Since there haven't been many promos uploaded to youtube worth sharing lately -- I decided to make the blog all about me yet again(2 days in a row!!!... sorry!)
In the past, I've been to a few shuttle launches at NASA - which was very cool. But the closest you can get, even at the press site, is about 3 miles from the actual shuttle.
So a few weeks ago - I suggested to our space reporter that we needed to do another image shoot with him, as he is nearing his 100th launch. I wondered how close we could get to the shuttle. "Not very close at all" was the answer... and even then, we could only get on the side of the shuttle with the rocket boosters, which isn't a very compelling shot.
But wait! Our space reporter suggested that we may be able to shoot inside the VAB - the vehicle assembly building. That's the building only NASA workers and VIPs get to go into -- no public tours here!
So after a few weeks -- we had permission! But like any good shuttle mission - we had a few aborted missions, even to the point of the entire shoot being cancelled.
But last week... our senior producer(and amazing shooter) Kip and I made the trip to NASA and got within 30 feet of Shuttle Atlantis! After a few jokes of sticking gum on the orbiter or asking if we "can drive it?" -- we shot for about 2 hours.
These are the kinds of shoots I love to do. Taking on a seemingly impossible task("can we use the space shuttle as a prop in a promo?") and making it reality.
Another favorite "You'll never get it to happen" shoot was in Houston. Former President Bush lives there and when the Superbowl came to town and to our station - I wanted him to cut promos for us. HE DID! All I had to do was ask.
What's your favorite "I can't believe I made that happen?" moment in your career?
