She stared down the length of the platform waiting for the train to pull in. A few construction workers milled around and a painter was putting some finishing touches on a wall. The station was scheduled to open in a week and looked already complete. Everyone just seemed to be looking busy, avoiding some boss, or avoiding some major job that would be a hassle that no one really wanted to do on a Friday. As long as the train ran and nothing really fell apart on the first day, this job was done as far as the construction workers were concerned.
I held the camera balanced on my shoulder, the fulcrum comfortably on a foam pad. I looked through the viewfinder to line up the shot, but it was nothing too out of the ordinary. I’d filmed scenes like this tons of times. I shoot her giving her spiel about the new train line as the train pulls into the station, we’ll get on, get some footage and more spiel on the train, then back here to get some shots I’ll wander around, trying to get the coolest new shit for stock footage. No problem.
She tested the microphone with a few quick words, but a station worker or someone in a high visibility vest who seemed to be in the know yelled that the train would be delayed 5 minutes. We both sighed almost simultaneously.
She looked dead into the camera, and I looked at her through the video finder. Hey, she said quietly into the microphone she pushed up to her lips. Yeah? I replied through the microphone I was wearing for communication with the control back at the station. What the fuck is this shit? I laughed. No idea I whispered. Through our mics and earpieces, we could talk with no one else hearing, though we definitely looked weird- especially when we laughed.
What got you into this? The station, the door? I joked to reply, she was cute and I was flirty, fuck it I was single and I think she was. There was a rumor she was fucking one of the anchors, but I don’t know if it was true. Na, she replied laughing, what got you into being a cameraman. Oh, well it seemed interesting, I never wanted a day job. I wanted something with a little adventure, so I went to college for production. Directing is actually a bit boring to me, and no matter what jobs I’ve done around the station, I keep coming back to this. What can I say, I like it. Never a dull day, or well until the train is delayed. She laughed again. You never wanted to be a reporter? Oh god no. I laughed, no offense you do a great job and make it look easy, but I’m not an in-front-of-the-camera kind of person. As odd as it is to say as a cameraman, I’m camera shy. She laughed again, then sighed. I wanted to be one for a while. I thought I’d be a bit famous and make a nice salary. It seemed like a path that was well-worn and easy, well not easy per se, not hard, or not as hard as others. It wasn’t like being a movie star, something that with a bit of perseverance and willingness to go weird places and do weird things, she gestured with her head at the train tracks behind much to my amusement, it was an achievable like. Honestly, though, I think I just took the path of least resistance and I’m having second doubts. I just don’t really like it. She shrugged and looked straight into the camera. But I have no ambition for this or anything else really, so I guess it’s better than working in a steel mill.
Or carrying a heavy-ass camera all day. I said smiling.
Yeah, I’d be in better shape though.
In the distance, a train horn sounded. She looked down the track, then back to me. She strained her shoulders and put on her professional face. I wished I could offer some wisdom, but I honestly had none.
Well, I guess I must keep at it, she said with a smile that was so genuine if she could do it on command she’d be the most famous news reporter in the country.
Yep, I said smiling too. I cued the video and got ready to film.
