Comcast Sports Southeast! Oh, yeah. I was their main truck TD for 2+ years. All of their shows were small (5 camera football) which gave me the opportunity to learn in a low-stress environment. This is my recommendation for any new sports TDs. Work on small productions until you're ready for the big time.

[quote="markcrownover"]I know that if it weren't for guys and girls like Bill, Lucinda, Tugman out there who aren't afraid to help us then I don't think there would be any new TD's ever. (BTW Rick if you read this you and I met when you came out to the Poker Dome)[/quote] Hi Mark: How are you? Yes, I remember meeting you at PokerDome and I remember our conversations. Always glad to help! I just worked with Bill a few months ago on a boxing event in Atlantic City. We had a lot of fun. Nice reel, I checked it out. I'll have to call Lucinda ... it's been a while since I've seen her. Maybe she'll be in San Jose as I'm scheduled to be in the Bay Area next week. By the way ... don't jump off a bridge .... organization is the key to news. I started out Directing and TDing news centuries ago (showing my age) and it's just being a little organized in how you mark your scripts and rundowns ...scripts are nice, but it's too much paper. In fact when I directed at FOX in LA I never used scripts I only used the rundown which ws the only thing I marked, but then again I had a TD and I wasn't switching for myself. Use a teleprompter monitor, mark your scripts or rundowns carefully and always look ahead... you'll be fine! In time it will be like second nature! Congratulations on your postion in Mobile and thanks for the nice words ... take care and keep in touch. Kind regards, Rick.

Started to do Directing and TD work for IMAG corporate stuff. Got hooked up with Bill Irwin and worked on a FOX Sports show with him in Vegas. Then sent myself over to Grass Valley to certify on the Kalypso. I have just took a house position with FOX 10 WALA in Mobile, AL to Direct / TD on a Zodiak and I must say if I can learn to cut from a news script before jumping off the bridge I'll be very happy. I too want to get into sports since spending so much time last year with Bill in poker and some arena football. I just got back from training with Lucinda Ireland(Owens) at Sony on the MVS-8000. Apparently they are offering some free training at their San Jose site for TD's who want. Get in touch with Sony training for more info. I know that if it weren't for guys and girls like Bill, Lucinda, Tugman out there who aren't afraid to help us then I don't think there would be any new TD's ever. (BTW Rick if you read this you and I met when you came out to the Poker Dome) Good luck! Mark C

[quote="davetd"]I was a Chyron Superscribe op (remember those) at WCNC-TV36 in Charlotte, NC. The evening td/director would usually take a 3+ hour dinner break after our 6pm newscast. During that time I would build, record, and distribute the various reporter package elements - you know the kind where the DVE'd documents layer themselves on top of each other - 'needed a 1 inch machine to do some of the layering. Anyway... After awhile I got fairly adept at operating the 2 me GVG 300 and Abekas A53. The station even had a remote chryon recall pad next to the director for cut-ins etc. (will come in handy later in my story) That said... One night a tornado touched down @ two miles from our studio. Someone, a producer I think, comes running in and yells "WE HAVE TO GO ON THE AIR - NOW!!!!". Of course this happens while our td/director is out. She looked at me and asked if I could do it and for whatever reason I said "Yes". My hands shook as I grabbed the T-bar and faded up live on-air for the first time. After being on for twenty clean minutes - calling, switching, routing remotes, running the chyron, the director finally returned. I got out of the chair and returned to the relative safety of my Chyron keyboard. At that moment I knew I was hooked. Afterwards I was asked to fill-in for the weekend morning director/td, etc. That was 14 years ago and to this day I still enjoy the madness of it all. Regards, Dave Distinti[/quote] Nice story Dave... kind of how I got my start directing .... how the heck are ya? I heard you've been back east. Email me so we can touch base. Best regards, Rick.

