This past week was full of projects requiring adaptability and teamwork. From helping classmates with their stories to working my first show as a technical director, I encountered several challenges but also gained valuable experience.
One of the first projects I helped with was Tanner Mountz’s story. Since he was out of town, I picked up his camera from Georgia and made sure everything was charged for the next day. We started early Sunday morning at the practice facility, where we discussed his vision and potential angles for the story. Although we initially planned to focus on a hospital angle, we kept our options open by filming plenty of B-roll. An unexpected opportunity arose when the head coach mentioned a player with experience in the tournament, so I quickly relayed the information to Tanner, and we adjusted on the fly. However, later in the day, the SID informed us that we couldn’t interview players or use certain B-roll, which forced us to pivot. We worked around the restriction by securing a strong interview with a coach and capturing additional B-roll to compensate. Despite these challenges, Tanner stayed focused and adaptable, making the process smooth and productive.
I also helped Ben West on two separate occasions. The first was on Tuesday, when we interviewed with one of the heads of the WVU band at the CAC. This was my first time in the facility, and I was impressed by the space. I handled the camera setup while Ben built rapport with the interviewee, leading to one of the best interviews I’ve been a part of. Later, we filmed B-roll that complemented key moments from the interview. On Saturday, I helped Ben again with another interview, this time with a band member at the Rec Center. We also attempted to film at the construction site of the new field, but since no work had started, that angle didn’t pan out. Ben did a great job leading the interviews and staying flexible when adjustments were needed.
On Saturday, I spent the entire day at Summit Tennis Academy, assisting Luke Blain with filming for two different shows. For Show 2, everything went smoothly, but for Show 3, Luke wanted to focus on international players and team morale. I captured footage of the team supporting each other, which helped highlight their chemistry and spirit. Luke’s organization and clear vision made the shoot efficient and enjoyable.
On Sunday, I filmed WVU wrestling’s Senior Day. Since Jamie Green wasn’t able to shoot at the match, I shared my footage with him in case he needed it for his story. Whether or not my clips make the final cut, I’m glad I could contribute. This experience also helped me refine my sports filming skills, especially in capturing key emotional moments.
I arrived at the editing lab around 2:30 on Wednesday. The lab wasn’t too busy at first, so I took time to review Ben’s package with him and provided a few minor suggestions to refine his work. Then, I helped Jamie enhance a clip featuring Peyton Hall, making subtle improvements to its appearance. Later, I reviewed Joey’s package and offered feedback. My biggest editing task of the week was handling the rifle VO. Knowing that one of my videos would be featured in the show was a cool experience, and the editing process itself was fairly straightforward.
Show day was both exciting and nerve-racking. I was initially nervous when I got the message that I needed to come in and watch Drew TD, but once I arrived and started observing, I gained confidence. Drew showed me the ropes, and before long, I felt ready to take on the challenge. While I’m sure I made a few small mistakes, I enjoyed my first experience as TD and think I did a solid job. I’ve noticed with Mountaineer Playbook that we always find ways to push forward, no matter the obstacles. Whether it’s adjusting to filming restrictions, pivoting from an unexpected roadblock, or troubleshooting technical issues, we work together as a team to produce a great show. This week reinforced the importance of flexibility, communication, and problem-solving in video production. I’m looking forward to continuing to improve and seeing how our work evolves in the coming weeks.
