live truck opperating photogs

[f35]

I run the majority of live shots at my station. We only have two shows at my station. I usually have to set up and run a shot for the 4 and then shoot and edit a package for the 10, and set up and the the live shot. The thing I am wondering about is how many other live truck photogs work a situation like that and is it normal to do that? I don't want it to sound like I am complaing but by the middle of the week I am kinda stressing out and I get very short with people because of my tight deadlines, and I never skip on live truck safety. I'm just looking for some input and advice on my situation.

[livedude]

I run a live truck for a three hour morning show every morning. We have hits every half hour and depending on the story we shoot a package in between live hits.

[<actionnewsman>]

Your situation isn't unusual. Yes it can be stressful, but try not to take it out on those around you. Keep in mind that the reason you do all the live shots is that you're probably the best op at your station. They know they can rely on you to get the job done right. It's a compliment and a curse, because you become the go-to guy for everything. If you're getting overloaded, try to open a dialogue with your assignment editor or ND to express your concerns. It may help, it may not, but it can't really hurt.

Good luck.

[Lenslinger]

Here in the Piedmont, photogs shoot, edit and run their own live trucks. Producers give no thought to the many hoops we jump through to get ot all done - nor do they care.

At my shop we have seven hours of news a day, four live trucks, a sat truck, and a bunch of managers who never met a live shot they didn't like.

As a result, our photogs are lords of lighting, aficianodos of editing, masters of microwave and seasoned stunt drivers. It may not be the most pristine arrangement, but it's the way we roll EVERY DAY.

I'm not knocking your beef. But if the same concerns were voiced around here, the photog in question wouldm be labeled lazy, weak or worse.

It's all part of being an action-figure.

[<LivetruckPhotog>]

I start at 3PM, shoot and tech a live shot for the 5, 5:30 & 6pm shows. Get a break (usually not) and go out and shoot a pkg for the 10pm and 11pm shows. Generally editing in the truck and teching the truck for both newscasts. One min pkg for the 10 and a 1:30 pkg for the 11. Plus all the other stuff: feeding back b-roll for promos, reporter teases, etc.

On the average day, I have five live hits from two different locations. If breaking news hits, then more. I'm not complaining, LIVE is the nature of today's news. Do what management wants.
If you are sent out late, drive the speed limit. It's not your fault if you miss a hit because you're sent late, but it is your fault if you get stopped for a moving violation or an accident.

It's your life, BE SAFE. LOOK UP AND LIVE.

[<Raiderfan>]

When I was working nightsides at my station, we usually shot a vo/sot for five, fronted it live with the truck, did it again at 6, went and shot the package, and depending on what our 9 wanted, maybe we had to set up live for them, do a quick pkg or vo/sot, and then do a pkg for 10 with a live shot. Most of the time it was me doing the shooting, setting up the truck, editing, lighting, and all that good stuff we do so that our producers will have that precious live shot out in front of a building where the event ended an hour ago.

[pictureperfect]

Originally posted by f35:
I run the majority of live shots at my station. We only have two shows at my station. I usually have to set up and run a shot for the 4 and then shoot and edit a package for the 10, and set up and the the live shot. The thing I am wondering about is how many other live truck photogs work a situation like that and is it normal to do that? I don't want it to sound like I am complaing but by the middle of the week I am kinda stressing out and I get very short with people because of my tight deadlines, and I never skip on live truck safety. I'm just looking for some input and advice on my situation. Don't sweat it! If all you have to worry about is 2 live shots, 6 hours a part and 1 pkg, then you've got it good and just need to learn to handle the stress better. That would be a vacation for most of us!

I come in at 9. Morning meeting till 9:45/10. Live at noon and they want a mini pk (the drive will probably be at least an hr on top of that), oh and we're in the 12:30 as well with a different sot. Now it's 1:15 and I'm off to another story... Live lead at 5, 5:30 and 6. That's on a good day... a bad day is when the pager goes off at 6:10, "So and so called in sick can you stay till 11?" :) :eek: :)

[OHIOshooter77]

i used to work at fox toledo and did live shots every night for the 10. did not work their when they had two shows. you should have a talk with your cheif...he's a fair guy that might try to keep you out of the truck a few days aweek. that is the only thing you can really do. Once you get in that truck for the day you are in it for all the shows and expected to do a package. when i work the early morning shif i get put into a situation like yours...liveshots for the morning shows and then a package for the noon...do everything all by myself. i don't like it but that is whats expected. only have to cover that shift a few days a month...so i don't have much of a problem. I would take to your cheif about how you feel.

