It was like way cool but totally way hard.
The Creative Arts Director came into my room with his Camera Man and they set me up at my desk and proceeded to interview me about my job. They wanted to know what I did, how I helped students, what was the best part, my name and how my school related to EBUS.
Sounds easy right?
NOT! At least not for me - but it was a thrill and an adrenaline rush in it's own way too! Keep reading to share my adventure.
The director wanted it to appear as if I was having a normal conversation with him and just explaining my job. But they want it in nice succinct sound bites. Uhhhh...how in the world?!
As I was talking to the Director about what I would say, the camera man was circulating around and placing white papers here and there. When I went to move one, he said "uuuh unnnn...don't touch." Oops! No no touch-y Jeannie! I didn't know he had a purpose in placing those papers! Mistake number one!
Then the camera guy clips on a lapel microphone and then he starts to lift my arm here and there so that he could hide the cord = oh, I didn't even think about the cord! So, ok, I'm just to sit here and plan with the director. ok.! Mistake number two!
Next the director propped up my collar and smoothed my hair and he says, and I quote, "It seems you have an errant lock - I'll have to get my brush." Me, being ever so helpful, tried to stand and get my own comb - which led to the camera guy getting aggravated because I was moving out of position and creating havoc with the cord attached to my lapel! = oops! Mistake number three!
All this before we even begin shooting!
Plus the students in my class were watching all this through the glass wall = seeing me getting fixed up and interviewed and they were mighty curious about what was going on as they craned their necks around the columns and peered in with spying eyes and smiling faces.
I am not counting any more of my mistakes because they'd add up too quickly, but here's how the rest of the event played out:
The camera guy says "And we're rolling in three, two, one...."
Next step: the director tries to get me to "naturally" say my piece by asking a prompting question...do you think I could phrase the answer the same way twice to get in all the words he wanted? Nope! And this was only the part where I only had to say my name and how I worked to support students at Ebus~!
I thought I had to be all serious and business-like because of the way they had positioned me - so I think I was pretty dull at this point - and remember we have hardly started yet! I asked if I could be more "alive" and the guy said yes because the camera "flattens" people. Can it "skinny" me too?!
After two takes of that, we moved on the the more complicated part where I explain my job....Take 13, take 29...no just kidding...but it definately was not a good clip there as my tongue tried to keep up with my thoughts and then my thoughts skipped all around so I couldn't think of what I was trying to get across!
What was the question again? Oh yes, "explain your role in supporting students..." I have only spoken the word "liason" about twice in my life before - so why did I have to use that word at this moment?!?! Who can explain how the brain connects to the tongue because I think my connection dun got broke somehow! How wild this all was - too funny!
And the end where I talk about the best part which is seeing the success of students who complete online courses....I don't think I remembered to smile because I got more and more nervous as we went along! And I'm not sure if I did the "natural visiting" thing - cuz I think I talked slower than normal and more stuttery in places, and oh well - it was a very fun experience no matter how it turns out!
To top it all off, the camera guy was filming me on my blind side!!!! ~ whooo wheeee ~ I think I'll win an academy award for shhhuurrreee!
But overall, what an adventure - can't say that happens everyday! New experiences, even if they botch up, are still great because they're new and different which means exciting!!!
I can't wait to see how they edit it!
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