Phovi.com interview

I’m pretty good at pontificating. Tonight was a test to see if I could pontificate on command, under hot lights, for the camera.

I was being taped for Phovi.com, a photography instructional website (still in beta) for their "Talking Business With the Pros" section. The 10 minute segment will "air" in August, and I’ll participate in a discussion forum on the site.

What surprised me was how cool I was under the camera, and at mimicking a back and forth repartee that was interrupted by changing camera angles and repeated takes. Bre would ask a question. Cameraman would reposition camera. I would adlib a cogent and, sometimes, overly meandering response as if I were freshly responding to what I just heard. I found myself watching my thought process in action as I spoke. Let’s see, I just made this point, and this association, and this related point, now, how should I bring it to a conclusion and make it sound thoughtful instead of a mad scramble to tie up a loose end, and still be grammatically correct, while talking slower than usual? If I had to repeat it, it was never as good. There was a powerful incentive to complete my thought process in one take.

This was the opposite of the bantering conversation of a good dinner party, with a couple bottles of wine and smart people around the table. Instead I had to be alert, but not overly alert in a caffeinated way, calm, but without lassitude, and consciously, powerfully grounded to the best of my ability. It felt like being behind the camera, but with ten times the pressure. Fun, but I’m glad it’s not my day job.

Comments

[Bre]

Doug, it was great to meet you, Thanks for the great interview!

[Brett]

Doug, was also good to meet you and chat at the Phovi's Talking Business with the Pro's shoot. Enjoyed trolling around on your site. Take care.