killing us
So. You all know that each Sunday I help direct and edit a live-to-tape production right? Well, it all started two and a half weeks ago…
I was the lone director/editor that day and I came out of our little bathroom to see a kid standing at Camera #1. His older brother was supposed to be running that camera for me that day but we were starting and I assumed older brother, A, was sick or something, and so had sent J in his place. So J ran the camera. He’d done it one time before - for something that wasn’t aired or anything, about 9 months ago, and I kept him off of close-ups and things I knew he wouldn’t be able to handle.
Okay, quick fix, right? Well, it turned out later he was not sent by his brother, he was there on his own accord to observe the woman that was running the computer that runs the huge projection screens that day, his brother had forgotten he was supposed to help us out that day. Computer screen lady was probably glad that he came to us, though… he would not stop talking. The whole service. Blah blah blah blah blah. Want me to get a shot of this? Want me to get a shot of that? Hey, Camera #2 that is on the screens is not in focus. (Ohhhh yes it is.) And when I’d say things like, “ready Camera 1,” or “standby Camera 1,” that don’t require a response, he would say, “Okay.” Besides the talking… he talked loudly. So loudly at first that Camera #2 had to send someone up to tell him to quiet down - Camera #2’s got a bad cord, he can hear through the headset but not talk back right now.
Then suddenly it’s:
Can I run a camera next week?
Can I run a camera tonight?
Ohhh can I learn that thing that you’re doing?
Can I this? Can I that? Can I this? Can I that?
I ended up telling him that that particular day was a one-time day, we’re not usually that shorthanded but before he could do the camera “full time” he needed to sit in and learn more about what it is we do. This is not unusual, oftentimes people will sit in and watch me and B as we direct and sometimes edit before they start on the camera.
So the next week, he’s back and he’s sitting in my chair as I walk by. I popped him and said, “out.” LOL. Actually, it’s that kind of attitude that has always made me, as an adult, popular with the kids. So he’s up and I’m in doing what I need to do but as time goes on, he’s in B’s chair, then he’s there, then he’s here, then as I’m doing the actual directing (I do second half), he’s right up on my right side, asking a bazillion questions.
I end up telling him he can do camera on Sunday nights. Usually the kids handle that more than us, unless there’s a special event that we need to tape or we need to be on the screens at the same time. So none of that is aired, etc.
This week, he was back again. And with the same antics, too. Both Sunday morning and Sunday evening (had to be on screens the whole time). Sunday morning was the same as last week and he kept talking to me and asking a thousand questions. Sunday night, B left early so this kid hops on the other director’s headset because he’d asked and I said, and I quote, “no, I am directing because we’re on screens the whole time, you are welcome to listen in, yes, but you need. to. be. quiet.” Okay! He says. But he’s not quiet. He talks and talks and talks and he even tells me things like such and such camera is out of focus (not), or such and such has too much head room (not), or such and such camera had a walk-off (they weren’t online), etc.
Now he’s asking me how long he has to run camera before he can do “this stuff.” Directing.
Now, I don’t mind questions, but this kid is distracting me. I can answer questions when I’m not totally busy but he keeps on at the times I have to manage three or four things at once. And at least four other people have given me the verdict:
He’s driving them crazy.
He’s driving me crazy.
I admire his enthusiasm, really, but this apparently has happened in every department. He jumps in gung-ho and he’s really too young to get into this, he’s only 13. We don’t like using kids at all for many reasons but the two that do it are as of lately essential to us, both of them are 15, though maybe 16 by now, and one is quite mature for his age. But the truth is, we are shorthanded, and I have the job of making a PowerPoint slide to go up at announcements time saying that we need some cameramen. But B and I have agreed to say age 16 and older, so hopefully that will cover our butts with this kid.
I’ve tried to be nice, I don’t want to turn him away but he is really just too young and way too hyper. Way too hyper.
I’m trying to think of ways to talk to his parents - I’m not sure that they know what he’s up to lately (long story) but the thing is, I don’t really know them and I really don’t want it to get back to him that I said something to them. Because, again, I really don’t want to turn him off of this completely. Just for the next four years or so.
Suggestions?
