Back in action...

I've been a little remiss in updating this blog recently. Truthfully I haven't had a whole lot to report. Work has been busy but there are no huge projects on my plate at the moment. I'm sure that will all change once we get our research back at the end of this week.

Saturday was SkyConcert - the Labor Day fireworks show in downtown Indy. I worked most of the day setting up our station's tent and handing out goodies to everyone. Man, you want attention at your booth at any event... get a prize wheel. People flock to it like it's crack. I'm not a fan of participating at events but I don't absolutely hate it, either. I'm just happier sitting in my edit booth or working on a script in my nice air conditioned office than mingling with the masses.

I'm getting more involved with our web projects which has been very educational. I spent Thursday in our regional internet director's office trying to come up with a tag line and promotion campaign for a new site we're working on. When I left we were pretty up beat about some of the ideas we generated. Right now I have to admit that this is the project that's got my creativity sparking. It's nice to step outside your comfort zone every now and then - especially when you don't fall flat on your face...

I'll be serving in more of a special projects producer role this coming Monday. I'm sworn to secrecy about the shoot for now, but I can say that it's a huge interview and that there are lots of cameras involved. The reporter actually asked me to come which I thought was nice. I'm not usually a fixture on interviews. I'm the one who promotes that we have them.

Off to paint my spare room. Hope everyone has a nice Labor Day!

So I finally checked out Saving Grace. I missed the pilot since my DVR decided to record black instead - again. The show is a bit over the top, yet, I found it engaging. Weird but engaging. Give it a try if you're looking for something to watch. Just prepare yourself. The language is not what you're used to if you're a network watcher like me.

I also gave Mind Control on the Sci-Fi channel a shot. It was good for one episode but I can't imagine checking in week after week. And speaking of Sci-Fi... what is wrong with their promo department? Could they make Flash Gordon look any more boring? The show's lead is a handsome guy but the promos make him look dull as dirt. I have never gotten this channel's way of promoting their shows. Still don't. The only one they ever managed to promote halfway decently was Battlestar. If they'd give their other shows a little more promo love they'd probably do better in the ratings...

So now that I'm yapping about promos I might as well turn to the promos I'm working on. I'm still wrapped up in the fall launch for our My Network affiliate. I had made a lot of progress - until the programming department went and changed the whole syndicated schedule!!!!! Ouch. My head hurts from banging it against the wall. So now all the work myself and an editor did is in the toilet. We start over almost from scratch next week. Blah.

I'm also still working on Colts promos. I hope to have one done on Monday. Keep your fingers crossed.

We're also looking at launching a new website so I'm fiddling around with a spot for that. I can't say more until things firm up on this front but the project has the potential to be a lot of fun. I'm hoping I can jump into this one with both feet. Any additional experience I can get with on-line stuff is a good thing.

Oh, as for on-line stuff... Check out Denver's CBS 4 promo reel on YouTube. A co-worker stumbled across it the other day. They've got some really enjoyable spots - stuff that stands out from the norm. Maybe the folks at Sci-Fi should take notes...

Later.

Colts' week continues!

This morning we worked with Dallas Clark (Left) and Bob Sanders (Right). I wish I could work with these guys every day. They're hysterical. When we had a moment of downtime they asked, "What should we do now?" My reply? "Dance," I said jokingly.

They did.

I'm pretty sure it was some version of the infamous Colts' Crunk. I was laughing too hard to really pay attention. Seriously, both Dallas and Bob were genuinely nice guys and a pleasure to be around. And I was the lucky girl who got to put her arm around both of them in the group picture. But I'm not going to share that one... ;-) That's WISH sports anchor Anthony Calhoun in the middle on the second shot. We kept calling them the three sexy men during the shoot. I think they liked that.

So it was a crazy day at work. I'm pretty good at juggling lots of things at once, but this morning there were just one too many things in play. I knew I was going to forget something. I could feel it. Lunch finally rolled around so I left for a bit to regroup after running around like a demented chicken with its head cut off all morning. On my way back I got a call from the boss. "Aren't you coming to the web meeting?" Crap. Told you I was forgetting something.

