C H A N N E L 4/ Hanging Out With The Wolfpack, A Day In The Office With Mr Chow.
I could not have picked a better day to position myself in the office, likewise from the tremendous good fortune of spending the past week with broadcast journalism, getting to speak to people from a wealth of departments at freewill, such as the guys in the Master Control Room (known as the 'MCR' by those in the business) who, as it would happen used the 'Avid' software, an editing program I could relate and link back to university. Station engineers, televised graphics, PR, editors, producers, reporters, presenters and even the managing directors of marketing. Melissa Pine told me that curiosity is the key quality when coming into an unfamiliar environment. Today paid off to act as a curious wannabe journo. The most amazing thing about it all was how friendly and kind everyone was - each and every person I encountered round the office took the time to explain things to little old me, the workie, despite obviously all being really busy.
The radio presenters and journalists were based in a very slick looking building - inside the newsroom the desks are all organised in curves and circles and there are hundreds of screens, live showings and monitors everywhere. There's a really exciting atmosphere of everyone working hard. Some of the reporters were chatting about how they are working for nearly three weeks straight without a break, because "Nobody wants their day off to be the day something exciting happens," and I think that just about sums it up.
Today I shared the same room oxygen as the incredible Hangover 3 cast, 'Zach Galifianakis - Alan' and 'Ken Jeong - Mr Chow'. Their recent breakthrough came from the Hangover 3 premiere which had been showcased in London's Leicester Square last week. The two actors often play the on-screen raucous behaviour of lunatics, but in person it was quite disarming to see just how calm and considerate the two of them came across. The office's immediate response prior to their arrival in the studio filled the room with an excitable energy, and when they arrived at that moment it was as if time stood still. Although I was reminded to act professional within the workplace in the presence of talent I could not resist a swift and stealthy 'going to the toilet' snap to share across all my social networks.
The collaborated comedians established themselves as fearless, unique comedic actors, unafraid to throw themselves completely into the characters they play. I learnt how to apply myself in a journalistic tone for the tasks ahead. From the fortunate selected few who attended the premiere with compliments of 4Music, one of them being my desk neighbour who informed me that the third Hangover film provides an epic, worthy finale for the Wolf Pack, with Ken Jeong's Chow again stealing the show in his inimitable way. Although I had not yet seen the motion picture, for me, the seeds were planted in the first Hangover movie.
To be honest, they stuck out like sore thumbs, there was something about their aura that seemed so glamorous, fruitful and generally perfect. I recall on one of my tea runs, I casually met Kiss.Fm's Charlie Hedges in the staffroom. It was awesome.I also noticed that the reporters tend to put on quite a different voice when recording their "voxpops" (voiceovers) compared to their normal way of speaking - hardly surprising really. Listening back to the recordings that day of Ken Jeong, I expected a nostalgic screechy cry reminiscent of his character Mr Chow from the earlier Hangover films, instead I was alarmed by a very well spoken counterpart.
I had done a fair few stints now of experience, it was the mode and culture that was always most interesting, exciting and fun. It was this ambiance that has allowed me to re-evaluate myself, even so much as opting to create a blog of my experience as opposed to a mind-numbing assignment, taking risks and expanding anything that will increase my pocketful of skills.
I was delegated a task from a co-worker 'Nichol' who had a lot of work that afternoon. She presented me with a report she had constructed of The Hangover 3 premiere, I was to undertake the role of creating what is referred to as a '30 second review' which would be commissioned onto the website that very same day. I had to assess her report and develop a bold article no longer than 250 words which could be read out aloud in '30 seconds' representing the films plot, its strengths, weaknesses and verdict, somewhat difficult when I had no visual portrayal of what I was referring too. I was instructed by the web producer Trent Maynard, that the critique should have a readership of 16-24, an engaging review which should be informal, accessible, fun and funny and before liaising back to the team, I should fully proof-read the piece to avoid a time-loss for editing. Although the archive does no longer exist online, my PUBLISHED finalised 30 second Hangover 3 review, can be reviewed here.
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