What's New - Sept 2003 through March 2004

Live satellite interview with Eric Rudolph's former sister-in-law for "Good Morning America"

ABC has called on Stone Productions for several interesting assignments this quarter. Leesa booked Deborah Rudolph, former sister-in-law of accused bomber Eric Rudolph, for Good Morning America. We shot her live satellite interview with Charlie Gibson near her home in Nashville. Leesa and Rich also did a lengthy sit down interview with Ms. Rudolph about her life with the Rudolph family and Rich went to Birmingham for ABC to cover the accused bomber's arrival to face charges.

ABC also hired us to get reaction in Nashville to the Supreme Court's action to overturn the Texas sodomy law. The appointment of an openly gay Episcopal bishop was another story we contributed to for World News Tonight. We also shot Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist as the senator was interviewed live via satellite by George Stephanopolous on ABC's Sunday morning program, "This Week with George Stephanopolous."

We ushered out spring and greeted summer the way we have for the past 6 years: overseeing the television production of Vanderbilt University's main Commencement ceremonies. From a single camera in 1997, the coverage has grown to 6 cameras including a jib and a production truck feeding a live web cast. We also taped the Commencement ceremonies for Vanderbilt's School of Medicine.

Preparing for a live satellite interview with Senator Bill Frist for ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopolous"

"Inside Edition" sent Leesa to interview a woman whose fiancée had rescued their dog from a burning apartment building and Rich got a first look at the contestants on the children's version of the show "American Idol," as he taped auditions in Knoxville for the program "American Junior."

One of Rich's most enjoyable jobs also involved shooting kids displaying their musical talent; as children sang a new Rice Krispies jingle before the camera at the annual country music event, Fan Fair. The producer/talent on the shoot was Dennis Michael (Leesa used to toss to his "Hollywood Minute" pieces when she was an anchor on Headline News.)

Rich and gaffer Jeff Gordon on "Dream Builders" shoot

Rich had another "rough" assignment---this one in the Florida Keys, spending 3 days on a yacht. The event was the "Key West Marlin Tournament" and Rich was one of two Betacams documenting the event. Anglers on Rich's boat caught a marlin and went on to win the tournament.

From the great outdoors to the great indoors, we wrapped another "Dream Builders" segment, which was telecast on HGTV in June. The story, which Rich shot and Leesa wrote and produced, featured a new stucco home on a golf course here in Nashville. The homeowners, the Tillman family, were wonderfully cooperative and made us feel completely welcome in their beautiful home during our two day shoot.

Leesa & audio technician Rex Collier at the Firestone 200

The excitement of Indy racing is always thrilling to experience first hand and we were there as top drivers signed autographs at Bridgestone Americas corporate headquarters in Nashville and later raced under the lights at the Firestone 200 at the Nashville Superspeedway. We also traveled to the Indianapolis area to shoot at Firestone's Diversified Products headquarters and at an Industrial Products plant in Williamsburg, Kentucky for a Bridgestone Americas corporate video.

We were in the bluegrass state again as we went on a tour of fun factories for the Travel Channel. First we shot at the Dippin' Dots factory in Paducah, Kentucky for the show, "Top Ten Travel; Ice Cream Palaces." Dippin' Dots are the tiny cryogenically frozen ice cream dots that you see at arenas and malls. The inventor, Curt Jones and his staff could not have been more hospitable and helped our shoot run smoothly.

Audio tech Rex Collier and Rich shoot at a Pulaski, TN veterinary clinic for a new Animal Planet program, "Adoption Tales"

The Charms Blow Pops factory near Memphis was our next stop for the show, "Top Ten Fun Food Factories 2." It was amazing to see so much candy in one place and fascinating to see how it's made. The people at Charms were also great to work with, including Melvin Gordon, the CEO of the parent company, Tootsie Roll, Inc. and his wife, Ellen who flew in from their Chicago headquarters for the interview. Both of these Top Ten shows will be telecast on the Travel Channel after the first of the year.

Rich spent seven days shooting for two Animal Planet shows: "That's My Baby" and "Adoption Tales." From sheepdogs in Memphis to eagles in Dollywood (in East Tennessee) and cats in Pulaski it was a busy but fun cross-state shoot with producer Gary Skiles from Los Angeles. Rich's work on these shows will also be seen after the first of the year.

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