So I rushed back to the station in time to catch the last 20 minutes or so. Then I stayed afterward for a bit to chat with our internet director. He's got some really amazing ideas. I'm looking forward to helping implement them... and being on time for the next meeting.

Not much else to report. I still haven't checked out Saving Grace, yet. Hopefully I'll get around to watching it this weekend. I did finally see last week's "summer finale" of Ghost Hunters. The one that took place near the site of the Manson murders. I don't know if the show is real or not but I got goosebumps on that one. Maybe they have the voice they caught on tape on-line at Sci-fi's website. Creeeeeepy.

Something you don't see everyday...

For the football fans out there... yes, that's Colts' coach Tony Dungy in the middle of both shots. I'm happy to report he's as nice and genuine in person as he comes across on television.

The top picture features WISH and WNDY personalities Karen Hensel and Eric Halvorson. The second photo has Tony flanked by some folks from United Way of Central Indiana. Toss in Radio One personality Amos Brown and former Indiana 1st lady Judy O'Bannon. The rest? Anchors from all the stations in this market. WISH, WXIN, WRTV, WNDY, WTHR, WIIH... they're all there. In one place. Like I said. Something you don't see every day. Why are they all looking up, you ask? There's a still photographer right next to me on a ladder taking their picture. In fact my foot was holding the ladder still while I snapped the shot. Am I a multi-tasker or what?

So I was back at the very cool Studio Midwest this morning for the above mentioned shoot. We were producing a special for the United Way which will air simultaneously on all the stations one night in August. We shot the open, the tag, bumps, and promos for each station. It was fun seeing all these guys in one place and everyone was on their game. Especially the coach. The guy is just a pro - period. The stations in our market take turns producing the special so it will be awhile before it comes our way again. Thankfully things went well and we actually wrapped an hour early. Love it when that happens...

I'm not finished with the Colts just, yet, though. As I mentioned in my previous blog we'll be shooting Dallas Clark and Bob Sanders on Thursday. I'll see what I can do to get pictures of that as well. The set won't be nearly as neat. We're shooting green screen. Hopefully I'll eventually have some cool before and after pictures by the time all is said and done.

I'll let you know how it goes on Thursday...

That burns my biscuits...

Imagine Yosemite Sam's growl for the title of today's post. I just got a bill from my former apartment complex for 264.00 bucks. This comes after paying them nearly 1700 to get out of my lease early. According to them there was "pet damage" to the carpet... uh, where? I didn't see any when I moved out. Of course, the carpet was also about 10 years old when I moved in and it even says they had to replace it due to normal wear and tear. So I'm being charged because? These people are going to get a nasty little note from me. Of course my note will start off sounding royally pi**ed before being edited to sound ticked to the final draft which will make me seem mildly put out. I always manage to talk myself out of a full fledged rant. That may seem more prudent on the surface but it's not nearly as emotionally gratifying... Hmph.

So let's talk TV. I've started catching up on The Closer. Wow. Even better than last season. At least the two episodes I've caught so far. "Ruby" was an especially well done hour of television. I believe the other episode was called "The Round File." Also well done. It wasn't as much of an emotional gut punch as "Ruby," but I bet it left a lot of people checking in with their elderly relatives. During both shows I saw promos for TNT's new series Saving Grace. I'm not sure what kind of show this is supposed to be. Perhaps the network in being intentionally vague. I think they're going with the idea that they can just say that Holly Hunter is in it and that will get people to watch... Okay so that works on me but I'm not sure about everyone else.

I've also started watching Kathy Griffin's Life on the D-List. It's pretty entertaining stuff but I can't believe my mother watches this show...

I'm currently watching the 1st season of Stargate Atlantis on DVD. I didn't come into the show until this past season (the show's 3rd) so I have some back story to catch up on. These DVDs have some great commentaries and features. Some of which are laugh out loud funny. I recommend it to anyone looking for something fun to watch. The pilot episode where the city rises out of the water is one of the coolest shots I've ever seen on a television show. Pretty nifty CGI...

