This week was one of those weeks where everything needed to be done all at once and I wished I was able to clone myself.
I’ve been pretty busy for the last 6 months and looking back at the last six months it feels like it has passed by in only 6 days. Last week was a busy week to say the least. I wrapped up on a bunch of stock footage for a show on History Channel. Then locked in on a stock video gig for a TV documentary about Katrina for another network. Then I got to film a TV pilot gig in Wisconsin for production company in London and wrapped up the final stuff for my show on NBC and locked in on all the stock footage for it as well.
The term “A Lock or Locked” for a show means that the final stock or archive footage they wanted has been selected and they need to get all the paperwork in order and payments processed before it goes to broadcast. In TV production, everything is hurry up and wait then get it done at the last minute. We took care of the lock on Wednesday and the show aired on Friday on Gangland on History Channel about the gangs of New Orland’s. The other gig was a lock on a show on for a documentary movie about Katrina and took care of that paperwork on Friday since they were rushing to finalize that gig. Can’t say which gig it is yet but it will be on the air soon.
This weekend the final episode for the storm chasing show I’ve been working on in front of the camera and also behind the scenes got locked and now it is just ready for the final post production work. It just needs graphics, music and audio work, and the voice over work. Then she is ready for Prime Time with the air date is still forecasted for early 2009.
Now to answer the big question that everyone keep’s asking me with what is taking so long with the production. It is simple, this is not cable TV show. This is a broadcast network television show which means it has a lot more levels of review before anything can go on the air. And why are people wondering why it is taking so long because it’s not taking so long since we wrapped shooting in September and this is now November which means it’s only two months since the last of the filming.
Being part of the show has also helped expand on my own production gig where I’m doing more field production work. This week I was over in Wisconsin filming and interviewing some people for a new pilot project for a production company out of England. This is a pilot project that I can’t talk about what is happening or what I am shooting, except that is not weather related. All the tapes are off to London now and if the network in London gives it the go ahead, I’ll be busy this winter and early next spring before tornado season starts back up with field producing and filming this new show.
Jared, you would have been proud of me because I was just like you, asking all the annoying questions where I thought they were going to show me the Mayo… (Inside Production Joke).
It’s no secret that I love storm chasing but I also loving filming and producing so even if the new gig is not a chase related gig, it’s a gig that pays day rates. Why is that important? Day rates are the rate for a average 8-12 hour day of filming and shooting and travel and range from $600 – $1200 per day depending on the gig and if you have to use your own equipment. Now factor in a five day work week and a good shooter could make what some make in a month, in just a week. But it takes a lot of knowledge and skill to be a one man band shooter. You have to monitor the audio, watch the camera action and ask the questions on the fly while trying to control the lighting in a ever changing situation. It’s a lot of work but if you love what you do for a living and you love being a shooter then it’s not really work.
I need to get some rest as tomorrow is going to be a big day again with some more projects wrapping up before the long holiday weekend.