In this business, you often have to crash and burn before you can learn a lesson.
Since Sunday's Academy Awards show was a full-blown Hindenburg disaster, we can certainly take a few lessons away from it that we can apply to the news business:
-It pays to read your script before going live, so that it doesn't appear you're reading a script....or cue cards. (James Franco)
-Shouting "Woooooo!" every time you mention a famous name can get old real quick. (Anne Hathaway)
-If you're not funny, don't try to be funny. (About half the presenters)
-If you ever win an award, have the class not to drop an F-bomb in your acceptance speech. (Melissa Leo)
-If you ever win an award, remembering your wife's name is a good idea. (Christian Bale)
-Even talented people can look ridiculous if given strange copy. (Robert Downey & Jude Law)
-Using Celine Dion music in any package can make viewers dive for the remote.
-When doing a package on someone who has passed away, do not use the song "Smile." (Apparently, the rights to "Walking on Sunshine" were unavailable.)
-Cutting the shoulders out of a Snuggie does not make for a good dress. (Kathryn Bigelow)
-Try to avoid any outfit that makes you look like an extra from Tron. (Annette Bening)
-If the script doesn't make sense, re-write it. (The whole "Gone With The Wind" thing)
-Supers are a nice touch when showing people we don't recognize.
-Chemistry between anchors or lack thereof (Anne Hathaway and James Franco) can make or break a newscast.
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2 comments:
I have this crazy notion that being a reporter is a great job for someone who likes to have some control over how they spend their day. I imagine it to be like this...Find a story, Pitch my story, make some calls, spend the next few hours interviewing people, shooting b roll, getting lunch, shooting some more, editing tape and going live. I've never been a reporter (except for college) Basically I would imagine you spend most of your day outside of the office and on your own or with a photographer. Does that sound about right? Or am I simplifying it too much..
Well, that pretty much described my day when I was a reporter.
The most appealing things are that every day is different, and, if you work in a good newsroom, the camaraderie is unlike that of any other business.
Beats having a real job.
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