[SigLife]

That's not too bad. Just manage your time well and don't waste around when you could be doing other things. And teach your reporters how to do stuff too. All the reporters I work with are capable of turning the truck on, and raising the mast (they know the power line rules), and able to start logging their tapes. While they do that I'm able to run cable and setup lights usually.

And it could be more hectic like a lot of the photogs have said. I work nightside and it's not uncommon to come in and have something in one or all of our 5, 5:30, or 6 o'clock show live and then something else live at 11. This is all blown out the window with breaking news too.

[Currentchief]

while in Tampa, I was nightside, but called in at 10am nearly every day to shoot the noon live, then a pakg and live for 5 and/or 6, then shoot my pkg and live for 11.

Not a complaint, but just to let you know that we all have to do it, too.

[A Step Above Productions]

When I was the Chief Editor in West Palm, this was a normal day for me.

Come in around noon and stat editing the 5:00 and 6:00 (we had no 5:30) Cut both shows alone (I was the ONLY editor) and have all the video logged by 6:15 so I could go out with the nightside reporter to shot the 11 pack. Come back to the station usually around 8-9 edit the 11:00 show edit the the pack run out and do a live shot for my 11:00 pack... come back and log the 11:00 shows archive.

Then come in the next day and do it again. We all have it hard at times it just makes us better Photojournalists.

If I was asked to do it today I would refuse... I was green and dumb back then. But it did mack be the Photojournalist I am today. And I am glad I did it, to this day I have NEVER missed slot. Putting yourself under that type of stress makes you strong and you have no choice other than to make it happen.

[tdelarm]

So as it appears from those that have spoken! It is the nature of the beast...love it or hate it! :D

[<putmeontv>]

i dont think ANYONE loves it. Am i wrong?

[Anton Saur]

Originally posted by Lenslinger:
As a result, our photogs are ....masters of microwave. http://students.risd.edu/yr2003/JPARK/clipartslideshow/microwave.jpg


staff photo.

[<end up dead>]

"It's all part of being an action-figure."

big big ego,

lets see what that action figure looks like with
a few thousand volts running through it

over worked photogs running truck while trying to
do everything else WILL lead to accidents

there are some funny posts here but
this subject is no laughing matter
when a producer screws up they run long
when we screw up, we end up dead.

stations should have live truck operators

period.

[<At the Scene>]

Not to rag on any of you,who do what you do.But this is the problem with local news.With all the work you do, there is no substance in pkgs that are 1:00 or 1:30 long. Pkgs are onesided ,boring
lacking video. And its not your fault how could you possible get a decent pkg when you have to run truck,shoot,edit,set up live,cut teases etc.
This is why people are turning to cable. Viewership is down on the local level all over the country.But you know what management does not care as long as you do what you do and do it well.
Please stay safe guys.

[Lenslinger]

Originally posted by &lt;end up dead&gt;:
"It's all part of being an action-figure."

big big ego,

lets see what that action figure looks like with
a few thousand volts running through it

over worked photogs running truck while trying to
do everything else WILL lead to accidents

there are some funny posts here but
this subject is no laughing matter
when a producer screws up they run long
when we screw up, we end up dead.

stations should have live truck operators

period. Posters with strong opinions should register

period.


Stations should also treat everyone equally, but I ain't holdin' my breath. I, and my colleagues procur news and run live trucks safely and without incident. Multi-tasking doesn't equal recklessness.

As for quality, sure - the added strain of running live trucks does eat into edit time. But it's no excuse for sloppiness. I'm no fan of live shots (ask anyone I work with), but I'm even less impressed with anonymous decrees about the way thing ought to be.

Reminds me of all that chest-thumping coming out of Norman.

[Lenslinger]

Originally posted by Anton Saur:
quote: Originally posted by Lenslinger:
As a result, our photogs are ....masters of microwave. http://students.risd.edu/yr2003/JPARK/clipartslideshow/microwave.jpg


staff photo. Anton, Is that Jensen in the pigtails?

