This wasn’t my favorite song on the new Depeche Mode album, but the video is amazing, and as a result it’s really grown on me.
4 months ago
July 1, 2009
During the evenings aboard the Carnival Conquest they play movies and videos on a gigantic LCD screen.
I captured this video of Eliza as she began to rock out to some sappy pop song. It starts out slow and gradually increases in cuteness and adorability.
Link:// ELIZAWATKINS.COM
5 months ago
June 2, 2009
Here’s a little HD video I shot with my Canon 5D II of one of my robots being battered by sea water. Trust me, it looks pretty sweet in full HD. I’m probably going to have to upgrage my Vimeo account (and upload it there) to prove it.
5 months ago
June 1, 2009
no time for duty free shopping!
Accidentally ending up in Montego Bay, Jamaica is the least of the problems for the Channel 6 news team. The sea water has already began rusting the live van, and their debit cards have been declined because they forgot to call their banks ahead of time. Looks like they won’t be able to buy any fancy dinners to put on the expense report this time.
Of course, all of this contributed to them missing another live shot.
5 months ago
May 31, 2009
You know you’re in the Gulf because of all the oil platforms and clunky ships all over the place.
Anyway, I snapped this shot as we walked along the starboard deck at sunset, trying to get a spot on the railing amongst all the other cruisers. I set the camera down on the railing and fired off a few shots, and came away with this cool image.
5 months ago
May 30, 2009
rusting away again in Margaritaville
The cruise ship docked in Montego Bay this morning and we wasted no time hitting the beach. I’ve spent the past few days getting acquainted with the layout of the Carnival Conquest, and I’m fully prepared to defend the vessel from disgruntled Navy Seals and Special Forces commandos who take over the ship (like in Under Seige or Speed 2). While everyone else was sipping pina coladas I’ve been climbing through miles of air conditioning ducts and practicing maneuvering the ship as if it were flipped over. I think it’ll all pay off.
Other than that, I’ve been to the beach, some shops, and Margaritaville (where all shakers of salt are firmly glued to the table).
5 months ago
May 28, 2009
heading out to sea…
After months of anticipation, our cruise vacation is finally underway! As of this blog post, we’ve been at sea for about six hours now and I’m not showing any signs of sea sickness. (In case you didn’t know: I have terrible motion sickness issues and what not).
Usually I get doped up on Dramamine, but for the cruise I’ve just been wearing my fashionable, new Psi-Bands. And I’m doing pretty well as long as I don’t peer our a window and see the ocean going in the opposite direction.
We have wifi in our stateroom, so I’ll be sharing some photos and blog posts throughout the week. That is, when I’m not stuffing my face at one of the numerous buffets. Bon Voyage! Wait. Do I say ‘bon voyage’ or do you only say that to people who are sailing away?
5 months ago
May 25, 2009
another missed live shot for Channel 6…
May sweeps did not treat the Channel 6 news team very well, and missing this live shot only added to their misery. Just goes to show that the GPS navigator isn’t always right.
5 months ago
May 19, 2009
working in the studio this week
Here’s a quick pic I snapped of the studio lighting setup that I’m working with this week, and carefully maneuvering around. I’m taking tons of headshots and publicity stills of the KPRC talent while trying not to trip over any cords and lighting stands.
Of course, the real talent is Andy Patterson, the lighting director. Between him and the fabulous Canon 5DII, I’m just a guy pushing a button. I’ll be posting some of my work as soon as I get the shots processed (and I get the clearance).
5 months ago
May 14, 2009
dollar bin robots FTW!
Got these little troublemakers at Target in the “soon to be in a landfill” section at the front of the store. This photo sorta makes me want to cue up the “little green bag” Reservoir Dog theme music as they stroll away from their packaging in the far distance.
6 months ago
May 11, 2009
my first year of being a daddy
It’s been a full year since we’ve adopted Eliza and I became a Daddy. Here’s a list of just a few of the little things I’ve learned:
At some point you begin to think of adult women on the Disney Channel as hot. Choo Choo Soul anyone? (My wife just said “Gross!” when she read this over my shoulder.)
