KYDS TV Alicia Zaetta (left) and Maggie Schepelmann (right) with NBC 7 News reporter Sherene Tagharobi
Wow! What a parade! And I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. Our sixth year at KYDS TV was another success! Given the challenges of preparing for a three-hour live television event, I am always amazed by the quality of our the program produced by young volunteers.
There are so many people to thank this year. I want our wonderful community to know who the “kyds” are and hope that if you see one of them somewhere you can thank them too. Only by the self-motivation and commitment to preparation by our young staff were we able to broadcast the Coronado 4th of July Parade live on Time Warner Cable again this year.
It occurred to me on the 3rd this year’s group of anchorpersons is the youngest in six years. Six out of eight were 12 or under. Our two boys, Jay Abrams and Jackson De Lay and the girls, Abigail Fabiszak, Cookie Dutch, Paloma Ronis Von Helms, and Samantha Lorr prepared with the 9000-word script to bring the parade to life on television. The veterans from last year arriving the day before from Arizona, Alicia Zaetta and budding broadcast journalist Maggie Schepelmann opened the show like true professionals interviewing seasoned newscaster Sherene Tagharobi from local NBC affiliate Channel 7. Their combined efforts produced one of our best outcomes in six years.
Producing live television is a huge challenge, especially when using salvaged gear and homemade hardware. But the directors’ ability to take those resources and put together a quality production makes or breaks the show. Carly Medved and Lili Johnson, both from Coronado High School directed camera shots, video and mixes, coordinated subtitles, as well as leader and credit reels with ease and poise under the duress of “live” television. Being Lili’s third year and Carly’s first, and summer schedules being what they are, their harmonized operation of our ad-hoc systems was purely extraordinary.
And there can’t be live television without cameramen. Connor Morse, in his sixth year with KYDS TV, simply astonished us with his ability to operate the camera boom’s eight axis of motion getting unbelievable shots of passing floats. And walking on with no experience the day before from Arizona, Nick Zaetta and Nolan Murphy were “rock stars” on our cameras. Their work, combined with back up from our anchors when the sun got too hot, was truly remarkable for amateur volunteers.
I would be remiss if I neglected to give a shout out to Sherene Tagharobi who found time in her crazy schedule to come to Coronado on the busiest traffic day of the year to be our guest. It was a special treat for our anchors with interest in broadcast journalism to interview a professional as lead in to our parade.
And to the host of moms and dads that performed logistics for the event, thank you too. Our wardrobe, donated by Jeanne Morse; the “Green Room” coordinated by Lari Johnson; photographer Anita Lorr, break down and pack up with Jim Fabiszak, and to the Zaetta family for letting me store my old cars in their garage, we could not practice without your generosity. If I have omitted anyone’s name, please forgive me, there are just so many moving pieces, thank you all. You make my job so much easier.
None of this would be possible if not for the efforts of two groups willing to help make it happen each year. Time Warner Cable’s Bill Putnam, who comes to Coronado on his holiday off to coordinate the live feed set up and our city manager’s office, Tom Ritter, Mary Clifford and Janine Zúñiga for inviting me back again… six times. KYDS TV would not be able to provide this community service at no cost to the city if not for their efforts and assistance.
We did it again, and these are the people that made it happen. Each year as I look ahead I get uneasy faced with the challenge of putting on our show. But I think we can now call KYDS TV a CORONADO tradition. I am already thinking about how to improve on this year’s successes and eager to come back next year.
Sincerely,
Mark Gilliland
Producer
KYDS TV
