B Smith's Second Sticks

FIRST UP: The Bipartisan Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act bill might be the most important piece of legislature not only for non-scripted workers but for people who work in all levels of entertainment. It's time for all of us to step up and make our intetnions known. Please click the link below and you'll find a pre-written letter that asks Congress to support this initiative. Ask those in your life (entertainment workers or not) to support your efforts by clicking the link, and also send a letter. Feel free to personalize the letter, too. The more letters we send, the better the chance this bill will pass. We need to get this done before election day! Use your voice and let Congress know where you stand!The Pod: B Smith's Second Sticks' guest today is Donald Meyerson, former long-time challenge producer and currently a senior producer with The Blaze, a conservative media group based in Texas. Donald and I actually have a number of shows in common in our past, including Hell's Kitchen, Escape Club and Redneck Island. On Redneck, we recounted the conditions in Mexico, the digging of many holes, and the lifeguard who couldn't swim (a metaphor for Redneck if ever there was one). We also recall the brilliant and creative Fred Birkhead, one of the best challenge producers in the business. Donald also talks about his work post-Covid and the changing attitudes that had begun, in his mind, to pervade the industry. Conversations with a like-minded actor on a feature film he worked on lead him to the fast-growing YouTube universe and ultimately to Blaze Media, a right-leaning media company founded by conservative tv and radio talk host Glenn Beck. It goes without saying that the political leanings of Donald and myself are far apart. However, conversations across the aisle are going to be necessary if we are ever going to overcome the massive polarization that plagues our country. We end with discourse about the bipartisan tax incentive bill and the upcoming election. One thing we agree on: people need to get out and vote by or before November 3. The choice is yours to participate in our democracy while we still have one.Show notes:Click the link and tell Congress to pass the Bipartisan Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act bill:https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-congress-pass-the-bipartisan-motion-picture-television-and-entertainment-revitalization-act-mpteraAd notes:F22 Studios for all your equipment and studio needs, support local industry!https://f22studiosla.com/Take 30% off now on fresh and delicious Indian food delivered to your door from The Cumin ClubThe Cumin Club - 5-Minute Indian MealsGet 30% OFF | Promo Code: STICKShttps://promocode.to/the-cumin-club/sticks-mp0Take 25% off now on amazing caffeine and protein energy bars from Quantum Energy SquaresQuantum Energy Square - Caffeine + Protein Energy BarGet 25% OFF | Promo Code: STICKShttps://promocode.to/quantum-energy-square/sticks-klx

In part 2 of B Smith's Second Sticks conversation with Tech Supervisor and all-around talented good guy Nick Borges, we get a little dystopian. We first touch base on the concept of A.I. and how that will affect the creative landscape, then discuss the reality for most people having to constantly travel in order to work in our industry. The halcyon days of getting to pick and choose shows is long gone, and we find ourselves on the side of more supply than demand, with certain disciplines within our genre not even allowing for that option. We address the "road warrior" idea, which is where we are at now, but is severely unattractive for workers who are parents and spouses and partners. But we shift to the fact that most of us are creative people, with a need to create. Nick's YouTube show, "Songwriting Covered," focuses on the mutual admiration of musicians as they talk about song writing and perform each others songs. You can be sure that, as a musician himself, Nick will present this material with all the care and attention it deserves, although I have no doubt that he would do the same with a conversation about plastic deck chairs-- you'll just have to listen to the pod! Click in the show notes below to access the show.Show notes:https://www.songwritingcovered.com/https://www.youtube.com/@SongwritingCoveredAd notes:F22 Studios for all your equipment and studio needs, support local industry!https://f22studiosla.com/Take 30% off now on fresh and delicious Indian food delivered to your door from The Cumin ClubThe Cumin Club - 5-Minute Indian MealsGet 30% OFF | Promo Code: STICKShttps://promocode.to/the-cumin-club/sticks-mp0Take 25% off now on amazing caffeine and protein energy bars from Quantum Energy SquaresQuantum Energy Square - Caffeine + Protein Energy BarGet 25% OFF | Promo Code: STICKShttps://promocode.to/quantum-energy-square/sticks-klx

