Our First Interview!

The other day I sent interview questions to a few select reality tv crew members.  Figured it would be a way for any of you reading who aren't in this business to learn a little more about it- and give those of us who do, something to relate to.  Here's the first response....

1.) What's your name?

- Matt Parkinson

2.) What's your job title?

-Assistant Camera

3.) How did you get your first job in reality tv?

-Through my sister who knew a guy.

4.) What was your first behind-the-scenes impression of reality tv?

- My thought process went along the lines of: “Wow! I’m working w/ a bunch of scumbags! And why does everyone dress the same? You know, like w/ those lame stubby army hats and Capri pants. And why do Production Managers and/or Coordinators always say, ‘Fair enough’? Also, everyone here seems to refer to other people they don’t like as douche bags. I don’t get it. You would think calling someone a dirty vagina would be more of an insult than calling them a product that cleans the vagina.” That was an actual quote from my journal after my first day of work.

5.)  What's the worst thing to ever happen to you at work?

-Well, this wasn’t really the worst thing that happened, but it was rather strange. I was working on a show about lifeguards and we had just covered an incident where a 19 year-old kid drowned. Everyone was rather shocked and/or drained from this traumatic event, but then out of nowhere, I hear a very annoying chipper female voice say over walkie, “God! You all look like robots.” And then w/o any hesitation I hear a male voice say, “Matt is a sexual robot.” I didn’t know what to think. I felt violated. It was a rather inappropriate comment, especially after what had just happened.

7.) Best experience on the job?

-When Logan Brogan had his television debut (see link at bottom of article to view).

8.)  Worst day ever?

-I was somewhere in California, Redding or somewhere like that, and we were shooting cars racing around and whatnot. I had just eaten a sandwich that had been sitting around for awhile, for it was all they had. Moments later my stomach started to chumble and the next thing I knew, a batch of diarrhea was on its way.  The only bathroom around was this one porta potty, and it was filthy. I reluctantly went in to do my business and I ended up blowing mud all over the place. It was terrible. For that was my first time I had ever gone number two (or actually number 3) in a porta potty. But the worst thing about it was the diaper rash, and I still had like another 15 hours of work ahead of me.

10.) Nicknames?

-Crash, JC the AC, Hansel, Geico, Jesus, and Air

Jesus.

When I dented the side of the minivan on my very first day of work I got the name Crash.

11.) Nicknames of co-workers?

-Penis, Plutarch, Goofart, Gopher Tyler, Father Dick,

12.) Funniest thing to happen to someone else on the job?

-When this shooter was hanging out the car window getting tracking shots and some random guy yelled, “I’m gonna shove that camera up your fu*@#n’ ass you faggot.” Mind you, the guy yelling was in a mini van w/ his family. “What did he just say?” the shooter asked. Our audio guy who was driving, answered in a matter-of-fact Irish accent, “I believe he said he was going to shove that camera up your ass you faggot.” That's when the shooter lost it, and went off on the guy, "Yeeaahhh... F*#k off you fu*@#n' fatty!" He said many more expletives, but I don't remember them exactly. I have it all recorded on my phone, it was priceless.

15.)  If you weren't doing this, what would you be doing?

-I’d probably be working at Stanley Steemer.

16.)  Worst food...

A sandwich that was sitting out for awhile. It gave me serious diarrhea!

20.)  What keeps you from taking an accounting job?

Not smart enough.

21.)  Favorite crafty treat?

Smores Pop Tarts, but they're rare in this business.

22.)  Longest work day?

20 hours

See Matt (Logan Brogan) in front of the camera at http://www.blip.tv/file/1774496/