Re: for all you masochists... Author: Frank Serpas III Date: 1998/10/16 Forum: alt.sports.football.pro.no-saints john beard wrote: >Guess this means that the team checked your credentials and gave you >approval. I'd be interested in reading a little about how the front office >were to deal with. It's been a little strange. Though in a sense I've been sort of a volunteer employee of the team since 1993, I've never tried to contact them (nor them me for that matter) before July of this year, when I mailed in a request for a credential for the Saints-Cowboys scrimmage in Shreveport. I'm not sure if I didn't go through the right channels, if my request got lost in the shuffle (the team was travelling all over at that point in the preseason), or if my request was rejected, but when I showed up in Shreveport there wasn't a credential for me. Fortunately, one of the Independence Stadium security guys took mercy on me and let me in. For the final preseason game vs. Tampa, I asked a co-worker to fax in the credential request 'cause I was busy putting together my premiere episode. Maybe that person didn't send the fax, 'cause when I called to check on the status of my request the team said they hadn't received it. Fortunately, they were nice enough to let me re-send, and I got clearance, with the caveat that I submit a tape of my show for review by the team. I mailed in a tape on 14-Sep containing the first two episodes and tried calling the team a week later to get feedback (I didn't submit a request to shoot the Carolina game 'cause my schedule prohibited me from travelling that weekend). I played phone tag that week, then Georges threw a monkey wrench into things. I attempted to submit a request for the Patriots game, but figured out later that the fax never went out 'cause I was using an obsolete long distance code. Finally, I was approved for the 49er game (somewhat of a surprise). I'm still waiting for the team to send me some legal "attachments" that spell out the footage limitations spelled out in the waiver photographers are required to sign; it might impact whether I could ever simulcast my show over the 'Net. I haven't received any feedback from the team about the show (or, for that matter, about my website), but I guess it met some sort of minimum standard considering I got approval for the 49er game. The production values could be a little better, but it's still a good product, IMO (especially considering I do the whole thing solo). A year+ of shooting Ricky Williams and the Longhorns has paid off well; covering the game with only one camera leaves no room for error lest a big play be missed (I had hoped to also get permission for a photo deck cam, but the team says there isn't a deck to shoot from). The Superdome is a great place to shoot, BTW. No worries about temperature or precipitation; good sightlines from the seats mean that photographers can stand up along the perimeter of the field (instead of being required to kneel); the lighting is immaculate; the turf is in good condition. My only beef is that I haven't been able to find a convenient place to plug in and recharge my batteries. >Any plans on bringing your show to public t.v.? Khut here in Houston has a >strong signal and are affiliated with UofH. Maybe they would be willing to >give you some air time. I'd love to have a wider audience; originally I planned to try and find other outlets, but I've been scrambling just to get the shows done. If I get approved for the next home game (vs. Tampa), I'll be in a comfort zone, but the season'll be half over by that point. We'll see. ******************************************************************************* Frank Serpas III serpas@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu ............................................................................... >>>>>>>SAINTERNET- http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~serpas/saints.html