Once a month, on a Wednesday, for ten minutes of second period.
You all do it, whether you want to or not.
The NOW is probably relatively unimportant in all of your lives. I mean 10 minutes a month isn’t much. Well, for me, the NOW takes two to three weeks of my life every month where I spend close to twenty hours creating just ten minutes.
So let me explain exactly how these 10 minutes envelope so much of my life….
Each and every NOW we have a system that we follow to ensure that the show is completed. First off we brainstorm story ideas from among a sports story, a story about Naperville North, and a story from the community. Next, I assign these stories to different producers and choose for myself. To get each story done we have sources, making sure we can film them at specific locations. Time and location are agreed upon with our interviewee, and questions written After the interviews are filmed we write a script, film a standup, shoot B-roll and edit it all together. The editing is only the first part of my job. I film both the news anchors and sports anchor, then I edit the audio to sync up with the video. Next, I take the best shots and edit them into the video and put all the stories into the video. After that video is complete t, I make graphics and edit them into it. Lastly, I edit audio and coloring to be consistent and make the ending credits.
Honestly, I know that was basically just a long list, but the point is that the time and effort that everyone who works on it is immense. I wouldn’t put this much time into something I wasn’t incredibly passionate about. To me, broadcast journalism is like an adventure. You have to find where the story leads. Talking to as many people as possible to get the full picture. You could do this in writing as well, but in broadcast, the visuals make it so much more intimate. Interviews become more than words, they become a conversation. Descriptions are proven through visuals and motion. Information is not only said but shown. This, to me, is another layer of journalism. One that compels more of the senses.
This is why I let something most people have playing in the background take up so much of my time.
Learning how to do things for oneself is, in my mind, one of the most important things in life. Finding that motivator, that drive, not only grows your skill but you as a person. Being able to do something for yourself creates a sense of joy that cannot be achieved through the approval of others. This passion can be found in so many aspects of life. For me, it is the challenge of constantly trying to create something new. I like to see what else there is to do, what more can be accomplished. Find your thing like this. It not only fills your time but consumes your energy and makes you feel accomplished. This sense of pride is what fills life. That is why it is worth it to do something for yourself, even if no one sees it.
This blog post is suoer interesting and unique! You definitely got me – I had no idea that you or anyone else spends that long on a video. I think it’s really sad that people don’t pay more attention to it! I love watching it but my 2nd period teacher (or whoever is supposed to give it) either doesn’t play it or plays it in the background of something. I know they have important things to teach but you guys (clearly!) put in so much effort for this exciting news to be shared by the whole school.
I don’t know or understand half of the things you listed (oops:)) but I can clearly tell from your voice in this blog that it is something you truly are passionate about and possibly want to pursue in the future, that is awesome!
I like the conclusion you came to in your last paragraph and the lessons you were able to teach just by explaining how much time and effort you put into something you’re passionate about. That can definitely be a lesson to every single person that reads this, I know I will remember!