Andrew's First Video Blog

Well Overdue: My first blog Ever!

Well, this is my first official blog posting ever! I've kept journals before, but never have I displayed my doings for all to see!

I’m just sitting in my living room of my apartment in Saint John witnessing an amazing sunset over the city. The sky is the most brilliant purpley-pink grade that doesn't even seem real. Especially as it always seems to be so foggy you can't even see the building across the street...so this is really nice!

Anyways...I digress. I don't even know where to start really. So much has happened since I joined this company 15 months ago. I just feel so blessed to be paid to do what I love. I know so many filmmakers who struggle to find the resources to bring their visions to life, so to do this and earn a living is a real privilege. I guess I’m apologizing to myself and co-workers because I’ve been really un-inspired and grumpy at work the last couple of days, which is never the case. So, I guess this means I’m over it?

So since I have so much to talk about, why don't I start at the beginning and pick away at the last year for the next few blogs until I get up to date. I have learned so much about this business in the past year, but none more than I did working on our TV series Wrestling Reality. (photo below by Mark Hemmings) Check out his website...his photography is world class! www.markhemmings.com



So this was my first project with HHP and we went on the road to begin shooting only a week after I moved to Saint John. I was originally supposed to be a production assistant, but was quickly thrust into an assistant director role, shooting the majority of the documentary footage on the show.

I just followed the wrestlers everywhere they went, which sometimes meant staying up all night with them while they partied hard! Nothing I wasn't used to though, so it worked out really well. I found that the more I partied with them, the closer I got to the wrestlers. The more they trusted me, the more gold I captured in the camera! This was no more evident when I actually filmed Brody Steele doing steroids. To our knowledge this was the first time it had ever been broadcast on television, which created quite a buzz. I didn't seem like a big deal when I was shooting it, until I saw the clip all over country on TSN, Entertainment Tonight, you name it. It was pretty cool to see it get such publicity.

Post-production though was the most rewarding part of the whole project though. Greg was supposed to edit it, but seen as he produced it and directed the whole show, he just didn't have the time to cut the it, so he gave that duty to me! I was a little intimidated at first, no question. I had never tried to cut such an enormous project. Sorting through 150 hours of footage was a bit overwhelming, but Greg gave me so much confidence and was was so positive throughout the whole thing, it made my job a pleasure.

I can't really remember how long it actually took, but the last few weeks before going to broadcast were absolutely exhausting! We just kept on having little technical issues that seemed so unfair at the time. So much work was finished and technology was keeping us from completion. I can remember a few times working 44 out of 48 hours in a row! Just time to sleep for a few hours, then spending the rest in front of the computer. I never worked so much in my entire life! I never knew it was possible. In the end though, we produced a fantastic show and we are all pumped to shoot season two in England very soon!

After all that crazy work around that show, I tossed the idea around of going to China for 6 weeks over Christmas to visit my girlfriend Julie, never really thinking it would be possible. Then one day Greg told me he thought it was a good idea I went on the trip....I think he lived to kind of regret the decision because production ended up being really busy in December and January, but they managed fine without me...and the trip to China was amazing...travelling is just way too much fun!!! Here are a few pics. It was such a marvelous place for photography....

So there you have it, my first official blog. I'll do my best to write another one soon, unless I get a bunch of comments telling me how boring it is! Hope you enjoyed it. I'll take a page out of Lauchlan's blog too and recommend some music. Do yourself a favour and get the latest from "Fleet Foxes". At first I thought they sounded so much like "My Morning Jacket" (which isn't a bad thing), but they have an amazing sound with wonderful vocal harmonies....enjoy them!

Cheers

Well, this is my first official blog posting ever! I've kept journals before, but never have I displayed my doings for all to see!

Im just sitting in my living room of my apartment in Saint John witnising an amazing sunset over the city. The sky is the most brilliant purpley-pink grade that doesn't even seem real. Espeically as lately it always seems to be so foggy you can't even see the building across the street...so this is really nice!

Anyways....