This week the owner of the company I work for renewed our contract with the local TV station. We get several hundred spots to air our commercial throughout the spring and early summer and then again in the fall. In addition to the commercials, yours truly gets to continue his appearances on the evening news as a local "garden expert". I have been doing this for a year now and it started off being very awkward and somewhat difficult (at least to me it was). Although I would not go so far as to say it is easy, it is less awkward now, and we have developed a good working routine. I usually pick the topic, write the script and sort of have an idea of what I want to show, but let the cameraman and producer decide how best to pull it all together, and they do all of the editing. The most difficult part of the whole thing is trying to convey a message in just one minute when there is more than a minute's worth of information that needs to be said. Regular gardeners probably do not learn anything new, but I hope others do. The least I can hope for is that someone out there in TV land may think twice before indiscriminately spraying pesticides, spreading fertilizers or continuing other bad horticultural habits.
If your favorite shows are in reruns, or you have nothing better to do - you can find some of the archived clips here.
May 22, 2009
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Ah Les, a TV star. Fun!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea you were a local celebrity. I am going to have to go check out those clips.
ReplyDeleteI watched the one on annuals, Les. I thought you did a good job of summing up the differences between annuals and perennials, and you have a comfortable, confident presence on camera. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteI thought I had seen you on TV Les, wow I know a local celebrity! ;) Thanks for the link, I'll go check out those clips now.
ReplyDeleteLes, the link only brought up pictures. Are these the clips?
ReplyDeleteVery cool Les! I wasn't aware of these videos - some great tips!! Glad to here that the contract was renewed; I'll be following.
ReplyDeleteWay to go Les; this is great news!!!
ReplyDeleteHelne
Thanks to all of you for your encouragement. Tina, you should be able to click on the play button to get it to run. You may have to sit through an Applebees commercial, but eventual it will show.
ReplyDeleteLes
one minute from someone like you is gold to these people out there who are trying to figure it all out!
ReplyDeleteHow cool is that?! Now I'm going to sit here and watch the clips when I should be cleaning my house, LOL. We need someone like you around here!
ReplyDeleteWow! Very cool. I watched a couple. You look completely comfortable and natural. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty cool. Will you soon be appearing on Dancing With the Stars? God, I hope not. You know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteGreat to put a face to the name! Well done on the clips Les, not easy to do I am sure!
ReplyDeleteESP.
Wow Les, very professional! You covered a whole lot of topic, the annuals/perennials clip, in a very short time. Other than the fast talking, which is necessary I suppose, it was quite informative. Both new and experience gardeners would enjoy this spot. Well done!
ReplyDeleteFrances
It has to be difficult to get all that information in one minute. You do a great job! Move aside P. Allen Smith!
ReplyDeleteVery Cool Les! I'm going to go watch one right now.
ReplyDeleteHey they are really good and you sure pack a lot of info in to that minute. I like the tip on a sandy bowl of water for the butterflies.
ReplyDelete