LIGHTS, CAMERA, AXEL (PART #4)
As skaters grew more accustomed to having television cameras recording their every step, they also grew accustomed to making the concessions necessary to insure television getting everything they needed to, in turn, make the skater look good. At the 1980 Olympic Games, when a production assistant overslept and missed a mandatory shot of Linda Fratianne arriving for practice, the four-time U.S. Champion graciously agreed to reenact the moment for the cameras.
By 1984, Scott Hamilton was so television-savvy, he called up ABC and said, 'I don't know if you're going to do an Up-Close-and-Personal profile on me, but, I suspect it's possible. I thought of this piece of music sung by Gary Morris, "Wind Beneath My Wings," and it's everything I believe about my relationship with my coach, Don Laws. So, if you were going to do a piece on me, I just want to throw that in." Laughs Doug Wilson, "He was already producing!"
At the 1988 Olympics, the plan was to make Russian Pair skater Ekaterina Gordeeva, the Olga Korbut, media-darling of the show. It was a fine plan, hampered by the fact that Pairs was, and typically is, the first discipline to finish competition. Meaning an immense build-up was impossible. Undaunted, television refused to abstain from their scheme, so that, even though she'd already won the gold, Katya stayed on the air for the duration of the Games, whether she was walking around the village, or simply sitting in the stands.
Another plan that didn't come off quite as it was supposed to was Wilson's coverage of Brian Boitano's Long Program. Wilson was determined to catch the definitive head-turn at the onset of the routine, in all its "Napoleon" glory. But, as it turned out, "I'd planned an opening shot, a first shot of his face, before the head- turn, but, because something happened prior to his going out on the ice, the camera I'd planned to use was not available. I had to use another one, in the left corner. It turned out to be a better shot than what I planned. Which, again, proves that if you really work hard and do your homework, it's amazing how lucky you can get."
(TO BE CONTINUED THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2005)
By 1984, Scott Hamilton was so television-savvy, he called up ABC and said, 'I don't know if you're going to do an Up-Close-and-Personal profile on me, but, I suspect it's possible. I thought of this piece of music sung by Gary Morris, "Wind Beneath My Wings," and it's everything I believe about my relationship with my coach, Don Laws. So, if you were going to do a piece on me, I just want to throw that in." Laughs Doug Wilson, "He was already producing!"
At the 1988 Olympics, the plan was to make Russian Pair skater Ekaterina Gordeeva, the Olga Korbut, media-darling of the show. It was a fine plan, hampered by the fact that Pairs was, and typically is, the first discipline to finish competition. Meaning an immense build-up was impossible. Undaunted, television refused to abstain from their scheme, so that, even though she'd already won the gold, Katya stayed on the air for the duration of the Games, whether she was walking around the village, or simply sitting in the stands.
Another plan that didn't come off quite as it was supposed to was Wilson's coverage of Brian Boitano's Long Program. Wilson was determined to catch the definitive head-turn at the onset of the routine, in all its "Napoleon" glory. But, as it turned out, "I'd planned an opening shot, a first shot of his face, before the head- turn, but, because something happened prior to his going out on the ice, the camera I'd planned to use was not available. I had to use another one, in the left corner. It turned out to be a better shot than what I planned. Which, again, proves that if you really work hard and do your homework, it's amazing how lucky you can get."
(TO BE CONTINUED THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2005)
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