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04/05/2024

And then there were four. This year, the Final Four came to me!

Happy to see so many of my friends from CBS, Turner, and our amazing freelance community out here at State Farm Stadium.

10/11/2023

Calling all aspiring replay operators and newcomers to the field! Hit that follow button because I'm here to help you up your game. Welcome to another enlightening !

Today's tip: During your downtime, embrace the art of watching sports on TV with a different lens. Don't just be a casual fan; transform into a tape op enthusiast. Analyze the replay sequences with precision. Pay close attention to the cues, the well-timed speed ramps (where the replay is slowed down or sped up for emphasis), and, most importantly, the reactions of players and coaches. These subtle reactions hold immense power, something newer operators often overlook. Stay tuned for more insights on spotting these reaction shots in an upcoming post.

But here's the kicker: When the broadcast hits a commercial break, keep your eyes peeled for the rollout. This is your golden opportunity to unleash your creativity as a tape op. You're bound to pick up some great tricks watching these.

Fair warning, though: Once you adopt this new way of watching, there's no going back. You might find yourself pointing out a replay that whipped on air (check out last week's tip for more on that), geeking out over a beautiful supermo reaction shot, or explaining the logic of sequencing looks from wide to tight. Your non-industry friends may find it hard to watch sports with you, but this is how you develop a keen eye as a budding operator.

10/07/2023

What do you do when the most influential, memorable, larger than life player in Illinois history passes away hours after your set day ends, and the night before your game at his alma mater? You scramble to put together tributes fitting enough to honor the legendary Dick Butkus. A game in his memory, coming up right now on FS1.

10/03/2023

If you're a newer replay op, or trying to become one, click that follow button. I'll be sharing tips and tricks to make you better. I've been slacking on these over the past week, so I'm trying something new: . Follow me and check back for more tips every Tuesday!

Today's tip: Any time you're cuing up a replay, make SURE you know how your replay ends and when your director needs to get off of your look. Most importantly, communicate this to production in a succinct way.

Does the camera whip? Does somebody walk in front of the shot? If you can set an out point in your record train, that's great. Otherwise, remember the timecode.

When the producer is sequencing the replays, tell them "tight out" or "shot whips". When they're telling the director the traffic, if they don't mention the tight out, I like to remind them again. When the director readies your machine, quickly hit them point to point and say "tight out [your channel name]."

When you're through your replay, and everything worth seeing has already happened, you can always quickly say "any time" or "that's it." If they're still lingering, you can always start counting down (make sure to cheat your count by a few seconds to give the director time to line up the next replay or camera shot). Worst case, most shows would prefer you freeze a shot before it goes bad. Even if you have an out point marked, never assume that somebody is watching your characters and will know where to get out.

This may seem like a basic tip, but it's a great way to practice communicating with production. Directors will always appreciate you for preventing an on-air mistake.

Anything I'm missing from this list? Drop it in the comments 👇

09/20/2023

You never know who you're going to see on Amazon Live! I had a great time directing and TDing "A Chat Beyond the Stars" with Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and Dr. Wendy A. Okolo. They had the chance to answer viewer questions about the cosmos and the future of space exploration. Watch it here: https://buff.ly/48heRO1

09/17/2023

Here's a sentence I haven't said in a while: the A crew's in Detroit! Should be a great matchup between the Seahawks and the Lions coming your way on FOX!

09/10/2023

Yesterday we had a wild one in Lubbock, as Oregon barely held off Texas Tech. Today, we're kicking off America's Game of the Week in Chicago, as the Packers take on the Bears. Coming your way on FOX!

09/08/2023

If you're a newer replay op, or trying to become one, click that follow button. I'll be sharing tips and tricks to make you better. If you haven't checked out last week's tip, you might want to take a look at that too.

It's football season, and that means lots of work for replay ops! Here are some things you can do on any football show that will get you noticed.

Today's tip:
* Clip and label EVERY SINGLE PLAY!
* Put useful information in your labels. Most shows will have specific guidelines on how to label, but you can still add lots of helpful info. For example, was a play for a short, medium, or long gain? Add an S, M, or L to your label. Was the QB pressured on the play? Add a P. Was there a good reaction? Add an RX.
* If you see something happen off-ball, like a penalty that wasn't called, an open receiver that the quarterback didn't see, or the defense being confused in pre-snap coverage, sell it to the producer.
* Look for emotions and interactions on the sidelines. These often happen way after a play is over. Is a player looking glum with their head in their hands? Is a QB talking to their reciever after a miscommunication? Is somebody trying to fire up their team? Sell it during the commerical break! Lots of producers will play back these shots "as live" and it gives the announcers something interesting to talk about.
* If you have the high end zone, all 22, up cameras, or skycam, you should cue to the snap on every play right away. Many shows will have you start these looks in a freeze if they're the first look in a replay sequence, so make sure you know the situations your producer does and does not want a freeze.
* Before the game, ask whoever's doing bumps and rollouts if they'd like you to copy color shots somewhere. If they say yes, clip a bunch of tight player faces, screaming fans, artsy rack focuses, zooms, etc. Even a whip pan can look great in the right hands.

What's your best tip for working football shows? Those of you on football packages, what do you appreciate from your local ops? Drop it in the comments below 👇 and make sure to follow me for more tips and behind the scenes content!

09/02/2023

We're in bright and early for week 1 of FOX College Football! Kicking off (pun intended) the season with Utah State at Iowa. This year, I'm lead EVS on an HRP crew, meaning that no matter where in the country our game is, I'll be at the beautiful FOX lot in Los Angeles. After doing a game in Minnesota last December, that's sounding pretty great.

