Local Camera Shots

[Kerry]

I don't know the industry term for it but when the game goes to commercial brakes ABC would show live shots of LA. What would be some good local shots of OKC and what shots do you fear most?

Good shots: State Capitol, Bricktown, Devon construction site, Canal, National Memorial, zoo, downtown high-rises.

Most feared shots: cows grazing, oil pumps, junk car lots near the river.

I hate when I misspell a word in the title and there is no way to fix it

[dcsooner]

OKC DT does not currently have the density, vibrancy, nor positive aesthetic perception to pan across for a national audience. Hopefully, in a few years when all the planned upgrades are completed, many of the housing areas are sold and most of the open spaces are filled DT will offer more for the national audience to see and appreciate. Right now it is pretty non discript for a Major city DT.

[Kerry]

OKC DT does not currently have the density, vibrancy, nor positive aesthetic perception to pan across for a national audience. Hopefully, in a few years when all the planned upgrades are completed, many of the housing areas are sold and most of the open spaces are filled DT will offer more for the national audience to see and appreciate. Right now it is pretty non discript for a Major city DT.

Understood - but they are going to have to show something - so what will it be. I was also thinking Lake Hefner would be a good shot - sunsets and sailboats.

On a related note: did anyone notice the backgrounds used at the beginning of the game for the Lakers and Thunder banner?

On the left side of Lakers banner was the Hollywood sign and on the right was downtown LA. For the Thunder, on the left was downtown Tulsa on the right was downtown OKC.

[kevinpate]

Understood - but they are going to have to show something - so what will it be. I was also thinking Lake Hefner would be a good shot - sunsets and sailboats.

On a related note: did anyone notice the backgrounds used at the beginning of the game for the Lakers and Thunder banner?

On the left side of Lakers banner was the Hollywood sign and on the right was downtown LA. For the Thunder, on the left was downtown Tulsa on the right was downtown OKC.

I did not catch the early part, but given how the team is marketed, that's not a surprise to see a nod to the state's second largest city, which as I recall played fairly high into the whole pitch of 'of course Oklahoma City, the whole state even, would support the NBA coming to OKC.'

As to shots to use, those you mentioned positively earlier work. I wouldn't have an issue with showcasing some other things we're known for, i.e. certain pieces at OKC MOA, the Cowboy Hall of Fame (I know, I know, some old habits be hard to break though), rowing or speedboat footage from the river, carriage framed by Red Prime in background at night, Memorial at night, the Centennial Monuments, etc.

[dmoor82]

^^^ I saw The banner Kerry! with OKC skyline on the right and The Tulsa skyline on The left! cool i guess! I wish that some anouncers would get it right! OKC Thunder,not The Oklahoma Thunder!

[warreng88]

Looking up at the Skirvin would be a good shot.
The thirty foot Playoff banners with our main nine players on the south side of the CCC facing the Ford Center would be a good shot.
Bricktown Canal boats.
Red Prime Steakhouse building.
Broadway on 10th looking south.
Lake Hefner facing the lighthouse with the restaurants in the background.
First National Center with the Thunder Blue lights at the top.

Just a few to start the discussion.

[Watson410]

^^^ I saw The banner Kerry! with OKC skyline on the right and The Tulsa skyline on The left! cool i guess! I wish that some anouncers would get it right! OKC Thunder,not The Oklahoma Thunder!

Marc Jackson... I can't believe the crew from ABC wasn't in his ear telling him to at least say the team's name right.. It's a joke on ABC's part.

[HOT ROD]

perhaps Clay Bennett, Stern, or the NBA need to tell the commentators to get it right, as this is still a somewhat sensitive situation - ....

Here in China, we didn't get to see the sunday game (im so surprised - but I suppose it is because it was so late here when it was live there), but we will get to see the Tuesday game and at least one of the games in OKC.

Good thing that OKC drew the Lakers, because otherwise the Thunder may not have been on the playlist worldwide (in China, they MAINLY only show Kobe and LeBron games). They do a very good job highlights, but so far Kevin Durant is not at the same level (int'l broadcast wise) as the other two. So, with KD playing Kobe - we get to see all games (except sunday's). Woo hoo.

As for shots, I think a skyline shot from either East (I-40 looking to downtown) or West (I-40 looking downtown), and the airport looking downtown are good shots.

I wouldn't get too preturbed that downtown OKC doesn't yet have the density of most other major cities. This is OKC's first major league playoff series ever, and I'm sure downtown streets will be alive and well - at least I expect the streets to be packed.

I hope the OKC media is doing a good job getting the word out. Even if you aren't an NBA fan or Thunder fan or can't get a ticket to the game, OKC people should show up and create a festive atmosphere downtown! I think camera shots of this would also lend very well to OKC's downtown image.

As for the banner described earlier; I think it was a mistake to use Tulsa's skyline. They should have used the Capitol building on one side and the downtown skyline on the other side. I dont have anything against Tulsa or using their skyline other than people will be expecting it - and it shows negatively against OKC to use another city's skyline.

Like it or not, the team is Oklahoma City and therefore they should use things that are OKC. that's my take on it.

Otherwise, having that banner makes OKC appear much bigger (skyline wise) whereas when people visit they will be hugely disappointed (thus casting a negative against OKC - IMO). I hope ESPN/TNT doesn't make the same mistakes. ...

[HOT ROD]

IIRC, there was some national coverage (not very much though) of OKC when the Hornets were in town. I thought they had pretty decent coverage of the city scape (they mostly focused on bricktown, the canal action, some downtown density, and a few helicoptor pans of the skyline at night). I was actually impressed. ...

