MVP

[<hanging chad>]

Who are some of the MVPs on this message board and why?

[McColl]

My MVP vote would have to go to Shaky & Blue.

I know he just fell out of his chair reading this... so I'll back it up.

Shaky would be the last one to admit it, but he cares a lot about the craft, and the direction our business is headed. He always has a lot to say... about damn near anything. He also, apparently, has a lot of time to say it. ;)

He is one of the more educated regulars here. He is a fount of knowledge in a wide variety of areas. And as much as I would love to catch him making a mistake, it just doesn't happen. His information is, above all, accurate. I like reading his stuff even when it's a topic I don't care about. You can smell the sarcasm through your screen. So, as he was once fond of signing off...

Enjoy the Shaky. Fear the Blue.

[Smitty]

I agree.

My MVP vote goes to Shaky and Blue.

Fear the Blue. Enjoy the Shaky.

[dawgpound]

My vote goes to Lensmith. He like a few others on here has been there/done that in so many different places and situations, how can you not listen to what he has to offer. You may not like what he has to say but it always has a purpose and some thought put into it. He's like the Yoda of the b-roll board. :D

Jamie Munden
WWMT-TV

[<WHIZkid>]

1.Shakey&Blue
2.Lensesmith
3.Terry E. Toller

On the other side of the coin, I'd like to nominate myslef as the #1 dumb guy!

[Lil' Photog]

This one is easy.

Kevin hands down.

Without him where would we be?

[SeattleShooter]

For some time now I have been wanting to say goodjob to all the posters with 1000+ posts! You know who you are. It shows that you have a dedication to share your skills, knowledge, and the best one...stories. But I would have to say the MVP award goes to Kev for all the hard work he puts into this website when we all know that he does not have much time to do so. Everyone else listed above, it would not be the same without you. So good job and best of luck.

Pete

[Shaky & Blue]

First of all, thanks to the people who said nice things about me. I've never ranked very high in popularity contests.

I have to cast my MVP vote for Kevin also. This entire site really does kick ass, but Kevin is just about the most professional message board administrator I've seen.

That said, the list of people who have taught me something here is long enough that I couldn't begin to list them without inadvertently forgetting someone. Just about everyone contributes, even when they only ask questions, because even seemingly simple questions make you think about the answer and consider whether you have it right.

And yes, McColl, I DO have a lot of time on my hands to think about this stuff. My current job carries nowhere near the workload of local news, so some days it can be excrutiatingly boring. Thanks again to Kevin for providing me with something to do on the clock! :D

[dinosaur]

My hat's off to Kevin, for a website well done.

[Sportsguy]

Originally posted by dinosaur:
My hat's off to Kevin, for a website well done. Here, here. I second that!

[editor_dude]

of course Kevin (great site) but one more
Dinosaur

[<Joe Walsh>]

Vote for me! :D

[photogguy]

It's a close call, but this would be my list

1. Shaky
2. Lensmith
3. Ivan
4. dino
5. Kevin

15,235. dawgpound (Jamie, you might've been
higher if you posted more ;) )
15,236. me

[sherriff2]

Kevin, obviously , for the site.

Most of my favorites tend to lurk most of the time, and then pop out with a pearl of wisdom gathered through many years of experience. Some names include

Dino(saur)
Thomas (Tom)
wtv
adam
Lensmith (John DuM)
Tippster
Nino
Cameragod.

Lots of others,
thanks to you all.

[Shaky & Blue]

There's something on this site I've often wondered about. Kevin only posts as "B-Roll." Or at least we only know it's Kevin when he posts as B-Roll.

To remain the amazingly professional site administrator that he is, Kevin would have to exercise restraint in posting his own opinions to keep from alienating people from the site itself and to allow the discussion to continue freely. Yet I'm sure he has his own opinions on the various issues we discuss. Does he just not post his opinions? OR is B-Roll not the only name Kevin uses?

I wouldn't dare challenge Kevin to reveal an alternate moniker. I just can't help but wonder if one of the other names we see here is really Kevin in disguise. ;)

[jbone]

just my thoughts....I believe that kevin is great for the site but i think that there isnt just one mvp...We at brothers in our craft have help each other in so many ways even if we dont know it or didnt relize that we were doing it...Matt McColl helped me with a tape critque and to many others have given me advise that just to mention one person would do any justice...even though we are competors in markets you know and i know after the day is done we would hang out and drink some brews and to me there is nothing better...so i say thanks to everyone...and everyone is the mvp!!

[<Fat Arse>]

Huge Jass is the man!!!!

--------------------
Your good buddy fat arse - always willing to help out
:D

[imported_blank]

Like many have already stated, too many folks to mention but three posters need to get an honorable b-roll mention "from me" (in alphabetical order)

Busse, David R
This man seems to know "ALL" about the variables of what it takes to be a well rounded news shooter. The VERY IMPORTANT technical side, the journalist side, the actual taking the pictures side - whether run n gun or feature, and the biz side of things. Busse also seems to be a team player. I'm betting each and every reporter/correspondent that gets to work with him feels honored to be a part of Dave's team. I know I would. Hmmm I wonder if Dave had anything to do with the KABC SX purchase??? Bonus points if he did.

