Northern New Era Church’s 25th Pastoral Anniversary Celebration & Gala 2015-0501
I was asked to shoot a interview, for the Harvest Show, of Tony Dungy, the former Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts, a NFL football team. He would be speaking at the Northern New Era Church’s 25th Pastoral Anniversary Celebration & Gala, taking place at the Ritz Charles in Carmel, IN.
I wasn’t going to pass up a chance to meet the first black Head Coach to win a Superbowl.
I drove to the TV40 station to pick up the gear and van. The evening was starting off badly because keys that were suppose to have been left for me to get into the building, weren’t there! I had to make a number of calls to get someone to come back, to let me in. We found the keys inside, in one of the mail slots. Apparently somebody saw the package with the keys in it, outside and move them, inside. Where I couldn’t get to them.
I was suppose to arrive at the Ritz Charles at 4 pm. I wanted to be there by three, in order to look the place over before my Producer/Talent and 2nd Cameraman arrived. I got there a little before 3:30 pm and found out, that the doors for the event were to open at 5 pm.
I’ve been in the Ritz Charles before and I knew that there wasn’t a lot of places within the building to do a quiet sit-down interview. Which is what, at the time, I thought that I had to do.
I brought in all of the equipment and setup the camera in the ballroom, to make sure that at least that was ready to go, when I was confronted by, The-Lady-In-Charge. I was told in no debatable terms that I will be provided with a room later on in the evening. I tried to tell her that I needed to know where the room was because I had to set up extra lights for the Interview. She said, What interview?
OK!
My first thought was, “This is going to be a fun evening.”!
My second thought was, “Leave it for the Producer. It’s her show.”.
A little while later, Robert my second cameraman and Kelly, the Producer/Talent had arrived. I told Kelly what happened up to this point and Kelly went and had a long conversation with, The-Lady-In-Charge. I really don’t think anything got confirmed during that conversation. Just kind of, shuffled around, to be determined later.
We found a Coat Room where we stored all of our camera gear and yet, still have easy access to it.
Tony Dungy and his wife Lauren showed up early and they were escorted to a candle-lit room for Meet and Greet with guest as they arrived for the dinner. That room was way to dark and I really had to open up the camera to get some shoulder mounted shots.
We made the determination that we were going to interview Tony Dungy in the foyer after the Meet and Greet and Photo session. So I quickly set up some lights and rearranged some chairs and was ready when Tony came out for the interview.
That part went off without a hitch. It was the most important part of the shoot and I was happy when it was over with!
We were also tasked with shooting the dinner speeches.
Robert shot that part of it. He got shots of Tony’s speech and all of the other podium celebrations.
By the way, Tony had sprung his foot during a pick-up basketball game. He wore a case on his right foot and moved around on a small Knee Scooter. He used the experience as part of his speech. It was hilarious! I know, as soon as they asked, that I shouldn’t do it.
To our surprise, we also got to eat dinner. They set aside a table for us, which is unusual! Chicken Parmesan, Mashed Potatoes and Asparagus. The dessert was to die for, a delicious Apple Crisp that I wish I could’ve taken home with me.
Afterward I got shoulder mount shots and interviews with the Pastor and his wife, people wishing the Pastor well for his 25th Pastoral Anniversary, and shots of people out on the dance floor.
I was delighted when Kelly finally said, enough!
Took us about a half hour to pack up the gear and put it all back in the van.
Another half hour to get the gear back to the station and lug it all back inside.
I finally clocked out around 11:30 PM.
. . . and so it goes