08/31/2023

If you're a newer replay op, or trying to become one, click that follow button. I'll be sharing tips and tricks to make you better.

Today's tip: When you sit down at your machine, even if it seems like there's nothing for you to do, check your work area! That means making sure:
* You see your correct inputs and outputs on your monitor wall
* You have somewhere to look at program, scoreboard, etc.
* You can route into each of your inputs with proper video and audio
* You know how the router works, and you know how to break away video and audio channels if you need to
* You understand the audio mix under your router sources, whether it's stereo, 5.1, or something custom
* You can hear each of your outputs in a Wohler
* You have all of the channels you need in your PL
* Your headset works
* You can listen to program, talkback, hot mics, and any pre-fade sources you might need to hear
* Your input and output channels are named correctly, and you know your replay assignments
* You check any other record decks you're responsible for (KiPro, P2, XDCam, etc) and make sure you can record to or play back from them

If you find things that aren't working properly, ask someone else in the tape room, or make a list and bring it to engineering. Better to figure out early in the day then when you're in the thick of it!

08/28/2023

Hey there, it's been a hot minute since I last shared with you all. And you know what? It's not because I've been buried under work or wrapped up in super-secret NDAs. Nope, something different happened this time. I decided to hit the brakes and take a proper vacation – yeah, you read that right!

Let's talk about burnout – that sneaky little monster that can creep up on any of us, especially us freelancers. It's tough to mentally give ourselves permission to step away, right? But here's the deal: a vacation isn't just time off; it's an investment in your own well-being.

Sure, I had to decline some gigs, and yeah, I might've missed out on a few shiny opportunities. But guess what? The world didn't stop turning. In fact, I came back with a clearer mind, fresher ideas, and newfound energy.

So, as we gear up for the busy season ahead, remember this: it's not just about working hard, but working smart. It's about knowing when to hit pause so you can come back stronger.

Stay inspired, take care of yourself, and never forget that you're worth the investment – vacation mode: ON! 🌴🌞🚀

08/02/2023

Managing transmission for the CrossFit Games in beautiful (and much less hot than Arizona) Madison, Wisconsin! We're monitoring and encoding 4 TX paths, each with redundancy and auto-failover, hitting our robust cloud processing infrastructure in AWS, and feeding 21 unique endpoints. Flawless performance so far!

07/26/2023

Yesterday, Esports Engine laid off 65 employees, impacting a group of exceptionally talented individuals.

I remember joining forces with the Esports Engine (then NGE) team during the challenging times of the early pandemic, when the industry was facing unprecedented turmoil, and traditional sports were barely starting to come back. What I found was a group of smart, passionate, kind and dedicated individuals. They welcomed me, a director with a traditional sports background, with open arms. The warm and friendly atmosphere they fostered made me feel right at home.

Now, more than ever, they could use our support. If any of you are in a position to hire or need extra help with production-related projects, please consider reaching out to these wonderful folks. Among these 65 talented individuals are experts ready to elevate your shows and projects to new heights.

Together, we can show our support to the Esports Engine team during this challenging time and help them find new opportunities where they can continue to shine. Let's spread the word and make sure their talents and skills are recognized and utilized by the right organizations.

07/25/2023

Two weeks ago, I was lucky enough to direct and TD my second Prime Day with Amazon Live. The team did an incredible job as usual -- the sets looked fantastic, the studio crew hustled, and the talent had great energy no matter how long they were on air. This year, I worked afternoons, and that meant bringing our 33 hours of live coverage to a close. Watch the final minute below:

07/21/2023

Want proof that MLB's rule changes are working? Take a look at this box score from Tuesday's game between the D-backs and Braves -- a back-and-forth slugfest that featured 13 pitchers and 29 runs between the two teams. Comment below what you think the total time of game was, and then look it up and see if you were right:

07/19/2023

We all knew this could be coming, but even I was surprised it happened so suddenly.

Yesterday, Diamond Sports Group, the owner of Bally Sports Arizona, was allowed to drop the Arizona Diamondbacks' rights agreement as part of bankruptcy proceedings -- starting with the game that night -- in the middle of a series against the Braves. These changes were rumored for months, but nobody ever knows their fate until it happens.

That's why I'm so grateful to see, in this picture from inside the truck yesterday, two good friends and colleagues still at the helm:
Director Brian Maas and Producer Jeff Gowen.

I've been lucky enough to work with both for the last 4 years. Among all the rumors and turbulence, they've been an incredible pair to run EVS for. Brian is super sharp and detail-oriented, always gives roll cues, and carefully watches the counter on our machines. That means we don't have to tell him about shot changes, or count him out of playbacks.

Gow is somewhat of a living legend -- he's been producing sports longer than I've been alive. His energy is infectious, and he makes his crew feel genuinely appreciated every game. Even when he was doing primetime games for FOX -- he literally went around the truck thanking everybody individually, and he still does.

For those who work in the industry or watch the D-backs on TV, know that your broadcast is still in good hands.

07/12/2023

While it's no Pebble Beach, Stamford Connecticut offers some nice views of its own! I had a great time last week working the US Women's Open Featured Groups from NBC Sports HQ. The facility has come a long way for REMI production, and I'm a big fan. Congratulations to Allisen Corpuz for a tremendous performance on a legendary course!

07/10/2023

Working in sports, you often get access to information that the rest of the viewing public doesn't have, and can't find out about. For example, our TV crew knew that Paul George was out for the whole first round of the playoffs this year before the first game tipped off. So how do you talk about big news without spilling the beans? This is a great read about Brian Windhorst's infamous masterclass in saying without saying.

The behind-the-scenes story of the pointy fingers heard 'round the world.