DuMontelle, John "Lensmith"
This is one of the few posters that actually made me reverse my position on some issues. This man puts up a well thought-out analogy like no one else. John seems to also have diplomatic skills like no one else. His skills not only help keep B-ROLL civilized but I'm betting he also gets good gigs due to his people skills. Once in a while John will pop me a private note about one of his Central American adventures, I can never get enough of his wild true stories. I'm glad that John posts on B-ROLL and I'm honored that he is my friend.

Giannotti, Nino
This man is a blessing to the business. Not only does he share his knowledge on this board but Nino also seems to take in newbies under his wing. My belief is that if we had teachers like Nino, then this industry wouldn't be heading into such a crap=hole like it is. If any producers looking for a DP are lurking here then look up this man - you will pay the going price (non of this new-wave auto omb handyman-cam crap worth two bits) but your investment in returns with a DP like Nino will be well worth the going rates.

--------------------
Finally,
Johnson, Kevin
is the man responsible for bringing us all together on the internet. Each and everyone of us owes this man. Sometimes some folks will forget that this space is indeed the property of Kevin Johnson and not meant to be used as a free speech post anything vulgar about your co-workers free for all internet service. Each page, each post is the property and to a degree responsibility of the registered owner of B-ROLL.NET

OK,
enough sucking up, Sorry I didn't mention some of the other members (I do wish jumpcut would post more)-- Now, I must make a new nasty cartoon ripping down "side letter eleven" to share with you all. :P

[shootist]

ok...i'll give it a go...

Special Category U(ltra)MVP: Kevin. To administer, moderate and sometimes babysit such a professional and all-encompassing website as this is admirable. To do it while also employed full-time doing what we do is nothing short of incredible. You've set the bar Kev and supplied an entire industry with the quintessential resource. You should be immensely proud of this achievement.

Now to the intended question. MVP.

For me...no doubt about it...

Lensmith offers wonderful insight and, perhaps more importantly, perspective. He shares his vast knowledge and experience in such a "mentoring" way and nimbly treads the dangerous waters of the written word without benefit of body language and expression in a way that teaches but does not offend. Never one to go for the quick smart-a$$ response, John always gives his posts the thoughtfulness they deserve. Thanx, John.

Runner-Up:
Shaky & Blue.
I've been checking this site for awhile now and though not by any means the most prolific poster or oldest member (i DO however go back to the days of a certain notorious northern California poster) I gotta say: I don't know when I first became aware of reading your posts S&B but somewhere along the line I realized that every time I read one of your posts, I found myself nodding in agreement with a little (or not so little) smirk on my face. I'm going to guess that is a good thing. Affirmation...with a respect for the sense of humor you always seem to provide. Keen insight with an edge...a man after my own heart, I would like to think. Thanx, Shaky & Blue.

ok...CO-runner-up
dinosaur
Technical question...no doubt about it...i'm going to dino. he's the man with the answers...usually, it seems, in ten minutes or less...a miracle man. You want to see what a rycote would look like on an me-80 mounted to the side of a bradley personnel carrier cruising down 42nd street...dino will find that dam* picture and have it up before lunch. You're an incredible resource, dino...and not just for the newbies. Of course, with only 23 years experience, I sometimes feel like a newbie when I realize just how much I still have to learn. Thanx, dinosaur.

Those are just my MVPs. Without sounding maudlin, I just have to say how much I learn from everybody's posts. These guys can offer expertise and experience...but I also love reading the posts from the guys at their first jobs who are experiencing all the wide-eyed excitement and "gung-ho-edness" that we all survived. I draw from your energy daily and pray for your continued happiness and excitement.

Thanks to all you MVPs for being part of my daily inspiration and entertainment.

[thru-the-lens]

I've got to agree about "dinosaur" as an excellent source! In fact all of those listed above like "shaky","lensmith","Ivan", "Terry E." are quality posts.

I would like to add another name to the list: "KFATICA" Kim gives some really good insight into subjects.

thru-the-lens.

"Racing is Life! Anything that happens before or after is just waiting." --Steve McQueen

[b-roll]

I appreciate all the kind words... but I look at myself as simply the host of a party. Thankfully all the cool people decided to show up and it makes my party look much hipper.

Thanks to Ivan, Terry, Cameragod, Tippster and Lensmith, for being the longest running participants.They always have something to share. Thanks to Nino and Dinosaur for always sharing the answer to any tech question. And thanks to Shaky, Editor_Dude, 2gig and many others for helping referee when I was not around. Even scoop taught me how to moderate a message board.

Thanks also to Lynn French, Kim Fatica, Richard Adkins, Charlie Hatfield, Andy Grossman, Trista, Kathy, Shelly, and Kimberlea for helping out in other sections of the site. I feel bad that I can't name all of the folks that participate... All of you B-ROLLERS are the MVPs...

Thanks for making b-roll.net a valuable resource for TV photographers around the world.

kev