March 29, 2007

I WENT BEHIND BARS FOR GOOD!

Getting arrested for a good cause these days ain't what it used to be... Nowadays they stuff the "guilty party" in nothing less than the back of a stretch limousine as was the case with our very own Chief Radio Instructor Jim Bell.

From his office at the Specs Howard School, the suspect was chauffered -- minus the handcuffs and blinky lights -- to his cell in The Outback (Restaurant, that is)!

Thankfully, his co-workers at Specs Howard School bailed him out, donating over $200 to the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Lock-Up.

Specs grad Buddy Kremp (above) has joined the cast and crew of the ABC hit series "Lost" in Honolulu, Hawaii this season. Not only will he be watching the mystery unfold from behind the camera -- and getting paid for it -- the show is also taking care of his living expenses while he's on location.

Kremp has been lugging the big cameras around Hollywood for 15 years now, most recently wrapping up a tour of duty as first cameraman on the Fox drama “House.” His passion for cinematography has earned him credits on many major TV shows and movies.

Video students hoping to achieve this sort of career should keep in mind that Buddy started in the same place they are now and began his career in the Flint/Saginaw market by shooting the news for WEYI-TV 25.

In other west coast news, 2001 grad Amanda Elliott took leave of her duties at Universal Images to pursue the California dream.

She headed west with the goal of grabbing employment in L.A., and landed an assistant editor gig with Red Car in Santa Monica, where they do cutting-edge car commercials and other major projects.

Both graduates of Specs Howard School, the pair met while working promotions for Greater Media (WRIF, WCSX & WMGC).

"Last year, I was approached by Mark Pennington - Music Director for WRIF and head of RIFF2 - about doing a show that was focused on video games and gamers," says Jeremy. "I then approached Justin about co-hosting the show. We then ran our idea of what we would like to cover by Mark and he liked it."

Reviews, cheats, music, tips and interviews with game designers are among the topics Jeremy and Justin cover during the show. Some of their favorite games include Halo 2, World of Warcraft, Fight Night Round 3, Call of Duty 2 and Star Wars Battlefront 2.

Working on the Greater Media Promotions Team still keeps both of them pretty busy. Jeremy also hosts "The Dark Side" on RIFF2, which focuses on Industrial/ Goth/EBM music on Thursdays, 10PM-Midnight as well as weekend overnights for the station. Justin covers the weekend 7PM-midnight shift.

"We also have other specialty shows on RIFF2 such as "Detroit Local 101" on Tuesdays with Suzy Cole and Melody Licious," he says, "and "The Metal Show" on Wednesdays with Internet Matt."

RIFF2 is a free, digital-only station broadcast by WRIF (one of the first stations in the country to go HD last summer) that's available to listeners through a special HD receiver or a visit to the station's website at www.riff2.com! In a few years, however, HD radios are expected to replace the standard AM/FM radio in the way the AM/FM radio eventually replaced the standard AM radio.

On the playing field with the Rolling Stones

Seventeen Specs Howard students and staff members were among the 2,000 extras "hired" to perform with the Rolling Stones during the Superbowl's highly anticipated halftime show in February. Their role: to play the part of the legendary band's irrepressible rock and roll audience without tearing up the turf.

Admissions Representative Lynn Richardson led and organized the Specs Howard group, stressing that the "opportunity of a lifetime" required all participants to attend two training sessions: a lecture at the Pontiac Silverdome and dress rehearsal at Ford Field.

After all, to safely fill and clear the playing field of screaming fans and an elaborate stage in a matter of minutes takes practice. Between security measures and time constraints alone, allowing the game's spectators to climb down willy-nilly from the stands was not an option. And so the plan called for 50 yellow school buses to carry a carefully choreographed main floor audience to and from the stadium solely for the Stones appearance.

"We all had predetermined locations to run to," explains Lynn. "Our group had prime real estate on the field and everyone knew it!"

Wearing the mandatory gym shoes and running with Lynn to their designated area up front and center were students, Shanell Desaussare, Tara Keffer, Eric Swanson, Kari Jenkins, Julia Youngquist, Evelina Rhodes, Nichole Provencher, Sangeeta Sadwai, Candice Fortman, Tory Jackson, Joy Lawery, Samantha Hulin, Andrea Columber, and April Haire. Staff members Ron Robinson and Steve Jones completed the throng.

"The Stones were incredible live and I have a new crush for Mick Jagger," Lynn adds. "We were so close I could damn near count his wrinkles..."

"Leaving the field, I was waving at all the cheering fans that were waving back as if they really appreciated our effort … to be there, at what felt like the center of the universe at the time, was something I will
never forget."

On the sidelines

The opportunity to "hang out after work to watch the game" took on new meaning for Brad Richter on Superbowl Sunday.

