Author Archives: Stefan Sargent

NIGHTMARE ON BLUES POINT ROAD

WE GOT TO GET OUT OF THIS PLACE Sydney, 1966 Things are going well for me. I live on the 11th floor of Blues Point Tower. My view is the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the famous Opera House. I drive … Continue reading

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SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE (that’s me!)

Something Old It’s 1868. In San Francisco, lumber merchant Matthew Turner can’t find suitable fast ships to carry his timber. With almost no training in boat building, he says, “I’ll build them myself.” The brigantine Matthew Turner being built today—inspired by … Continue reading

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LOVE Hz

This Is Not a Goodbye, My Darling, This Is a Thank You Remember your first GF or BF? Of course you do. Mine is Christina McWilliams, a vision of 16-year-old loveliness. She gives me her school pin. I give her … Continue reading

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MISTAKES: I’VE MADE A FEW – OK, A LOT

How I love American Cinematographer magazine. Next to Digital Video, it’s my all-time favorite. Every month I open it to the inside back cover, the same as you do with Digital Video, but instead of my stuff, there’s an interview … Continue reading

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DRONUS INTERRUPTUS

The Job That Flew Away You remember Mary from my Production Diary a couple of months ago. Yes, of course you do: she’s the client who said, “It’s perfect. I absolutely love it!” and then, a few weeks later, wanted … Continue reading

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DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?

With Me, They Happen All the Time Miracle at the BBC I am making a VidiWall about the first 50 years of British television. I am in the office of the head of the BBC’s library. It’s 1986 and I … Continue reading

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THE SHINY BLACK DOOR

When New Technology Was Banned I cross the park in Soho Square, go to number 2 and press the buzzer. It’s 1964 and I’ve just arrived from Australia. Eventually the lock on the shiny black door clicks open and I … Continue reading

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Broadcast TECH UK June/July

I wrote 2,000 words – Broadcast’s TECH editor re-wrote it into their dreary, house style and cut me back to 500 words – he did an OK job, except it doesn’t sound like me. I took my original piece and … Continue reading

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SEARCHING FOR SILVERMAN

The Cat Stays in the Picture” It’s Friday morning and the phone is ringing. “Howard here. I need a 10-minute video about my new product. Can you do it?” “Sure, how about 10 tomorrow. I’ll shoot it greenscreen.” Greenscreen is … Continue reading

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MY CLAIM TO FLAME

The Best of My Stuff His name is Chuck. At the NAB Show, he sees my name tag. “Wait ’til I tell my wife that I met you. We loooove your stuff. Our favorite story is ‘Dead in Denver.’” “Thanks,but … Continue reading

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