This is exactly what I was suggesting to you on the other thread. It will make you nervous, but the best advise is don't be anything but yourself.
Here are some tips and suggestions about preparing for a TV shoot ( I've done several over the years).
1) Sit down and plan out what you want to show. TV time goes fast, and if you fill it with useless chatter, or things that the viewer won't understand, it won't work. Make a outline ( yes, just like in school) of the five sections, and then write down the main elements to be shown on each element. There should not be too much in each section, so pick the most interesting three items per segment and mainly show those.
I would suggest:
Introduction and forging
Grinding
HT, including tempering
Finishing and handle work
Sharpening, cutting a piece of paper, and a wrap up discussion on hand forged knife makeing today
2) Prepare for the shooting. Make the project about five times in advance ( or more - they won't be wasted).
A) Forge a blade until it is pre-shaped and ready to grind...then set it aside.
B) Forge another and grind it until the bevels are ready to be given their last few grinds, and set it aside.
C) Forge , grind and do all the preliminary HT ( stress relief, drilling the holes, etc.) and have it ready to go in the tank....and set it aside.
D) Forge, grind, quench,temper, clean up, and do a preliminary light sanding....set it aside.
E) Forge, grind, HT,finish the blade, and start the handle * pick out all the materials, and do all preliminary things, like drill the holes, and fit the guard. You want to pick out two sets of handle material that are very similar. Leave one untouched, and do this step of preparation on the other.
Now you have five project segments ready. You will most likely need all these as you do the shows.
3) Time-
Talk to the TV fellow, and find out how long each segment will be. It is amazing how fast that time will go. Some TV human interest shoots ( like this) are aired in as short as 60 seconds, others are full 30 minute shows. A 60 second clip takes about five minutes of video to edit down. A five minute short feature will take about ten or fifteen minutes to shoot, and a half hour feature will take 30 minutes at most to shoot ( it will be edited to about fifteen or twenty actual air minutes.
As you can see, there is no way to forge a knife in sixty seconds, or ten minutes. If you are good, the 30 minute shoot will barely be enough. Knowing what will be needed as far as air time will help you plan the shoot. While you like to spend a full day making a knife, they want to shoot and leave as quickly as possible.
4) Think of some of your most memorable short tales about making knives,or about other knife makers. Such things make good filler while there is little to see or do ( While sanding, for instance). They may record these tales separate from the actual work, and play the soundtrack of the story while you are doing a task that is not sound friendly ( hammering, grinding). Write these down. Clean them up. Change the names to protect the innocent, etc. Try timing how long it takes to tell your dog one of these stories....is it still too long? If so trim it some more. A good TV story takes from 30 seconds ( longer than it sounds) to two minutes ( a long time).
5) The Wow Factor.
In each segment, think of the main wow factor. It is the thing or sight that makes the viewer go, WOW!
In forging, it is always the hot steel coming out of the forge and laying it on the anvil...and the sparks from the first few blows. The rest of the forging is pretty unimpressive after that. ( Except to other smiths.)
In grinding, it is the sparks. The hand sanding with a sanding block is where it all gets neat and tidy, but the sparks are what impresses them.
In the quench, it is only the actual quench -...red hot steel meets oil.....the smoke and flames.... the skating file upon pulling it out.... - That is all they care to see. I would end the HT session with the blade being put in the temper oven. ( I would skip a complete session on tempering)
The handle work is a little more interesting - drilling holes, grinding to shape, adding the guard - but can become boring fast, so this is where a little info talk is good.
Finishing is boring up to the point when the finished knife is sharpened and a piece of paper is cleanly sliced. Such a cutting shot is mandatory. ( At the final shoot,make sure you have one of the knives finished and razor sharp so you can cut the paper with ease.)
Concentrate on showing these "wow" items, and pre-do the other steps on each pre-started knife. The only piece that will be started from scratch in the first segment will be the initial start of forging the blade. Depending on how long the show segments are, you may have to switch that one out for the nearly finished forged blade after the first shaping is shown.
6) Assemble all materials in advance.
Cut about seven or eight pieces of identical steel for the project pieces. Leave two untouched, and do the five step projects with the other five. The two others will be for the total project shot, and the actual forging shot.