[Anton Saur]

Originally posted by &lt;end up dead&gt;:
"It's all part of being an action-figure."

big big ego,

lets see what that action figure looks like with
a few thousand volts running through it

over worked photogs running truck while trying to
do everything else WILL lead to accidents
I work at the same shop...and if I can't get to a live shot because I'm "over-worked" I tell the producers, and we find a way to solve it. If I can't do it...I can't do it.
Lensy there was using the action-figure remark as a tongue-in-cheek description. Is live truck saftey funny....NO. Do we joke about it.....to a degree. I'm not going to tell the intern to stick his tongue to the frozen mast or anything like that. We joke about our job as a way to relieve stress. Cops do it...doctors do it...WE do it! Damn..sounds like a nike commercial.
I should probably stop there, but I'm half way through a bottle of Boone's Farm...and I feel like ranting. Get the live truck mast out of your @$$. Why is it when ever something good happens...this board, people gotta come in and get all bent out of shape and attack them. (kinda like what I'm doing now!) If this keeps up, we're going to end up like that other MEDIA site that doesn't keep people in LINE. I've had several photogs say they don't log on here because of being intimidated by all the flameing.


Alright. I'm done. I've got to get up and refill my glass anyway.

[Anton Saur]

Originally posted by Lenslinger:
quote: Originally posted by Anton Saur:
quote: Originally posted by Lenslinger:
As a result, our photogs are ....masters of microwave. staff photo. Anton, Is that Jensen in the pigtails? Nah....she's smiling....when has Jensen done that?

[<sand dunes>]

I work at a station that requires me to shoot one package a day. We have live truck operators with cameras who do live shots. I know this is the exception to the rule these days.... I just hope the company who owns this station never catches on to how good we have it.

Don't get me wrong I do live shots, run the FLIR in the chopper and shoot vo/sots, but on those days I'm typically not asked to shoot a package. It is rare that I go out in a live truck, shoot a pack and run the truck (although it does happen on occasion).

[btsatman]

When I started at the station I'm at now, six years ago, we had a sat truck opp, 3 full time microwave truck opps, and 4 or 5 part time microwave truck opps. Two years ago, we lost the last microwave truck opp, and now are just down to the one sat truck opp that occasionally runs a microwave truck. In those same six years, we have also added a few new news casts.

So we have a photog that comes in at midnight, Monday thru Friday, takes off in a live van with a reporter, looks for spot news all night, puts together vo's or vo-sot's of what ever they find and go live at the biggest thing from 5 to 8 then turn a pkg for noon. Another photog comes in at 4:00 in the morning, grabs another live van and the "happy morning feature guy" and they are live also from 5 to 8 at what ever is going on at that time of the morning, then they have to shoot a different feature pkg for the 6:00pm, then this photog usually has to run the truck and shoot a noon live shot with another reporter.

Two or three "lucky" daysiders will get to come in at 9:00 am, head out and shoot two quick vo-sots, or a pkg and be live for our noon, and noon:30 shows, then turn another pkg and two vosots, or two pkg and a vo-sot and be live for the 5:00, 5:30, and 6:00 then cut a re-write for the 10:00 and 11:00

The nightsiders hit the doors running at 2:30 taking the live vans left from the morning folk, and go turn a quick pkg and vo-sot or two for the 5:00, 5:00, and 6:00 then shoot another pkg and be live for our 10:00 and 11:00
I remember each time we started the 5:00, then the 5:30 then the 12:30, management said that you would never be in "all three shows" for the 5-6:30, and never in both 12, and 12:30. Never say never. everybody is in everything, and it just keeps going from there.

I wish that we only had two news casts per day, it would be nice to have some time to do some quality work over quantity, but hey, it's fun to be out there and watch the world as it is happening too.

Ya gotta keep feeding the beast!

[2000lux]

Uh, fmrIntern? Relative to these guys, I don't think we have much to complain about! ;) :eek:

[marv3]

Here in LA, We are live all day long. I've had hits for the 11 am , 12, 2,3,4,5,6. Shoot, Edit, run the truck. It's not pretty , but it gets done.

[BluesDaddy]

The days of "Live Truck Operators" are just about gone. We just phased out that position in order to gain a photog position. Even the ABC O&O in Raleigh, NC only has 2 sat truck operators (I think) and they can afford whatever they want.

[<Russ>]

Oh Yeah!!!!!!!

Well I have a 12 foot mast with a dish on my head that I'm required to carry all day, and my left eye is a camera and the station takes my "shot" at every commercial break thru out the day. Top that!!!!!

April fools, I'm just joshing, ho, ho, ho.

But seriously, y'all stay safe. Hate to lose any of your insight on this here board.