While Brad works for the school full-time as Video Department Supervisor, he continues to maintain a productive career as a freelance producer, writer, videographer, audio engineer, lighting director, grip and production assistant. ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC, ESPN, TNT, UPN, MTV, VH1 and Harpo Productions are just a few of the companies to utilize his services over the years.

On the morning of Superbowl XL, it happened to be ABC, as Brad finished up a 4-day stint as a grip for "Good Morning America."

"We started at 3am on Sunday morning and we were done working around 11am," he explains. "I just hung around the stadium all day until the game started and ended."

Draped in media credentials, Brad spent the game on the sidelines and managed to take some incredible photos to commemorate the occasion.

"Never did I imagine that I would be down on the field during the big game," he says. "It was awesome!"

On the street

Audio Department Supervisor John Stockwell's live news report from the Motown Winter Blast made the national news for ABC Radio as well as WJR on the
night before the Superbowl.

Working as a reporter for WJR, John attended the International Media Reception in Windsor to interview journalists from around the world.

On Friday and Saturday, he was at the Motown Winter Blast interviewing people from out of town.

"Everyone I spoke to was impressed by the city (Detroit)," says John.

From all angles

Video Instructor Kevin Bell threw his name in the ring to work Superbowl XL as far back as 2000. Six years later it became a reality as the NFL hired him to work as a member of the world feed transmission team.

"In many ways, it felt like just another job to me," says Kevin, "but the difference was in the magnitude. Nothing else has even come close." "The NFL owns the rights to the Superbowl," says Kevin, "so everything transmitted, including the feed from ABC, had to come through our truck."

Since the NFL was taping and broadcasting a number of pre-game shows, Kevin's job actually began at Ford Field on January 28, more than a week before the actual game.

Putting in 16-hour days in a space made up of three semi-truck trailers and monitoring anywhere from 60-90 television screens, Kevin saw the game from every angle - literally as well as figuratively. If he wanted, he could even listen to it in up to 32 languages.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to actually display my talents where they'd be seen around the world," he adds.

"It was good to know that after 19, 20 years of hard work that I was given the opportunity to do this and that people I didn't even know put their trust in me just by my credentials."

Kevin enjoyed the experience so much; he already put his hat in the ring for next year's game.

"It was just so much fun," he says, "I'm sure I'll be in Miami."

Behind the scenes

Kevin Bell ran into several recent Specs Howard graduates at work behind the
scenes.

Eryn Rice (RTV-02-05), Saria Gardenhire (RTV-02-05) and James Collins (RTV-03-05) worked as runners, fetching everything from important documents to coffee for the crew.

Preston Mayberry (RTV-02-05) and Thomas Potter (RTV-05-05) worked as grips for the NFL camera crew, John Asher (RTV-02-05) worked in the international trailer for NFL films, and Travis Sulzener (RTV-09-04) for Japan.

Ron delivers his message to a group of students.

SPECS HOWARD GRAD RON BACHMAN TO “WALK THIS WAY” AT THE GREAT LAKES BROADCASTING CONFERENCE & EXPO

Motivational Speaker and Diversity Advocate Ron Bachman will present during the high school and college awards for the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation at the 2006 Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference. More than 1,000 Michigan broadcasters and industry professionals are expected to attend the event at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Michigan, on March 14.

As a broadcaster, Bachman is recognized for addressing diversity issues, relationship building, bullying in the workplace, and disability concerns for the able-bodied at schools and corporations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

As a man living for over 40 years without legs, Bachman knows first-hand how these issues impact everyone -- whether they have a visual disability or not. Bachman himself gets around on a motorized scooter but also has learned to walk on his hands. While his appearance makes an impact, it is his energetic and captivating personality that captures an audience in seconds. Most motivational speakers and diversity trainers say what audiences want to hear; Ron Bachman says what they need to hear.

Bachman’s foray into motivational speaking began in 1998 with the award-winning documentary about his life titled, “Walk This Way.” It is a first-hand account of his life told by the people who know him best, including his father, daughter, friend Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and many more.

Directed by Kathryn Vander, the film has won over 20 national and international awards including a screening in L.A. for the National Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and received “The Most Uplifting Film” award from the Moscow International Film Festival on Disabilities.

Today, Bachman carries on the documentary’s message with his corporate presentations and school program of the same name, “Walk This Way.”

“Ron epitomizes the spirit of the phrase, when you get lemons make lemonade.” says Dick Kernen, Vice President of Industry Relations at the Specs Howard School.

To learn more about Ron Bachman or to view a sample of his live presentation, visit www.ronbachman.net.

Bachman’s foundation for his success may be attributed to his persistence and determination. As a graduate of the Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts, Bachman is an inductee of both the Specs Howard Hall of Fame and the Career College Association Hall of Fame.

Visit the MAB website to learn more about the Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference. To learn more about the documentary, “Walk This Way,” or to view a clip of the film, visit www.vanderfilms.com.

Additional information:
Email: ronbachman@hotmail.com