Pulling cables isn't fun, but it's not a big deal. As a reporter I usually rolled the things back up when we were done with a live shot while the photog took down the mast and broke down the gear. We used to have a race, and at one point broke down a live shot and were in the car in four minutes.
We called it the "live shot olympics."
But apparently some crews must cringe at the thought of touching those icky black cables which might have dirt on them. The horror!
The result: the "lawn mower live shot."
Oh, I've seen a bunch lately. The anchor starts a lead-in, we cut to a double box, and when we take the reporter full, we don't hear a reporter.
We hear a big roar. That's what happens when you're too lazy to roll out cables and stand too close to the generator. Then, incredibly, the reporter has to yell.
The reporter may as well be sitting on a riding mower ready to cut the lawn. If only there were a high tech solution for this problem.
You want clean live shots for your resume tape? Roll out the cable and set up away from the truck. And do it yourself. The truck op or photog has enough to do.
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