Opening for the World University Games on Fox College Sprots
An even better freeze frame...I actually prefer the funny face- mid conversation shots. Looks like I'm about to say, "Ooooo snap!'
Interviewing Matt Painter, head coach for USA's men's basketball team at the World University Games. This was right before they lost in the quarter finals...huge upset.
Dancing with the mic, before we headed over to the Russian karaoke bar...as a celebration for the next winter games in Russia.
Shooting an episode of My Campus. A show that used air on Fox College Sports and is about to make its comeback debut.
The World University Games air today onFox College Sports at 1:30pm pacific time. Here is the list of Fox College Sports channels according to the top cable provider.
Verizon FiOS- 302
Time Warner- 258
Direct TV- 617
AT&T U-Verse- 649
Comcast- 725
COX- 257
<3, our crew from the opening ceremony, Annie Curry (Associate Producer) Max Casanova (Executive Producer) & Alex Curry (Host & Associate Producer)
Mark your calendars sport fans because there are just 5 days left until The World University Games air on Fox College Sports!
I like to think of the World University Games (aka WUG) as the college Olympics, because they are neck and neck with the Olympics in terms of scale, audience attendance and level of competition. I mean these student athletes have to endure the same training, the same sacrifices and the same determination to be the best in the world- all while maintaing good grades in their trek to a college degree. If that's not skill, I don't know what is.
Now besides the obvious reasons you should be watching The World University Games, here are a couple more to sway your remote to FOX College Sports network Monday November 7th @ 4:30pm
- Over 10,000 athletes from a 150 different countries will be participating in these games
- Nearly 300 US athletes will proudly compete in 17 different events
- Get a sneak at the some Olympic competitors (every country has a handful of their olympic players competing in the WUG's)
- The Opening Ceremony is breathtaking
- Get your pre-Olympic fix in
- Find your new favorite up and coming athlete
- Get an inside look of Shenzhen CHINA
See you all next Monday @ 4:30pm on Fox College Sports
Day 7 was our longest, but best brainstorming day yet. We hit the tennis courts, did a spotlight interview with Michael Sicora, got down and dirty in the cafeteria, and FINALLY found the night life on campus.
shooting the cafeteria segment with USA's men's water polo team
Before shooting our nightlife segment, we hit up "The Wine Culture Experience" center where we met our new friend & college graduate Alex (next to me). This was the first native Chinese person that not only spoke english, but talked to us for longer then 5 minutes. We had been in China for 7 days now, with so many questions and no answers- Alex was in for it.
But before bombarding Alex with questions,we had to know how every Chinese person had American names like: Alex, Nancy, Brenda, Lauren, Fred, Tom... Answer- They simply go down a list and pick their favorite name to share with tourists.
After an hour of picking Alex's brain we were on the topic of living in the moment, and in this moment we were in China for 17 days, working 15 of them, yet so close to unforgettable land marks. We were in quarter final territory for the games, but in a spur of the moment decision we had to see the Great Wall of China and Forbidden City...so we booked a 3hr flight to Beijing the next day, and our 1 day bullet trip of the moment was set in stone.
motivation to Beijing
my fans that watched and documented every standup I shot
Day 7 Covering the World University Games for Fox College Sports
By day 6 our 12 hour shoot days were like a piece of lemon meringue pie (my fav)...and today was my first coach interview with legend in the making Brad Steven's- head coach at Butler University & assistant coach for USA's men's basketball team. Seeing that our men's basketball team had won every game by 30 points at this stage in the tournament, Brad was very confident and poised in his interview. However, he shared that his USA team was going to be challenged very soon and he they needed to continue to improve as the competition rose throughout the tournament.
After the Steven's interview we drove 2 hours to the Shenzhen coast to shoot our 4 dominating beach volleyball teams. Now this coast was breathtaking, literally- it was so hot and humid you could barely breathe and the moment you stepped out of the car, you were an instant puddle of sweat. Thankfully the scenery was gorgeous, but not ideal for on-camera work.
Annie's face says it all
We ended our shoot day at the swimming arena, where team USA won a handful of medals.
Please note this photographer's epic rat tail
But our day was not over yet. Seeing as we were pretty sick of eating the cafeteria food twice a day, we decided to play a game of charades with our Chinese driver and try our first local food spot.
Despite the grotesque menu photos, the food was surprisingly deeeelicious.
Day 6 covering the World University Games for Fox College Sports
Day 5 in China was Taekwondo day...it was our first time spending an entire day with a team, and our first authentic Chinese meal. We started our day filming the teams practice and doing a spotlight interview with one of their star athletes Shaina Kruse. Then we jumped on a bus to the Water Balance factory for some food and fun.
The spinning table of food, and we chose fish ball soup, full shrimp and fish with bones and eyes included...we ventured out.
At the Water Balance factory, a title sponsor for team USA.