Get at least two matching handle material sets. Stag is a good choice, since it looks good from the start, and takes less finishing. Decide about guards, and make up a couple to have ready for the final stages.One guard should be completely fitted and finished for item (E) above.
7) Get the place ready for company.
Clean up the forge area. Get that old lawn mower out of the driveway. Stack the wood pile neater. Sweep things up and tidy the benches ( you might find neat things under all that stuff). Think what angles will be the easiest to shoot from, and what is in the background. The neighbor suntanning by her pool may make for a distracting shot, or traffic in the street, so think where the camera should be.
Tidy up the living room or kitchen. They may shoot you sitting there with some of your knives and talking about them and knife making.
8) Get yourself ready.
Think of what you want to wear. An old pair of forging jeans is good if they don't have your underwear sticking out of the holes ( You do wear underwear?). Wear a leather apron with signs of wear and work marks, the people expect it and it adds creditability to you as an experiences smith. None of your outfit should look brand new. If you wear a hat, make it one that doesn't hide your face when you look down to work. Not wearing a hat is better.
9) The actual shoot -
Have all the items that will go into the project assembled to show what is going to be used.This is called a total project shot. Some can be partly shaped ( the guard, for instance), but this is basically a raw materials shot.
Talk to the cameraman and interviewer before the shoot ( they will do this anyway, but be prepared for it), and discuss the elements in brief that will be covered. Details are not needed now. If you have your outline handy, show it to them. This may well be done weeks before the actual shoot. What they want is the series to flow seamlessly together ,appearing that you took a piece of steel and ended up with a knife. They know that it is done in many work sessions, but through the magic of editing ,can make the show really flow. The more they know about what you plan on doing, the easier their job is.
Don't be nervous. This isn't all that big a deal.....OK, It is a big deal....but don't be nervous anyway. Eat a good breakfast, take an early walk, pray, whatever it takes to clear your mind. Having a friend over that you have forged with before will help a lot. They may or may not be in the shots, but if he/she sit or stand just behind and to the left or right of the cameraman, and you talk to him/her just like you do on a normal Saturday, it can make the shot very comfortable.
10) Be clear without being too technical.
Saying, " The steel needs to be heated up to about 1500F and quenched in oil to cool it in less than two seconds.." is good. "The steel is austenitized at 1475F and cooled to miss the pearlite nose in Parks #50.........(you get the idea)" isn't as viewer friendly.
On the other hand, " I whack at the bar until it looks like a knife. It ain't all that hard." isn't as craftsman sounding as, "The steel is forged under my hammer to shape it as I want. At 1700F steel is pretty much like play dough."
The one line from an article and shoot about me that everyone still remembers is,
" When Stacy gets home from a hard day setting diamonds, he puts on an old pair of jeans, dons a leather apron, lights the forge, and hits red hot steel with a three pound hammer....Now, that's how to get rid of the stress of the day!"
11) Be prepared to show some of your work. Have a couple of your knives handy for the camera. Even ones that are not quite finished will do.
12) Be prepared for celebrity.
You will be amazed at the people who will contact you with one of three statements.
1- I didn't know you made knives.
2- Will you make me a knife. or, Do you have any knives for sale.
3- Do you know Mr. #*!@&, he makes knives ,too. Do you use lawn mower blades like he does.
The answers are:
1- Yes, I have been a bladesmith for a year or two now. Come on over one Saturday, and I'll show you some of my work.
2- Yes, I just finished up five knives just like the one I did for the TV show ( I said they weren't wasted)....BTW, Keep the one you did for the show. It will become a show piece that everyone will expect to see.
3- Smile, and say, "Yes, I've heard of him, but I make much better knives.Mine are made from good quality blade steel and heat treated to get the most from that steel."
All the people who saw your show, and looked at your knives, or bought one, will agree.
13) Don't let all this go to your head . Stay the plain old Charlie that everyone knows. It will make your overall image even more impressive. When folks say, "Aren't you the knifemaker I saw on TV." reply, " Yes, Wasn't that a hoot."
Best wishes and good luck. Email me if you have any specific questions.
Stacy
Good luck!
