Re: The Adventures of Channel 221 Evening News (1b/?)
anonymous
July 4 2011, 21:36:30 UTC
John doesn't mind his job at all. In fact, he rather likes his job. Being a cameraman is not at all a bad job. The people are nice, the hours are at least regular, and it's fairly easy. It's not really what he would like to be doing, but at least it pays the bills.
Harry helped him get the job. They always used to joke about how they both ended up in the TV biz, with Harry on one side of the camera and John on the other. Harry helped him snag the interview, but he's confident he got the job based on his own skill.
Sometimes he wishes it were a tad bit more exciting.
::
He finds Sherlock after the show, and gets his first real look at him. He’s standing around rather irritably, having his makeup removed by a motherly-looking old lady.
"Um, wow," he thinks, hoping the blood rushing to his cheeks and...other places...isn't too obvious. Sherlock is tall. And thin. And has messy, curly hair. And--oh god--those cheekbones. It's like someone took all John’s buttons and lined them up and tap-danced on them.
“Um. Hello?”
Sherlock turns, straightening his suit lapels and waving off the makeup lady. John is positive that he sees her wink at Sherlock before leaving. “Hello.” He puts his hands in his pockets and subjects John to a cool stare, and John feels the compunction to say something.
“That stuff you said earlier-about me-how did you know?”
Sherlock begins to walk, his long stride forcing John to hurry to keep up with him.
“Oh, that? Simple. Your ID tags says John Watson, so you’re Harriet Watson’s brother. You’re obviously new to the show, if you didn’t understand why the others were upset. But you know your way around the camera in a way that says technically skilled. Thus, not new to the business. Furthermore, you haven’t seen the show recently, or even seen any news or television. That says long absence in a place that receives little or no connection with the outside world. The tan lines around your wrists and neck indicate work, not vacation. So, either you were filming on a long assignment in a remote place, probably of desert or tropical climate. Probably a documentary, then. The injury part is obvious, as are the signs of stress. Your limp seems to trouble you erratically, and you are obviously irritated by it. Probably psychosomatic. You were, however, wounded in your left shoulder. It’s fully healed now, but you’re still not used to using it, suggesting that it was quite serious, requiring you to avoid using it while it was treated. So a desert climate that is also a combat zone. That narrows it down to much of the Middle East and certain parts of Africa. I know of two projects in those areas from the last year-one in Sudan and one in Afghanistan. You’ve been in the hospital-you must have, with those injuries, but, hmmm, you could have caught up with the news in the hospital. You didn’t bother. That indicates a general lethargy and disinterest with normal life. Understandable, as you’ve been working on this project for at least a year, maybe two. Your cheap clothes say you’ve fallen on hard times and have probably taken this job as a way of getting your feet back under you. There’s more, of course, but I’m rather in a hurry.”
He stops abruptly, and pivots.
“Our of curiosity, which one was it?”
John gapes. He opens his mouth, closes it, shakes his head, and sighs.
“Afghanistan. But that’s-that’s absolutely amazing! I mean-wow.”
For the first time, Sherlock seems to really look at him. His eyes are penetrating, but John can’t say he finds the sensation completely unpleasant.
“Is it, now,” he says slowly. “So. A cameraman used to documentary filmmaking in Afghanistan. You’ve seen violence. And you’re not some moron who’s just learned how to work a camera.” He claps his hands. “Fantastic! I can fire my current cameraman, finally! From now on, you’ll work for me. I do a lot of fieldwork, you should like that.”
Re: The Adventures of Channel 221 Evening News (1b/?)
anonymous
July 5 2011, 03:37:19 UTC
OP here!
EEEEEEEEEEE! Great job so far!
I love how Sherlock just couldn't seem to finish telling John his life story without slipping in a "Shut up Anderson" at the end. And I love that John is new to the station. That will make things a lot more interesting! And he's already smitten with Sherlock of course!
I also already like Mrs. Hudson just for that wink.