It was day 4 for our crew in Shenzhen, but for most athletes it was day 1 of competition. Our day began with the usual routine...wake-up, make-up, cafeteria then shoot the morning stand up, but this morning we started shooting 3 additional shows: My Campus, The nightly recap & Spot light interviews. So day 4 was our first day of shooting 4 different shows a day.
After finishing our morning shoot, we ventured outside the athletes village and headed down town Shenzhen for our first city tour. We ended up at the Shenzhen mall, which is more like downtown LA/ Mexico on crack. Everything was a knock off, and we soon learned that Shenzhen is known for the best knock off's in the world. They knock off everything from TOMS to designer handbags to iPads...it was insanity.
We continued our tour to the Main Media Center, AKA the brains behind the broadcast operation. Then concluded our day with men's basketball's first dominating win against Mexico.
shooting 1 of our 4 daily shows
Shenzhen mall
the Main Media Center-the brains behind the broadcast
Up until day 3, we had only heard how big these World University Games were, but after walking along side team USA in the opening ceremony, we experienced first hand how magical they really are.
Since the entire city was shutting down at 2pm to prepare for the opening ceremony, our crew was up bright and early to get our filming day started with men's Volleyball's first game against Mexico. After a great win by USA, it was back to athletes village to get ready for the ceremony.
(Shooting the open outside the Volleyball game)
Now, every person walking with team USA had to wear the exact same thing: hat facing forward, X-Step collard T, shorts, socks and shoes...it was damn sexy. Even though the ceremony did not start until 9pm, everyone had to be ready to load the busses at 4. Thankfully we missed the main busses and got to ride with the men's basketball team. Men's basketball = special treatment.
When I said they shut down the city for opening ceremony, they literally closed the roads & freeways so all the athlete busses could ride car and traffic free to the arena 45 minutes away. And in a city with 20 million people, that's kind of a big deal...not to mention those millions of people were lining the streets cheering and waving the entire 45 minute bus ride.
Opening ceremony- let the pictures do the talking...
Opening ceremony stadium, build just for the World University Games
Walking into the arena with team USA
Sold out
The show- neon bicyclist, flying mascots, dancers in the wall, a violinist on a mountain, cirque du soleil, and the lollie pop kids...Thank you China.
Day 2 in Shenzhen was a day of firsts: Our first encounter with all the athletes, our first Chinese driver, our first time getting lost, our first World University game, and our first time getting kicked out of a facility :)
The day began with the flag raising ceremony and an insightful interview with the US Consul General. Directly following the interview we were off to the Bowaun Natatorium for Men’s Water Polo’s first game.
Our first adventure- getting into the car and experiencing street driving…and once we arrived at the natatorium we felt lucky to be alive. Little did we know our driver dropped us off 2 miles from the media entryway, so we walked in 100+ heat & humidity caring all the gear until we stumbled upon the correct gate …fun stuff. 45 minutes later, we finally made it to the stands, where once again we were in the wrong spot. So we fought our way to the pool level to get some decent footage and interviews.
Apparently we "broke" the rules because media is not allowed on the pool deck to interview players. So after our 1st water polo game we were banned from the natatorium, and our names were known amongst the 1,000 useless volunteers. BUT at the end of the day we got our footage and interviews, so it was a successfully productive day.
Interviewing the US Consul General...I was too short for the shot.
Walking 2 miles to find our media gate, because media is only allowed to enter through the media gate. Even if it's 2 miles away.
Seeing that we slept for about 4 hours and were ridiculously jet lagged, our first day in Shenzhen was just as humorous as it was productive. We began the day getting a lay of our new land- the athletes village, and once we got a sense of direction the filming began.
Our 3 man crew, had no idea what to expect from this experience, but with out hesitation everyone jumped on board and began our 15 day crazy routine. Our first stop was the 233621 press conference and banquet for team USA.
Interviewing the CEO of 322621
Interviewing the US head of delegation
The crew's quick outfit change from press conference to fancy banquet
We are so blessed to live in a country with clean water, food, and medical services. Unfortunately, we easily forget about the many countries that need our help….
Every 30 seconds a child dies from Malaria.
Malaika For Life is “a grassroots movement to stop malaria, save lives, and support communities with one simple gesture- buy a bracelet, save a life”. Malaika means angel in Swahili, and these angels have helped treat over 25,000 Tanzanians in the past 2 years.
The women of Tanzania have hand crafted these beautiful bracelets that symbolize the life you can save from malaria. By wearing this bracelet you are a voice for their movement.
Up until the day we left for China, I would wake up each morning pitching myself as a reminder that my dream was about to become a reality. Not only was I getting paid to travel across the world and cover sports all day (aaamazing), but my little sister Annie was hired as the Production Assistant.
Our road to Shenzhen began 6 weeks before we left the country. Once Annie and I booked the gig, China was the only thing on our mind. From getting our visas, finding inspirational athlete stories, and learning everything about the 17 different events the US was proudly competing in…those 6 weeks flew by and felt like 6 days.
Once August 8th finally arrived, we were ready to go….
