For Show 5, I began the week by assisting Joey Bray at the introductory press conference for new basketball head coach Ross Hodge. My primary responsibility was ensuring that the audio setup was handled correctly. I made sure the XLR cable was securely connected to the audio box, which allowed us to pull a clean audio feed from the soundboard. Sound bites often carry the bulk of the storytelling, especially for a story based around a press conference. Having clear, reliable audio from the podium meant Joey wouldn’t have to worry about background noise or inconsistent sound levels during editing. The biggest challenge we faced during this shoot was variety. Press conferences can be visually limited because they typically involve people speaking at a podium with minimal movement. It forced me to think creatively about how to frame shots and look for moments that added visual interest. I captured Coach Hodge shaking hands with President Gordon Gee and mingling with others after the official remarks, which helped add some human elements and variety to the b-roll.
