- 11:31 AM, Monday,
June 10th 2024:
-
- So looking back on
the entries last month, I alluded that I was
about to have my zoom meeting with my dude at Bally a
month ago and then never told you guys what
happened... and it's probably taken a full month to
process what's happening...
-
- So this guy, who
sadly will remain nameless for a bit longer (thanks to
my extreme PTSD from the NFL shit) was the head
of the second Bally meeting I had. He's the guy
that got the OK from HIS boss to grant me
access to the NBA and NHL games. He put HIS name
on the line, and just trusted I wouldn't overstep my
bounds... which of course I didn't. In fact, I talked
the ushers into ALL SORTS of access that I
didn't end up taking simply because I didn't want to
upset the apple cart. I'll admit, that was hard. I
could've been sitting on the court during that
NBA game (an usher looked at my pass, gave me the
go-ahead to a space and I walked away). I knew the
future was brighter than that moment.
-
- Let me also say
that in all of these meetings? I've been treated,
well, appropriately... because my introduction wasn't
as "a guy with a camera". I'm the head of a production
company and I have 30 years of history to back it
up. From films to a Guinness World Record... to the
literal VR180 production reels I'm showing them that
cover the GLOBE in this type of production. That was
not the case with the NFL. The dude that showed
my public video to his NFL friend acted like the
producer and director of the whole thing. It made
every step insane, 'cause no one ever talked with me
even though I was the only guy with any experience.
Then after the Super Bowl was greenlit? They slowly
started to ask for more and more workflow information
in an attempt to bring everything in-house and leave
me behind. I actually respect that to be honest - it's
the appropriate move...
IF YOU THINK I'M A CAMERAMAN.
That initial introduction buried me and I didn't even
realize how much until this go-round with Bally and
how resepctful and understanding they've been. It's
night and day and I cannot thank JD enough for what
he's started.
-
- So what came out
in our strategy meeting is that... let's call him
Pete. Need a name 'cause he's gonna come up a bunch.
Ya know what? Fuck that. His name is John Hefner and
he's one of the coolest industry professionals I've
ever met. I can't let my previous trauma dim
HIS light. If for some reason he never wants to
be mentioned it's super easy to change his name. I
mentioned JD, so I'll mention John. Might even need to
do a podcast with him at this rate.
-
- CAN I GET TO THE POINT?
So Hef, who is an Executive Producer at Bally Sports
West is not only trying to set up the myriad of
meetings at Bally with their digital team, their sales
team, their marketing team... he's decided to just go
all-in. He's setting up meetings with the LA Kings,
the LA Clippers, the LA Dodgers and Amazon
Live Sports. He's basically opening his rolodex to
build this thing up. And the crazy thing is? Even as
it pertains to Bally? He has no actual reward for this
working. He's involved in broadcast, this has
NOTHING to do with that. He's setting up these
meetings and then walking AWAY because it doesn't
pertain to him.
-
- <blink>
-
- He's just helping
'cause he thinks it's huge and in the few times we've
met and talked he just trusts me. He's never included
himself, he's never asked for anything... but
understand this (and I'll put this in writing) he's
now going to be included. He's now in the same boat as
JD and the others who have helped: they're gonna be
part of this company. I know their backgrounds, I know
where they excel, I know what they've produced and
these are EXACTLY the people you want in your
corner. Both JD and John bought headsets on their own
dime simply to LOOK at what I'm making and be able to
communicate in the same language with me. They've
moved aggressively and put their own name on the line
simply beacuse they believed in me and what I'm doing.
They're secure enough with themselves that they KNOW
what they bring to the table, they don't have to lie
and pretend they're producing or directing this
content (nor would it even cross their mind if I'm
brutally honest). There's no one I'd rather go into
battle with. And battle it's gonna be...
-
- Now the first step
on the "Holy shit, Hef is taking me under his wing and
introducing me to everyone he's ever known simply to
help me" plan... the LA Kings.
-
- Now I toyed
with not making this an entry video, but it's honestly
the only way anyone will see some of this hockey
footage even if it has to stay locked for the
forseeable future. I mean I only have 100 entry
slots a year and I can't make every presentation
it's own video, but this is very hockey centered and I
know someday some fans will appreciate that. So here's
where that will go...
-
-
- Now let's just
assume you saw that and...
-
- ...so cool. It
helps so much to be able to dip into all the sports at
the beginning and then focus on the Kings. I'm not
exactly sure how the logistics would work with the
Kings or even where the budget would be for something
like this... but what I know for certain is they're
all gonna be wowed by this. They've literally never
seen this and the right people will get it to the
right people... it will just take time. In fact I can
tell you right now that the meeting on Wednesday will
end with me having this reaction: "It was perfect.
Everyone loved it. I have no idea when the next
meeting will be."
-
- But that's why you
have a Hef in your corner who just keeps lining 'em
up, and I come in and knock 'em down. It's a helluva
tandem and we will find a way to make this a
legitimate team.
-
- I gotta say,
I cannot begin to tell you how thankful I am
to be rebuilding after the NFL. And again, the NFL may
very well still be on the table (although when the
fuck are they gonna announce the merger already?!?!?)
but I come back to the table with all the credibility.
Wonderful position to be in.
-
- Wish me luck on
Wednesday!
-
- Adam
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