7 Questions continued 

a young lady working in Master Control decided to quit. Her actions that night is the reason I now work at the very same station I hung around since 1989.  It wasn't until 1997 when I fessed up to the two engineers and told them I lied about my age to get in the Explorers Class. They both smiled and said they knew. It was obvious I didn't look like I was in high school. But as long as I wanted to learn they weren't going to say anything.

At one point I had 18 active projects going on. I had very little time to follow up on my backups. And that's when it always happens...My RAID array failed and all my projects were gone. I went from having no time on my hands to complete panic to helpless. There was a lot of money on those drives and to just sit there and give up wasn't in my nature. I did find a company to help salvage the data and in the long run all was good. But I don't recommend anyone go through that experience.

It took many years to hone out these AE issues. But would have to admit issues still always come up. But mostly with the backing of my GM, I've dissected each issue that arises and tried to come up with a way to avoid them in the future. Like most production houses it starts with a production order. The questions to get communication flowing is the key to eliminate potential conflicts. The typical fields like...name, address, type of production are standard questions asked on a production order. However on the backside are 16 other questions they must fill out. These questions have been added over the past 10 years. I've noticed the most important question of them all is "who takes point". It's a simple check box, the AE or the production producer. If the AE chooses themselves to take point, then they must be at the shoot to help direct what the client wants. My staff will provide invaluable points on what's the best angle to shoot, lighting, etc. But everything is on the AE's shoulders, this included script, talent, getting approval, etc. If they choose for the producer to take point, my staff members will take the 15 other answered questions and call the client to discuss their commercial and let them know what to expect.   Everything is documented and typed up and signed by the client including the script before the shoot begins. By choosing my staff to take point the AE has no production input and waits until the agreed request completion date to find out the status of their client's commercial. I'll make one critical point, if you do not have your GM's backing and there is no accountability to them filling out work orders completely. Your communication issues will never get fixed.

I don't know if it's new. But I found a free program called Celtx for scripts and storyboards. We already do simple MS Word scripts for commercials but this program is very helpful for longer projects or any project requiring storyboards. Simple, easy and fast.

Yes, commercials- I will catch issues or critique often. Just the other day I caught a commercial on our sister station airing a commercial that didn't meet FCC regulations for not identifying a sponsor. I'm sure I've irritated my wife plenty of times when I complain about selected ads and then quiz her if she remembers the product or service.  But movies, no.

I think freelance is by far the best option for any producer. You may laugh but I think it keeps creative producers grounded from not hating the profession we have chosen and allowing us to freely work on projects outside of our main job where they may be restricted to what they can and cannot do. This in turn restricts our creativity. Yes, I do freelance and when I choose a job it's a project that I will get some satisfaction out of it and/or it's worth my time. My freelance consist of producing golf shows. Working with a friend, we have made a name for ourselves and have a syndicated show on 19 radio stations and a television show on Fox Sports in three states. We have built up our production equipment for both radio and TV to the point I have better stuff than my department at the station. In the off season we help homeless shelters to help promote donations.  Some people seem to make freelancing a dirty word. But I have friends who freelance who are young doctors, welders, carpenters, and yes even used car salesmen. I just make sure my freelance work doesn't conflict with my current employer.