Today we had to film a recorded show, to be aired next week during the Christmas break. We ran it exactly asa live show, with me counting down and doing talk-back, scheduling for breaks, so that the show would have the correct section timings.
In between each part, I did a 1 minute break, so that the team had to time reset themselves and I could talk to Pete if needed.
For the live show, Jon didn’t make it in, so I had to Produce it again, with John McCririck in again. He was late, but in a much better mood, and the show went well, with good discussion. The team worked well, with G Vision Mixing (usually graphics), and Maria on graphics (usually editor). both did their job well, with little/no mistakes, and communicated well between themselves.
The only problem was with the transmission signal, but this was something downstairs had to sort, so Harriman rang down and they rebooted, anf the signal online restored itself. The problems occurred due to weather, and we weren’t to know,, but Luke was watching the live stream next door and told us it was slow and kept freezing.
Ally went in to the studio when all of the talent were seated, about 15 minutes before we went live to put CTO on a light, but was slow and McCririck didn’t look overly impressed, especially as Ally didn’t seem to know how to peg the CTO up there. I tried to hurry him, but he wouldn’t get don until he had finished. During the show I took Ally to the side and told him his behaviour was bad as the talent was there, and asked that in future if he wants to make last minute alterations, to please ask me or Jon first, or if he knows there is a problem, voice it earlier, and not at the last minute because nobody has one it yet. Everybody seems to wait for others to do the work, and will only have an opinion if its done wrong, or too late, rather than al pitching in at the beginning.
10 minutes before the live show, Harriman created a problem on the computer for G and Maria to fix, so that they could learn. However, we were close to going live and hadn’t done a rehearsal yet, due to G and Maria being slightly slower than Attila. I asked Harriman to fix it, but he said only G and Maria could say, not me, in a rude manner. Ally, thankfully, stepped in, saying its inappropriate and to just sort it. A lesson is good but not when we are about to start, ad G and Maria should have said this immediately. This just shows the struggle with the team acting professional, and the problem with Harriman being rude and acting ‘above’ us.
I feel unsure I I’d like to return as I don’t feel respected at all by some of the crew, and it is a battle to get them to work quicker or get a response from them, such as when I’m asking how long until they are ready, etc. I have never received a Call sheet, so I don’t know who is coming in, and if they are late, I have no means to contact them, which could result in somebody just not turning up one day.
Atilla thinks the show needs a Director as Jon doesn’t understand technical or creative things, but I disagree, as the quality of the shoe is low anyway, and it is seemingly not allowed to be improved, with Fiona always declining requests or suggestions.
Nicole Ahern Blog 