Chp 282. “Lights, camera, action” with CNN IBN

Look ma, I’m on national television!



As some of you may know, my previous post “Welcoming 2010 with vision 2020” was featured on CNN IBN’s weekly youth program called YNOT (click the above pic to go to their site).

Below is the video clip that appeared on the news channel.

I must warn you before viewing, that a typical North Eastern blogger (or any blogger for that matter) does not go around with a laptop in his hand and blogging at roadside tea-stalls next to train stations during morning rush hour My action in this video is purely for depiction purpose only



Urmi Sahni, producer – correspondent for CNN IBN was in charge of the entire shoot, and her team did an outstanding job with the video camera and editing (She’s also one of the sweetest newsperson I’ve ever met).

The day started at 6:30am. I was at Bandra Fort by 7:30 and the shooting began, with a sunrise silhouette shot right next to the magnificent towering Bandra Worli sealink. The intro about me from the video was shot when the sun was in my eyes, so it was quite difficult opening them (my eyes).

We did a lot of on-the-spot improvisation regarding the script too.

After a couple of shots at the fort and at bandstand, we moved to lower parel station. It was quite embarrassing doing a shoot there with everybody staring at me or wanting to be in the film once they realized there was a video camera present. We did a lot of retakes, and by 2pm I was completely exhausted (7 hours of video shoot for a 2 minute clip!)

We then moved to their studio (Network-18 HQ) where we spent some more time recording my voice at their audio studio. Their office was amazing, and there were LCD screens plastered all around the walls, broadcasting one news channel or the other. I even saw their news broadcast room.

Finally reached my office by 5pm, but not before making a pit-stop at KFC. All in all, it was an exhausting day, but more importantly, a great experience. CNN IBN, you truly rock!


---------------------------------


Ps. Had to add this: While we were shooting at Bandra Fort, some well dressed family (probably out on their morning walk) came near us, laughed, pointed at me and said, “Hey look, foreigners are making a movie”. And my story was about how we’re called foreigners in our own country. Define irony.