Carlos Pulido’s Blog #1

As the new reality in the ENG business takes root, it has become painfully apparent that the old way of doing things is gone, probably forever.  The networks increasingly demand that correspondents and producers handle tasks that previously were done by photographers, audio techs and editors, with the result that the call for these professionals diminishes, or stops altogether.  But change is the only constant in life, and with change sometimes comes new opportunities, so the prudent course of action is not to complain, or be fearful, or demand a return to the “good old days”.  No, rather, be assured that there will always be a need for professionals at the top of their field, and put yourself and your reputation out there for others to see, and new revenue streams will flow your way.

NOA Productions embraces the current changes in the media world, and the past few weeks are a perfect example of how we adapt and keep moving forward.  We recently delivered two major projects for Al-Jazeera Television, in partnership with China Blue Productions of Long Island, NY.  Both projects were multi-camera HD shoots at the Tribeca Screening Room, one involving two live audiences over the course of a twelve-hour workday for the FIRST US taping of their “Fabulous Picture Show”.  The second project, a full week later, included interviews with Directors Oliver Stone and Michael Moore.

NOA was also at the NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall for two days, collecting fan reactions to the new NFL Fantasy Football online game in advance of it’s formal public introduction.  Additionally, for the second year running we taped the “mock draft” done at the Parker Meridian Hotel on the eve of the actual draft.  Client NFL.com expects broadcast quality HD footage that can be turned around for online distribution within 24 hours, and NOA meets the challenge.

When a world renowned chef and restauranteur needed a pilot shot, NOA was called in to create the right look and feel in his landmark kitchen, working under a tight budget and within a limited timeframe.  Lessons learned during years of taping in private and commercial kitchens for ABC News’ “Eat and Greet” series aided in delivering a superior product.

Finally, the new media environment will not be kind to those who expect to sit and wait for work to come to them.  To thrive, the physical as well as editorial scope of work to be done has to expand.  A perfect illustration of this is NOA Productions’ most recent project for HBO Sports’ “Real Sports”.  In the course of three days “Running Shoes” took us through seven states on the eastern seaboard, with stops in the Peabody Museum on the Harvard campus, and a two-camera outdoor interview in the Amish farmlands of Peach Bottom, PA.  Again, HBO demands quality, including multiple camera HD shooting on remote locations, real-time DVD burns of key interviews, and online uploads of time-coded digital audio transcriptions.  Again, NOA meets the challenge.

Traditional network news continues to be an important part of our work, and during the same past few weeks described above we also provided ENG services for ABC News, Swiss TV, and PBS’ Religion and Ethics Newsweekly.  But the calls from these clients are not as frequent as they used to be, and that’s probably not going to change.  NOA Productions will grow by looking beyond, by reaching out, and by continuing to provide quality services.