There is no time for blogging and videogames. Okay, I can’t really say there isn’t time for them. There just isn’t time for BOTH of them. Shotgunning wasteland raiders in the face in Fallout 3 usually wins over all the typing and thinking and photoshopping. Although, I do keep the Eliza’s blog pretty well updated.
I need to watch my language. Seriously. This kid picks up words and movements amazingly fast, and I’m actually kinda surprised that she hasn’t randomly said the “F-word” at the most inopportune moment. I do think that she started to pick up the word, “shit” a few weeks ago, but Mommy and I caught that one really fast have since started saying “shoe” instead. We went overboard, constantly pointing out footwear until she was, in fact, only talking about shoes.
It’s hard not to want to give her Cola. When she was a tiny baby, we’d always get excited whenever she’d try a new kind of baby food. And now we’re in the phase where it’s fun to give her an occasional french fry or corn dog. That’s fine, but what she really wants is to drink my Coke - and will pull out every cute trick in the book to get a sip. I’d be lying if I said she didn’t sometimes get her way.
Being a father is awesome. I love this little kid, and it’s hard not feel like a rockstar every day when she starts screaming wildly and chanting “Dada! Dada! Dada!” I’m enjoying every second of it while I can because I know it’s only a matter of time until she wants me to drop her off a block before school so her friends don’t see her getting out of my old 2007 Subaru legacy.
6 months ago
May 9, 2009
click on JL
Click on JL was a video tech blog, hosted by JL Watkins (who also shot and produced each segment) that aired on WYFF4 news and WYFF4.com. Each segment delved into the quirky aspects of online and gadget culture. The vodcast has been nominated for several Southwest Regional Emmy awards, was routinely sent out to other Hearst-Argyle Television affiliates and broadcast in several other television markets across the country. JL recently put his tech knowledge to use in WYFF4’s DTV Transition PSA campaign.
UPDATE: Click on JL was just nominated for another NATAS Southeast Emmy, with JL getting the “On-Camera Talent: Performer” nomination. Fun Fact: He won this award in the previous 2 years, and is hoping to make it a trilogy (but is still, you know, “thrilled to just be nominated” and all that stuff).
POPULAR “CLICK ON JL” SEGMENTS:
Click on JL #70: “Gadget Car” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM5O7Ir9kzY
Click on JL #69: Tech Adventures 2007″ - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUewcpHUNS8
Click on JL#36: “Can You Hear Me now?” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnHXFgnkPDw
Click on JL #44: “Laptop CPR” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj0SgoB8UJE
Click on JL #6: “Spyware” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLRqXVRVrv8
Click on JL #18: “Wired Weddings” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA6ckn2GHh8
Click on JL #71: “Cell Phone Torture Test” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InL3hD0SuVY
Click on JL #72: “Virtual Workout” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCG1vLVUMtU
Click on JL#38: “Daylight Saving Time” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgYosNdqit8
Click on JL: “eCard Dangers” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KKbxuELwlE
Click on JL: ‘Going Green” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-spXbySLkE
Click on JL: “Convert Analog Cassettes” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGSzDznaRt8
Click here for a complete list of all the Click on JL segments that aired on WYFF/WYFF4.com.