I was a Chyron Superscribe op (remember those) at WCNC-TV36 in Charlotte, NC. The evening td/director would usually take a 3+ hour dinner break after our 6pm newscast. During that time I would build, record, and distribute the various reporter package elements - you know the kind where the DVE'd documents layer themselves on top of each other - 'needed a 1 inch machine to do some of the layering. Anyway... After awhile I got fairly adept at operating the 2 me GVG 300 and Abekas A53. The station even had a remote chryon recall pad next to the director for cut-ins etc. (will come in handy later in my story) That said... One night a tornado touched down @ two miles from our studio. Someone, a producer I think, comes running in and yells "WE HAVE TO GO ON THE AIR - NOW!!!!". Of course this happens while our td/director is out. She looked at me and asked if I could do it and for whatever reason I said "Yes". My hands shook as I grabbed the T-bar and faded up live on-air for the first time. After being on for twenty clean minutes - calling, switching, routing remotes, running the chyron, the director finally returned. I got out of the chair and returned to the relative safety of my Chyron keyboard. At that moment I knew I was hooked. Afterwards I was asked to fill-in for the weekend morning director/td, etc. That was 14 years ago and to this day I still enjoy the madness of it all. Regards, Dave Distinti

[quote="EricG"]I lied to Barry Fialk and told him I knew how to TD. Next thing I know, Tom Hastings is screaming at me. Hey now![/quote] HAHAHAH :) Have to know the timelines !!

Listen, anyone who spells their name "Thom" doesn't deserve the time it takes to point out that fact. I did work a Lightning show with the guy last season - he didn't remember who I was. Asked me afterwards, "How come I haven't seen you around here before?"

Let''s see, many years back the owner of the company I worked for decided to start a regional sports network. My boos had to decide who's backside to fry, mine or the commercial producer? He was making money for the company, I was the maintenance/video guy, I lost... I never saw a manual for any of the gear I was told to use. The first show was ugly. Next thing I knew, the crewer for NHL in that area was asking me if I was available to do some hockey. Thanks to three guys, Seth, Pat and Steve I am here. Eric, the name is spelled "Thom Hastings". Also, you aren't the only person Thom raised his voice at. At least Thom has changed for the good.

I lied to Barry Fialk and told him I knew how to TD. Next thing I know, Tom Hastings is screaming at me. Hey now!

larry gave me my first job...

Funny Jonas .... I got my start at WPLG also. I was the senior AD doing the 5:30, 6:00 & 11 by the time I was 20. There were no TD's when I was there, but a TD program came into being about 6 - 8 months before I left. I also directed from time to time there and as directors, we had to switch our own shows. Being in the position I was in, I also had the opportunity to TD for our other directors when WPLG was looking into using TD's for their newcasts. The directors just called their own tape rolls and scripts began to be marked for graphics, unlike the film A/B rolls and audio carts which I called for the directors years earlier. I left WPLG in 1982 after 8 years at the station to do commercials, corporate and sports programming which was in it's infancy in cable at the time. By the way.... Larry Berman just recently retired.

WPLG TV10 - AD / TD - Learned all positions in the control room including Chyron Infinit and the Grass 300, Abekas A51, etc... WPBF TV25 - TD - Wow, they got this new switcher called a Grass 4000, it does a lot mor than that 300 I was using. MSNBC - Uh oh, they have all sorts of toys... 4K, DVEous, Profile, etc... I should learn everything I can while I am here. Happens to be in the NY market and there is all sorts of sports going on here. Freelance Sports TDing - This is cool. Now I get to work with all different clients. NBA, MLB, NHL, etc. All different trucks too: NMT, Game Creek, NEP, NCP and other three letter co. This is where you can learn all switchers and DVEs. Grass 3k, 4k, Kalypso, Phillips DD35, Extendd, SONY 8K. CBS Sports - Decided to take packages doing PGA and NFL for these guys and now my truck range is definitely smaller (basically two trucks a year) and my production friends are a smaller group, but there is something to be said for consistency. And the pay is alright ; ) HTH jonas