The process of preparing for Show 4 was filled with some of the most unexpected, challenging, stressful, and rewarding moments throughout my time in Playbook so far. Not only did I learn and grow as an ENG, but even more so in my new role as director.
I started off like any other show before. I helped TJ shoot his package in Wheeling about the Nailers. I love shooting hockey, so any opportunity I have to do so, I take. We had an incredible interview with broadcaster DJ Abasilih, got a good variety of tight, medium, and wide shots, and filmed his standup. The biggest takeaway I had from this experience is to help make sure the reports are speaking accurately! We filmed his Sot Tzs outside of the arena, but didn’t realize TJ said the wrong information, making it unusable. Luckily, he still had a strong package and was able to make show, but considering the issues we ran into later in the week with others’ Sot Tzs, it would have been super helpful to have it in the B-block tease.
I also helped Connor film his standup. I really liked his idea to put himself on the Draft Kings website and talked him through different ways to go about it. This shoot took some trial and error, and I learned a lot about the small details. The first take we took a close-up of the computer screen, and it left the footage super over-exposed in the whites. On the next take, we lowered the camera exposure, but now that the blacks were darker on screen, you could see our reflection. For our third take, we left the exposure down and made sure we moved completely out of frame. These aren’t things I would normally think about, but because we double-checked each take on his computer before we left, we found these issues, which taught us how important it is not to rush through shooting. Take your time, check your shots, and watch your footage before leaving!
I helped Korey reshoot his standup on Monday and helped guide his ideas into something that would make sense on camera. This shoot was straightforward, and it helped me build my skills in communicating thoughts and ideas with reporters without completely rejecting their ideas.
For me, the real growth came inside the studio. A week before the show, I was approached about moving into the Director role for Shows 4 and 5. Despite having no real experience in this type of work, I said yes. I saw this as an opportunity to learn new skills and not only test myself technically but also test my character. The remaining days leading up to the show felt like a whirlwind. Between meeting with Professor Trinone, Professor Scatt, and even WVU News professors, I probably spent more time in Martin Hall than I previously thought was possible (in a good way, of course). During these meetings, I was nervous and felt overwhelmed at times. It felt like this role was way out of my league and I started second-guessing my decision. I practiced directing previous shows with our old scripts and watched the upcoming show’s packages over and over, making sure that I knew exactly what was coming my way on show day.
However, once I got into the studio on Wednesday morning, all of those anxious feelings disappeared. I was able to watch the news team produce their show, had a few last-minute conversations with my professors, and began practicing with my technical crew in the booth. When it came time to record, I felt fully confident in not only my skills but also my team in front of me and knew that we were absolutely prepared for an amazing show. Take one went well. I felt there were a few places where I tripped myself up, but my team had my back every step of the way. Despite some technical issues trying to record take two, I felt like everyone remained positive. Between the talent on set and the people in the booth, everyone was having fun and enjoying the experience. When the technical issues were resolved, my team breezed through take two, which ended up being our final take. Team chemistry was at an all-time high, and it was by far the best show yet.
I really learned a lot about myself and my capabilities, and I learned the importance of taking a chance on something scary and saying YES! I walked out of the studio with a sense of pride in myself that I had not felt in a long time, which wouldn’t have happened if I had stayed in my comfort zone as a camera operator. Even though I was nervous and scared, because of my hard work and preparation, as well as the people by my side along the way, I showed myself that difficult things aren’t impossible, and that hard work, preparation, and creating connections with those around you can help you accomplish things that you never thought you could. I’m super proud of myself and my team after Show 4, and I can’t wait to go through this experience one final time.