actresses, naturally) and furniture. I got a belt, a purse and a skirt, then went back to the first sound-stage for more books ($1 each) and dishes ($1 each). (It all fit into one bag, but I forgot how heavy books can be – that many books should never have to be carried that far on the train).

I asked a co-worker how often they do this. “Never” was her response; this long-time employee had never seen it happen before. Wow. (I found out later that the last one happened 15 years ago.) My timing, though not great for seeing anything filmed, was actually okay!

Week 4 Previews

Fixing the DAMM Project
Introducing New People
Office Mates
At Least I’m Not Making the Same Mistakes!