Mark Gleason is a network sports television camera operator, working on many high profile sporting events in the US and around the world. He shares his journey in this industry, explains what different camera positions do on a baseball game before Game 2 of the NLCS, and shares how much he loves his career, all while continuing to be a radio disc jockey.
Mark Gleason spends time with Don to talk about everything related to sports as a camera operator. He has worked on ESPN’s Armed Forces Classic and the Carrier Classic, countless Major League Baseball games and National Football League games. Prior to Game 2 of the National League Championship Series in Philadelphia, Mark was at his camera position in centerfield to explain how a camera works and what the controls are. He also shows his passion for his career and says that when he watches a game after he’s worked on it is an out-of-body experience.
LOG:
00:00 - Introduction to Episode #41
00:40 - Episode Introduction to Mark Gleason.
01:30 - Images from Mark.
01:45 - Intro via Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
03:30 - How Mark got into media by way of radio at KCBQ in San Diego.
05:10 - Mark made his way to an audio video company and how he worked with the San Diego Padres.
09:00 - How radio was Mark’s first love and how he wanted to entertain people.
12:00 - How “Mark’s Groovy Trip,” Mark’s radio program started.
16:00 - What it takes to be a broadcast camera operator.
17:12 - Mark shows his “headshot sheets,” a print out of all the players in the NLCS and the voices Mark hears in his headset.
19:50 - Mark explains which cameras are on a baseball field — Low Third base.
20:43 - Camera 2 — High Home
21:05 - Camera 3 - High First
21:40 - Camera 4 - Centerfield
22:20 - Camera 5 - Low First
23:15 - Camera 6 - Centerfield Tight
23:55 - Camera 7 - High Third
25:08 - How many cameras on bigger shows.
25:50 - What fans say to Mark when he’s at his camera.
27:00 - Mark shows all of the parts of a camera with program monitor, focus, zoom and how much the cameras cost.
29:05 - The talkback button and zoom extender and lens length.
29:55 - How the skill level of an operator can determine how hands-on a director is.
31:28 - Cameras shoot for replay operators when they are not live and what they look for.
33:00 - What goals Mark has when shooting an event (emotion).
34:55 - How camera coverage is different with sports other than baseball.
36:10 - High profile events Mark has worked on (Armed Forces Classic) and how he traveled around the world shooting camera.
37:55 - Working on the “Carrier Classic” for ESPN.
39:03 - How watching his camera work after a game is an out-of-body experience.
41:00 - The events that Mark has worked on that have a special significance and how this business validated his career to his dad.
43:50 - How Mark stays warm in cold weather when shooting camera.
45:50 - Mark’s advice to aspiring camera operators and how the younger generation wants to do other types of camera work such as drones.
47:25 - The two types of shooters on a tv production.
48:00 - The special people he’s worked with in tv.
49:04 - What Mark loves about what he does (he helps the viewer at home experience the game).
51:05 - Where people can find “Mark’s Groovy Trip.”
52:23 - Mark’s most cherished credential.
53:05 - Mark’s favorite sports movie.
53:58 - Thanks to Mark
54:23 - Episode Wrap
54:52 - Thank you to Heirloom Travel & Adventure
55:01 - Where to watch and listen to Sports In The Making
heirloomtravelandadventure.com
cardonacreative.com/sportsmaking
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