CW50 Interns Experience The Thrill Of The Auto Show
By Meagen Mazur & Troy Frisby
CBS 62/CW50 Interns
After only one week of interning for CBS 62/CW50, we were given the opportunity to assist the production team at the North American International Auto Show. On the second day of the media preview, we made our way downtown to Cobo Center with the crew to experience the auto show for the first time.
Immediately after arriving, we had a chance to explore and photograph the displays, alongside other media members gathered to get a first look at the upcoming slate of new vehicles. We walked up to the security team admitting authorized media members past an enormous black curtain, unsure of what to expect.
When we entered the floor on the other side, feeling official with our lime-green press passes, we were struck by the immensity and the energy of the event.
We made our way over to Honda's exhibition, where we stopped to take a photo with the #50 Target racecar, the winning vehicle of the 2012 Indianapolis 500. The Borg-Warner trophy, the prize for winning the Indy 500, loomed over us on its pedestal as we posed.
As we captured the event with our cameras we each picked out our favorite vehicles. The bright colors of the Ford Mustangs and almost everything that looked fast caught Meagen's attention. For Troy, the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series, with gullwing doors and a shock of yellow paint, was the best in show.
Both of us were drawn to Toyota's futuristic Fun-Vii, the concept car covered with interactive screens on all sides. We watched as one man experimented by drawing a smiley face on a nearby monitor that immediately appeared on the vehicle's side panel.
We continued to walk down every aisle, capturing images of cars and the sea of journalists. Among other things, we photographed the much-anticipated Corvette Stingray, the luxurious Cadillac ATS and Ford's new line of police and rescue vehicles.
Later, we met up with the crew and assisted them while Carol Cain interviewed her guests for "Michigan Matters." Every few minutes we stumbled upon another auto company's display we'd missed or a new vehicle hidden behind one we'd already seen.
As we walked past Michelin's section of the arena, Meagen became frightened at the sight of a man dressed in a Michelin Man costume waving at passersby. Making our escape to Ford's section of the show, we then noticed several men dressed to portray Henry Ford throughout different stages of his life.
This tribute to the company's history, coupled with several vintage models and a display of Ford memorabilia, provided a fascinating contrast between the old and the new.
After a long yet rewarding day of filming, we soon returned to the studio with the crew. For both of us, witnessing the vibrancy and electricity of the North American International Auto Show for the first time was an unforgettable experience.
Get an inside look at the auto show, this Sunday at 11:30am on CBS 62's Michigan Matters.
