The Day I Met the Governor
Chronicled by
Afronuts
@
Monday, November 19, 2012
When we started shooting, the teleprompter was at first too fast for him so we slowed it down.
With the Eko 2012 games around the corner, the advertising awareness
campaign had kicked off; our company was responsible for shooting the TV
commercial and creating the print ads for the mediums requiring print for the
event.
We had finished work on all these when we got another urgent
brief that required us to film the governor welcoming people and participants
to the event.
I left the office with Muyiwa, my colleague who was the Management
personnel in charge of the account. We arrived at Teslim Balogun stadium where
we met with top personnel of the organizing committee. We joined them in their
bus, a Toyota Hiace branded in Eko 2012 games colors and headed for the State House
where the Governor lived in Victoria Island.
Meanwhile, the film crew, DvWorx led by Mr. Femi Odugbemi,
had already been informed to meet us there so they were on their way to the
State House.
After being checked by the security, we were allowed into
the big compound with well manicured lawns and neat white buildings. I dared
not take any pictures because of the security guys checking on us intently from
time to time.
Eventually, we were led to the building where the shoot
would take place; it was a block of lounges or parlours which were sparsely furnitured.
An area had been cleared for us and we set up with the film crew. Props of the Nigerian and Lagos State flag along with the Lagos coat of arms were brought in to be placed where the governor would sit.
A thick short man in suit with a walkie talkie came to check
out our arrangement and the script of what the governor was going to say. We
discovered that he was the special adviser on media to the governor (I can’t
remember his name). We had typed everything and loaded it on a teleprompter in
readiness, I had also made the necessary corrections before the man cross-checked
it to ascertain everything’s in place. Also we were required not to be more
than seven people in the room.
Also, all phones, ipads were collected and handed over to
security before shooting commenced but at least I was able to snap the location
before we started.
Then the Media Adviser informed us that we would only be
allowed to do one take.
The Director, Mr. Odugbemi didn’t like the idea. We were
hoping to do three takes for editing purposes. Mr. Bashir from the organizing committee
told us not to worry, that we’d get at least two takes.
We waited for almost an hour before Governor Babatunde Fashola finally
walked in.
He was corporately dressed in crisp navy blue suit. Compared
to what I’d seen of him on TV and press, he looked fresh, robust and quite tall;
he reminded me of my Dad. Though he wore a skin cut, you could still see
follicles of grey on his head. We all stood up and greeted him.
He stopped for a minute and took in all we had set up, a slight frown on his face.
‘Is this how you want to do it? I’m not standing?’ the
governor asked.
He was referring to the fact that we had set up for him to
sit down and not stand up to give the address.
‘No sir, you’ll be sitting’, Mr. Odugbemi the director replied.
The governor shrugged and sat down.
When we started shooting, the teleprompter was at first too fast for him so we slowed it down.
Eventually we got two takes and two bloopers.
The governor then stood up with a smile to shake us all for
a job well done. He didn't say much except thank us for what we were doing. His handshake was firm yet friendly. I
guess he was impressed at how snappy and simple we did everything since he was
a very busy man (which was the reason why the Adviser did not want more than
one take).
I’ve always wondered how the governor was in person and from
this brief meeting I could say he was certainly a simple gentleman.
Its not everyday you come face to face with a man that's making serious impact where others have failed.
Click this link to see the final video:
Click this link to see the final video:
7 Screamer(s):
see levels... I am "jealouxing" you oh. lol.
Fashola is my governor. I wish he can give GEJ tutorial on leadership and carriage.
That must have been so cool. I saw the video and you guys did a great job too.
I can only imagine how the handshake felt. He wanted to stand? God bless his soul.
Correct...Big boi, doing big things meeting big people, soon to meet bigger people :).
I'm sure u felt proud of yourself
@Sykik...lol. Abi oh...why can't GEJ learn from the guy?
@Myne...Thanks Myne.
@Eya...Yeah...he's a very simple man.
@Jhazmyn...Hahahaha! Amen oh! Actually I have been meeting them...I think i should make sure I blog about them. I wasn't proud oh...just thankful to God that I meet with people that matter.
That's so cool! I'm happy to hear Fashola stayed true to all the good rumour i've heard about him.
@Ginger...really? What kind of rumours actually?
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