Adding to my list: I think the skyline shot from the river (looking East) is classic, especially if the trees/grass are green. Paseo District (with people in there), Asian District (nobody would think OKC has a Chinatown), Capital Hill (yep, OKC has a hispanic downtown), Stockyard's City (this one is a stretch - if they do, they need to BE SURE to show the sign and/or do a narrative so people don't get the idea that ALL of OKC is like Stockyard's City....), Penn/Classen - if there's stores/excitement, OCU campus, some inner city shots (especially if well behaved playing bball).

Any of these shots, in addition to the many downtown shots/scapes would be positive to OKC's urban image and probably would help change many opinions about the city. Again, using another city's skyline to me makes it seem like our's wasn't good enough. OKC has a nice skyline - while it should be bigger for the size of city/metro, it isn't bad. (OKC does have 1.3 million people. ....).

There are also MANY shots to be had close up that show the density - I bet many might think they were from another (much larger) city, in fact. haha The key is to get people in those shots, and I hope that is what Clay and the Mayor have in mind. ...

[Kerry]

HotRod - I agree with your banner comment. The Capitol building one one side and downtown on the other would have been better. The picture used for Tulsa was taken in such away to make it look like it was over the horizon and far away. If I didn't know what downtown Tulsa looked liked I wouldn't have even known it was Tulsa. Bricktown would have been another good choice for the banner.

[Richard at Remax]

hang a giant banner on one of the devon cranes

[BDP]

Won't the festival of the arts be going on during Thursday and Saturday's games? I think it shuts down at nine, but maybe there will be some opportunity for establishing shots there...

[Laramie]

Won't the festival of the arts be going on during Thursday and Saturday's games? I think it shuts down at nine, but maybe there will be some opportunity for establishing shots there...

Great point BDP, the tent site of the festival will provide a great backdrop for camera views coupled with the construction, fountains, Bricktown, Oklahoma City Memerial and the sundry pics of OKC they usually show.

I remember when I was in Houston in 1985 and attended their Arts festival which is in the heart of what I discovered to be the gay district (Montrose & Westhimer) and the leather like bars which saturatured that area. I tried to play if off as if it was nothing new; however, being from Oklahoma City area (my cousins were LOL), I was in for a new awakening. There stood outside these 6'3" talll women with deep voices and smoking casualy. There were at least three leather-like bars which looked biker types. The people were very friendly. Saw some she-males or whatever with broad shoulders looking as though they could go bear-hunting with a switch--made me nervous. I have seen this lifestyle in California, but Houston?

A great time was had in Houston and the Arts Festival there rivaled what you see at OKC's festival.

We have some great seasonal events going on in Oklahoma City and as soon as the river becomes more swimmer-friendly OkC will be a great destination city.

I spent a lot of my childhood swimming in the then North Canadian River near the Walnut Grove area and I lost a childhood friend in that river. Sure you got sick a few times; however, I'm sure that nasty water t built up our immunity.

[okcsince1987]

I am pretty offended by the banner. I haven't seen it because I'm in New York at the moment but to hear about it makes me pretty angry. The team is the OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER, not the Tulsa and OKC Thunder. Of course the whole state should support them but you don't see additional pics of Albany or Syracuse next to the New York Knicks photos even though I'm sure people from those places go to their games. Or Raliegh next to Charlotte or Baton Rough next to New Orleans. I am proud to be from OKC....not Tulsa. I want to be represented as an OKC fan. It's a little embarrassing really. I am fine with them showing Bricktown or other areas of the city just fine. And come to think of it, the whole deal with the team colors with one part for OU and the other for OSU is ridiculous. This is our team and they are allowed to come to games. That's just how it is. Sorry but I've gotten out of hand I suppose but I had to get it off my chest. Does anyone else feel the same?

[HOT ROD]

i concurr wholeheartedly.

[Kerry]

I am pretty offended by the banner. I haven't seen it because I'm in New York at the moment but to hear about it makes me pretty angry. The team is the OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER, not the Tulsa and OKC Thunder.

Let me clarrify - the 'banner' was a graphic image used by ABC on TV at the start of Game 1. The broadcast started and two banners (one for the Thunder and one for the Lakers) flew onto the screen to say Thunder vs Lakers. That is the banner we are talking about. I don't know if it was something ABC created or if the teams and NBA had to approve them or what. I haven't seen them used on TNT.

[Dustin]

Thank you Brian Davis!! Oklahoma is in the Southern Plains! Someone finally got it right!

[PennyQuilts]

Thank you Brian Davis!! Oklahoma is in the Southern Plains! Someone finally got it right!

I saw that - I agree - THANK YOU!

[OSUMom]

I didn't get the watch the game last night. What all did they show?

[Luke]

The camera shots from last night were kinda lame. Didn't show the best.

They showed the bridge near Chelino's over the canal... but no boats were going by.

They showed the typical Bricktown shot from the top of the parking garage which was not bad.

They showed a shot that appeared to be from where the play ground in bricktown is or maybe the fountains but the railroad barrier wall in the foreground wasn't very nice looking because it obstructed the most of the skyline beyond.

The best shot BY FAR was the typical post card shot of the crystal bridge and the skyline to the left of it.

[mugofbeer]

I didn't get to see the first half, either. Did they talk much about the redevelopments at all?

[HOT ROD]

they also showed a classic CBD shot (looking from the East, closeup) with the FNC in white lights as the anchor. this was the ONLY shot I was able to see over here in China, they blank out all of the US specific content/ads as much as possible.

I thought the FNC shot was very very big city (even though the shot was very short for us).

I thought FNC would be in blue lights, though. But at least the white light was very white and very clean looking. ....

[Mr. T in OKC]

Many of the shots used for the telecast were not current. I've noticed that several times while watching Thunder games in december where the trees all have green leaves. I did see one shot with the blue lights though.