Finally, I just recently caught the 5th episode of Sanctuary (on-line at www.sanctuaryforall.com). The website is still not the most user friendly place but the latest installment in this on-line web series was the best, yet. Anyone who likes sci-fi, werewolves, or even Jack the Ripper stories will find this a lot of fun. You can find the first four episodes at Youtube for free. Just search for "sanctuary webisodes."

So this week I'll be working with Colts' coach Tony Dungy on a project. I'm looking forward to that. He seems like a very classy gentleman. I also have a separate shoot with two of his players - Dallas Clark and Bob Sanders. I can't wait to see what a Super Bowl ring looks like up close... :-) Both players have worked with us before and are reportedly quite professional. This will be my first shoot with them. Should be fun. I'll let you know how it goes.

Until next time...

Two posts in two days...

Amazing what I'm capable of doing now that I have an internet connection again...

So I promised a post on the new line-up for My Network TV. I must admit - I'm encouraged. There is certainly nothing in the works that will win any Emmy's, but at least some of the shows could potentially pull in some ratings. The network is switching to mostly reality series but some of them look like they could be a good guilty pleasure. I'm especially curious about JAIL and Decision House. Both look capable of bringing the drama in a voyeuristic sort of way. I'm less enthusiastic about The Academy. The jury is still out on Meet My Folks. I'll set the DVR for all of them, though. And nice job to whoever was doing the promos. Much improved over last year.

This is the time of year that I find to be the most taxing in my profession. The re-launch. It's not that it's hard or unpleasant. It's just very, very monotonous and all too easy for something to fall through the cracks. Our My Network affiliate here in Indy is doing a significant overhaul of the schedule which means I'll be cranking out new end tags, ids, and "this show is moving" promos for the next several weeks. I was creating cart numbers for a bunch of new spots today. Twenty or more in all, I believe. A necessary evil is what I call it.

Along with the re-launch comes the opportunity for custom tags. I remember the first time I wrote copy for something like this. It was for Whoopi Goldberg to cut when she was doing Hollywood Squares. I was so excited. Freaking Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg was going to read MY lines. Boy, did I get over that in a hurry. Most recently the cast of Law & Order: Criminal Intent cut some stuff for us. Hearing Vincent D'nofrio (hope I spelled that right) say "Whatcha Wanna Watch" was priceless. I have to admit that Judge Marilyn Milan on The People's Court was always really good at this. I'll hate to see her show move to another station in the fall...

Last but not least I have to tip my proverbial hat to my friend Darin on his Emmy win. You go, sunshine... ;-)

I'm baaaaack...

At long last... I return to the world of the internet from the safety and security of my own humble abode. Yes, after weeks and weeks of no internet and no cable I am once again connected to the world thanks to AT&T and their new U-Verse product. I'll let you know what I think of the service after I've given it a good test drive. Just be aware if you're thinking of signing up for it... installation took 5 HOURS! They estimated that time and they weren't kidding. But hey, they came out on a Sunday and put it in. That's saying something...

So work has been rather busy. Since I last posted I've cranked out several promos including one for severe weather and an I-Team special report. The Emmy nominations were announced as well and I was fortunate enough to receive three. I think that brings my total number of nominations to 8 or 9. I'm the Susan Lucci of the promotion department. All those nominations but still no shiny gold trophy to show for them. Oh well. I've got a PROMAX silver muse. That has to count for something. Right?

On the TV front I haven't seen squat. No Closer. No end of Stargate SG-1 (I'll be buying the DVDs, of course). I feel oddly cut off and kind of stupid when it comes to the world of pop culture. It's been moving on without me. On the up side... I've read about ten books in the last few weeks. At least I can claim to be well read... just not well... uh, watched?

I'll have a few topics to chat about in the coming days. Most especially the new schedule for My Network TV, having syndicated talent read custom lines, and on location shoots. But for now I have to fire off an email to my parents to let them know I'm reconnected to the world wide web. They'll be so proud...