Re: The Adventures of Channel 221 Evening News (1b/?)madrona_8July 5 2011, 06:09:34 UTC
Yes! It's perfect. Forget Anchorman it's Broadcast News! I once heard the story of a sports camera op who got injured on the field, the American football field, during a 49's game. She had her shoulder reset to make it easier to hold the field camera. That's dedication. And yeah, field camera work and studio camera work is a bit different.
Harry helped him get the job. They always used to joke about how they both ended up in the TV biz, with Harry on one side of the camera and John on the other. Harry helped him snag the interview, but he's confident he got the job based on his own skill.
Sometimes he wishes it were a tad bit more exciting.
::
He finds Sherlock after the show, and gets his first real look at him. He’s standing around rather irritably, having his makeup removed by a motherly-looking old lady.
"Um, wow," he thinks, hoping the blood rushing to his cheeks and...other places...isn't too obvious. Sherlock is tall. And thin. And has messy, curly hair. And--oh god--those cheekbones. It's like someone took all John’s buttons and lined them up and tap-danced on them.
“Um. Hello?”
Sherlock turns, straightening his suit lapels and waving off the makeup lady. John is positive that he sees her wink at Sherlock before leaving.
“Hello.” He puts his hands in his pockets and subjects John to a cool stare, and John feels the compunction to say something.
“That stuff you said earlier-about me-how did you know?”
Sherlock begins to walk, his long stride forcing John to hurry to keep up with him.
“Oh, that? Simple. Your ID tags says John Watson, so you’re Harriet Watson’s brother. You’re obviously new to the show, if you didn’t understand why the others were upset. But you know your way around the camera in a way that says technically skilled. Thus, not new to the business. Furthermore, you haven’t seen the show recently, or even seen any news or television. That says long absence in a place that receives little or no connection with the outside world. The tan lines around your wrists and neck indicate work, not vacation. So, either you were filming on a long assignment in a remote place, probably of desert or tropical climate. Probably a documentary, then. The injury part is obvious, as are the signs of stress. Your limp seems to trouble you erratically, and you are obviously irritated by it. Probably psychosomatic. You were, however, wounded in your left shoulder. It’s fully healed now, but you’re still not used to using it, suggesting that it was quite serious, requiring you to avoid using it while it was treated. So a desert climate that is also a combat zone. That narrows it down to much of the Middle East and certain parts of Africa. I know of two projects in those areas from the last year-one in Sudan and one in Afghanistan. You’ve been in the hospital-you must have, with those injuries, but, hmmm, you could have caught up with the news in the hospital. You didn’t bother. That indicates a general lethargy and disinterest with normal life. Understandable, as you’ve been working on this project for at least a year, maybe two. Your cheap clothes say you’ve fallen on hard times and have probably taken this job as a way of getting your feet back under you. There’s more, of course, but I’m rather in a hurry.”
He stops abruptly, and pivots.
“Our of curiosity, which one was it?”
John gapes. He opens his mouth, closes it, shakes his head, and sighs.
“Afghanistan. But that’s-that’s absolutely amazing! I mean-wow.”
For the first time, Sherlock seems to really look at him. His eyes are penetrating, but John can’t say he finds the sensation completely unpleasant.
“Is it, now,” he says slowly. “So. A cameraman used to documentary filmmaking in Afghanistan. You’ve seen violence. And you’re not some moron who’s just learned how to work a camera.” He claps his hands. “Fantastic! I can fire my current cameraman, finally! From now on, you’ll work for me. I do a lot of fieldwork, you should like that.”
John feels himself smile.
“Yes, I think I will...Sherlock.”
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EEEEEEEEEEE! Great job so far!
I love how Sherlock just couldn't seem to finish telling John his life story without slipping in a "Shut up Anderson" at the end. And I love that John is new to the station. That will make things a lot more interesting! And he's already smitten with Sherlock of course!
I also already like Mrs. Hudson just for that wink.
Can't wait for more!
Reply
I once heard the story of a sports camera op who got injured on the field, the American football field, during a 49's game. She had her shoulder reset to make it easier to hold the field camera. That's dedication.
And yeah, field camera work and studio camera work is a bit different.
Reply
Just saying, this is very very amazing.
Now I shall keep reading. :D
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