“CLICK ON JL” AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS:
“Series” - 2008 RTNDAC Award
“SC Reporter of the Year” (Runner-up) - 2008 RTNDAC Award (Finalist)
“On-Camera Talent: Performer” - 2008 NATAS EMMY Award
“Specialty Assignment Report” - 2008 NATAS EMMY (Nomination)
“On-Camera Talent: Specialty Reporter - 2008 NATAS EMMY (Nomination)
“Series” - 2008 South Carolina AP Award
“Award of Merit” - 2008 SCBA Star Award
“On-Camera Talent: Performer” - 2007 NATAS EMMY Award
“On-Camera Talent: Specialty Reporter” - 2007 NATAS EMMY Award
“Specialty Assignment Report” - 2007 NATAS EMMY (Nomination)
“Business / Consumer Report” - 2007 NATAS EMMY (Nomination - “Tech the Halls”)
“CLICK ON JL” PROMOS
Tech the Halls -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwEJ0NRAzIo
Click on JL - “Click 70 promo” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq_XBfG3Z8o
Click on JL - “Click 71 promo” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ713HdHlFg
Click on JL series promo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c93uBPcr1bU
“CLICK ON JL” OUTTAKES:
2006-2007 outtake reel - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfZXdyMafjY
DTV Transition PSA outtakes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwEJ0NRAzIo
Click on JL #33 outtakes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mmm9fQhALY
6 months ago
May 1, 2009
JL Watkins video directory
Here’s a ton of links to my various videography stuff. Even though I’ve broken down everything into categories (like on-air and promotional production), I have shot and edited nearly all of the video in this directory.
VIDEOGRAPHER & EDITOR:
Mr. Wayne’s Field of Dreams - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBKf5dY8KWI
Nothing Missing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO_rhXeMifE
Juan the Paparazzo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esovoNCiUgg
Women of Dipstick Auto - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyBaxEwgmC0
Inside the FBI Academy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nk1CyL8CwI
Texting Test Simulator - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rHoMi3DErg
Tongue Splitting - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtKR0kdM-Tc
Holy Hip Hop - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaZBXFKIkzg
Riding the Bus - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1idT1-NiMIM
PDX Fashion ‘03 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fy9p3fwVIE
PROMOTIONS PREDITOR:
KPRC - “Conan’s Texas Sized Fun” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ_J5tytwr8
KPRC - “Frank’s Magic Finger” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_SflBLUl_Q
KPRC - “Frank Gets It Right” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZwifGpQVc8
KPRC - “We Are Houston” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufrlR2QOzro
KPRC - “New Economy” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAtSPUMqzVM
WYFF4 - “2008 Anchor Image Campaign” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPnyciY5nsQ
WYFF4 - “John Knows Weather - Umbrella” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jnOwWslk3s
WYFF4 - “John Knows Weather - Sunscreen” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ2Mmeyux9Q
WYFF4 - “High School Playbook - Mascot Football” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0Nd-0IdeHU
WYFF4 - “High School Playbook - Mascot Training” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb5B-8-GPAw
Click on JL - “Click 70 promo” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq_XBfG3Z8o
Click on JL - “Click 71 promo” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ713HdHlFg
PROMOTIONS PRODUCER:
WYFF4 Topical Promos (reel) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R46QuNpGl10
ON-AIR TALENT / REPORTING:
Click on JL #69: Tech Adventures 2007″ - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUewcpHUNS8
WYFF4 DTV Transition PSA (3:00) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QheBQDVdoUQ
WYFF 4 “Tech the Halls” promos - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwEJ0NRAzIo
Click on JL #70: “Gadget Car” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM5O7Ir9kzY
Click on JL #71: “Cell Phone Torture Test” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InL3hD0SuVY
High School Playbook - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=324j1HsAAQI
WYFF4 “Road to Torino” promos - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq5-BXQEsEM
Click on JL series promo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c93uBPcr1bU
Click on JL #36 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnHXFgnkPDw
You can find many more fun tech segments in the “Click on JL” section.
CORPORATE PROMOTION:
HATV 2006 Olympics Coverage (producer/editor) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfpaCjw_wRE
KPTV “10pm News” promos (videographer) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeNrQ-1bQfQ
PERSONAL PROJECTS AND FILM:
Reporting from my Mom’s basement (age 14) -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp8W5_c7Zw8
My Robot Humps - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgDSTNSQHR8
Last Girlfriend - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdVzYhszuM0
Candy Cane Incident - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlIih_0afnA
Represent - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e8qgGRLneQ
Star Trek Doll Theater - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAXRpSkc-GE
Our Driver Alex - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AULV_p-2qJo
KyAnn and JL Get Married! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4JDbuCXE3Q
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