11/17/08 Bend
Perspectives -- The View From Here
All this time, and I've yet to offer my perspective. Well, here you go -- newscast photographs from my chair on-set.
These are our three robotic cameras. Their job is to stay in formation, follow remote commands, and make me look bad. You may notice a television hidden inside the desk -- if they had these at Beaumont Middle School I'd still be in my second semester of eighth grade.
This photo shows my papers, my pencil, and the grey strip of tape indicating where I should sit. At this point in the show we're discussing the fate of a horse named Nikko. One bad week not long ago, Nikko found himself released by his employer, shot in the head, and abandoned in the wilderness. Nikko was discovered near death, renamed "Trooper," and last Thursday had himself patched up by the good hands at the Bend Equine Medical Center. In case you're wondering (I double-checked), when a TV news anchor is released by his employer, he's allowed to collect his makeup and then escorted from the building. I'm writing my name on my underwear just in case.
This is my co-anchor, Kiaora Bohlool. I'm keeping this photo. With her "can-do" attitude and capable mind, I can see her one day elected President of the United States. When it comes time to put her face on a coin, they can use this picture. She's quite a gal.
This is the Skytracker Weather Center. In my career, I've sat through over 6,000 weathercasts. Adam Clark is the first meteorologist who can say "trough" and not have me think of pig slop. (A trough is a southerly dip in the jet stream). Adam knows where to find a good time. A while back I booked a room at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend and he stopped by. I ordered him one of the free milkshakes from the hospital's free milkshake delivery service. This was shortly before my Aunt Patsy and Uncle Skip arrived from Tumalo, bringing their dog Zoe and my parents' dog Sophie into the room as well. That's a great time, although to make that place a bargain, you have to drink an awful lot of milkshakes.
Here you see our weekend weatherman/nighttime reporter, Brian MacMillan. Brian is wearing what we call an "IFB," an earpiece connecting him to the producer and director hidden behind the cinder block wall to his right. When the KOHD news team was fitted for custom earpieces, one team member was turned away because of his impenetrable collection of ear wax. Me.
This is the container Kiaora uses to hold her drinking water. Her husband earned it by puncturing his lung. It is designed for invalids and just happens to be perfect for TV news anchors. It likely has a matching bedpan -- if so, Kiaora's never brought it in. I use disposable paper cups (not pictured), which spill onto my jacket and tie and damage the environment, but bring me into more regular contact with the friendly people of the KOHD sales department.
This photo is not of our set; this photo was sent to me in the course of my extensive research for this "Perspectives" posting. It's Trooper. I've included it here as a reminder of A) how easy my job is, and B) how sometimes, to get better, you've got to let the world go upside-down. These vets seem kind-hearted; when the surgery was over, I'm hoping they used that mouth-pump thingy to help Trooper to a free milkshake or two.
Jay Frank can be seen co-anchoring KOHD News weeknights at 5, 6, 6:30, and 11. Jay was the first Oregonian named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, Writing, and is the award-winning author of two full-length one-man plays, "Bedroom," and "The Shining Queen." His work has received exhibition at the Smithsonian Institute and been seen by television audiences in 52 countries around the world.