Everyone likes Nick Borges. B Smith's Second Sticks considers this is a universal truth, similar to the sun rises in the east, and a hot dog tastes better with a ball game in front of it. In part one of a two-part long-conceived podcast, Nick and I kick off our reunion with a chat about some of his little-known talents outside of his career as a well-regarded tech supervisor. We also talk about his origins as a Gator (Gainesville, Florida, home of Tom Petty), and the creative tendencies that brought him to Los Angeles. The strike of 2008 led him into the reality television arena and ultimately his still-fortuitous partnership with director Brian Smith. We spend a lot of time recounting the unfortunate departure of the show Master Chef to Australia, and later, Canada. It seems backwards and cruel that so many talented people can contribute for so long in a collaborative effort to the success of a production like MC, and then it can be spirited away in the time it takes a bean-counting executive to sign the marching orders. Alas, this is the world we live in as far as non-scripted production goes, and we all know the risks. At least Nick has kept the spirit of The Shanty alive since its final season; like the immortal venue CBGB's, the legend lives on! Enjoy the first part of this two-parter!Ad notes:F22 Studios for all your equipment and studio needs, support local industry!https://f22studiosla.com/Take 30% off now on fresh and delicious Indian food delivered to your door from The Cumin ClubThe Cumin Club - 5-Minute Indian MealsGet 30% OFF | Promo Code: STICKShttps://promocode.to/the-cumin-club/sticks-mp0Take 25% off now on amazing caffeine and protein energy bars from Quantum Energy SquaresQuantum Energy Square - Caffeine + Protein Energy BarGet 25% OFF | Promo Code: STICKShttps://promocode.to/quantum-energy-square/sticks-klx

The possibility of a federal tax incentive that actually includes the Non-Scripted genre is as uplifting a notion as we've had in our particular universe for some time. Naturally, we live in turbulent times in many different ways. So B Smith's Second Sticks sought out a voice of reason to try and make sense of it all. Ryan Broussard is VP of Sales and Production Incentives at Wrapbook, and has advised productions nationally for many years in regards to production incentives on both a state and a national level. He and I discuss the federal tax incentive and, in such a time of political and industry unrest, whether or not it has a chance of passing into law, and what form that would ultimately take. We also touch base on the Unscripted Summit, an annual meeting of unscripted production companies and producers which he spoke at, and get a sense of the general pulse of producers within our genre. We also spend quite a while on the state of California and their incentives package, and consider the the concept of whether larger shows that have left might have enough financial reason to come back to the state, and to Los Angeles. A lot of information and useful stuff, people! Give this one a listen!Show notes:https://www.wrapbook.com/blog/unscripted-production-incentivesAd notes:F22 Studios for all your equipment and studio needs, support local industry!https://f22studiosla.com/Take 30% off now on fresh and delicious Indian food delivered to your door from The Cumin ClubThe Cumin Club - 5-Minute Indian MealsGet 30% OFF | Promo Code: STICKShttps://promocode.to/the-cumin-club/sticks-mp0Take 25% off now on amazing caffeine and protein energy bars from Quantum Energy SquaresQuantum Energy Square - Caffeine + Protein Energy BarGet 25% OFF | Promo Code: STICKShttps://promocode.to/quantum-energy-square/sticks-klx

The world of television production is at the mercy of constant winds of change, some good and some for ill, which carry its participants in every which direction. Sometimes we may go years without seeing people whith whom we have established relationships. If or (hopefully) when we get a chance to make those long-lost connections, there is a pure joy that is released into the world. Thus it is with this weeks' guest, Director of Photography Jason Hafer, who joins B Smith's Second Sticks. Hafer and I haven't seen each other in about 9 years (we're confirming this) so there's a lot of catching up. It means unearthing his origins in unscripted with a "dreams-can-come-true" show called "The Moment" starring hall-of-fame quarterback Kurt Warner, his journey within different genres, and his brief moment in front of the camera in "Prom Queens." Hafer's collaboration with director Ramy Romany has been a fortuitous one, and we take a long look at "The Contender", a boxing reality show that only lasted one season, but made a lasting impact with it's technical and aesthetic choices. We also get up to date with his current projects, both old shows (The Bachelor franchise) and new, with the yet-to-be-released Netflx show "Schooled". Co-produced by Jimmy Kimmel's company, it is the first and currently the only non-scripted show to be shot in Los Angeles and California under the state 4.0 tax incentive program. Finally, Hafer gives us a preview of his upcoming podcast "The Reinvented Dad," which will examine the idea of the modern father through his own unique experiences. Please give the pod a listen, lots of great stuff this week! A final note: if you haven't seen or heard from your production acquaintances and friends for a long time, maybe reach out to them... they probably need to hear from you.Ad links:F22 Studios for all your equipment and studio needs, support local industry!https://f22studiosla.com/Take 30% off now on fresh and delicious Indian food delivered to your door from The Cumin Club???? The Cumin Club - 5-Minute Indian Meals???? Get 30% OFF | Promo Code: STICKShttps://promocode.to/the-cumin-club/sticks-mp0Take 25% off now on amazing caffeine and protein energy bars from Quantum Energy Squares???? Quantum Energy Square - Caffeine + Protein Energy Bar???? Get 25% OFF | Promo Code: STICKShttps://promocode.to/quantum-energy-square/sticks-klx