Classic Film Guide

My Day at TCM

On March 18 (2005), I got an opportunity to visit the Turner Classic Movies headquarters location here in Atlanta. Of course, it was a dream come true. I was a guest of tcmprogrammer (heretofore referred to as Charlie). I arrived at the appointed time (11:45 AM) and was taken to the set where the Robert Osborne intros and outgos are filmed. Though the flashing yellow light was lit, we entered quietly and I was directed to sit in a tall, white director's chair in front of computerized teleprompter which also had a television monitor. On the monitor was a view which would be familiar to anyone who watches TCM regularly - the Robert Osborne set. On its screen and standing back in the shadows was our favorite host, the man himself. I heard the director (Sean) say "action" and watched the monitor as the camera zoomed and focused in on Mr. Osborne. He was walking towards the camera and into the light where he began his delivery of the text as it scrolled across the teleprompter (his assistant, I didn't catch her name, symbiotically adjusted the speed of the text for him). It is a truly talented individual that can make this viewer fail to realize that he has been reading from a teleprompter all these years as he's delivered classic film nugget upon classic movie tidbit with his endearing mannerisms and affable personality. That's right, there I was watching Robert Osborne do an intro, live and in person, though on a monitor and through the sound wall which separates the set from the control personnel.

A few minutes later, after watching the consummate professional deliver three consecutive intros flawlessly, the director said "that's a wardrobe change" and from around the corner appeared Robert Osborne in the flesh! When I saw him, I stood and he said "don't get up" as he passed me on his way to change his attire. It was only later that I realized I had been sitting in his director's chair, the back of which was stenciled with TCM’s logo and his name. While everyone was waiting for the host to change his suit, one of the crew asked me if I would like to see the set, to which I responded with an enthusiastic "of course!". I then got to see and walk on the set that all of us TCM junkies see (nearly) every night. Incredible! The cameraman asked if I'd brought my camera to take pictures. When I said I'd thought of it, but didn't for fear of appearing to be a gadfly, he whipped out his cellphone digital camera. He positioned me to stand under one of the key lights on the set, and took my picture. I then assisted him with e-mailing it to my Yahoo! account. Isn't technology great? I walked around the Robert Osborne set (Ben Mankiewicz's was in storage, elsewhere on the floor) for a little while, getting a closeup look at the furniture and photographs on the walls and desks. Some of the pictures are not of actors and actresses by the way, but instead appear to be family members (real or not, I don't know and didn't ask). The cameraman told me about the different camera set-ups for the set. He explained that, as a viewer, you continue to be engaged even though it's the same set every time because of the small subtle changes they make with (and within) each month's shoot - the host's wardrobe, the camera angles and its movement as it zooms, set paraphernalia changes, etc.. Fascinating! While we spoke, a technician made various changes and/or adjustments around the set.

After discussing my TIVO and even some films with the cameraman and sound technician, I went back to where I had been sitting to find Mr. Osborne reviewing and making edits (with his assistant, who's been working with him since the beginning of his hosting) to the text of the next four outgos. I learned later (during lunch) from Liz (?), the assistant director, that TCM employs freelance writers to write the intros and outgos and then has their researchers verify all of the facts before she, Sean, and Mr. Osborne himself review and approve them. I also learned that Mr. Osborne was recovering from laryngitis and they were trying to get him to save his voice as much as possible by not speaking unless on camera. I got to watch the next set of outgos (Ralph Bellamy, Errol Flynn, Buster Keaton related) from behind the camera dolly such that I could see our host "head on", or on the director's or dolly operator's monitors. A TCM intern, who was making sure the camera apparatus didn't roll over the fiber optic cabling, pointed out that Mr. Osborne's make-up makes him look pasty, if you watched him directly and not through one of the monitors. I also noticed that each of the crew members were wearing sweatshirts, sweaters or other warm clothing - the set was kept at a cool temperature (I assume because of the lights). Occasionally, during one of the takes, a mistake would be made causing the director to say "cut". Each time, however, showing no signs of frustration at himself or whomever caused the interruption, Mr. Osborne would patiently backup to his spot in the shadows and await his next cue before beginning the process again until the director would say "I'll buy that" and move on to the next intro/outgo.

About 1 PM, everyone broke for lunch. I should mention that, in the area behind the set's sound wall, there was a table set-up with food which I'd been offered earlier. In fact, the crew was very friendly and treated me like a special guest. I was made to feel so welcome that I began to remember the Southern hospitality I'd first experienced when I came to Atlanta to attend Georgia Tech, a stone's throw from TCM’s studios, more than 25 years ago. Charlie then introduced me to Robert Osborne, as "part of our on-line community". Guess what? It should surprise no one that Mr. Osborne is every bit the friendly, approachable gentleman that we all think we know by watching him each evening. In fact, I was made to feel like one of his Private Screenings guests as he showed a genuine interest in who I was and what my thoughts were! All of us went to a room in which lunch had been catered where we enjoyed salad, sandwiches, and even dessert along with our choice of three kinds of iced tea. With a couple of television monitors tuned to March Madness (NCAA tournament basketball games) in the background, I sat with the cameraman, the director, the assistant director and the rest of the crew while we ate and discussed various things. I probed for as much information about TCM’s operations as I could absorb without (I hope) being obnoxious. Robert Osborne had wanted to sit next to me at the end of the table, but said "I'd better not because, I know if I do, I'll talk and I'm not supposed to" before excusing himself to sit alone at another table. However, at the end of lunch he couldn't resist joining us and, of course, I was thrilled.

There I was, sitting between Charlie (who had joined us by then) and Robert Osborne, as we discussed films, possible future guests for Private Screenings, and even the personalities and/or eccentricities of some of their prior PS guests. Mr. Osborne asked me about how I acquired my love for classic films, which I briefly related (starting with King Solomon's Mines (1950) in the mid-70's). When I told him that I worked out of a home office, he asked me if I didn't find that too isolating or felt I spent too much time working (I do!). We talked about the guest programming concept and how it's working out. We discussed some licensing agreements Charlie has made with Sony and brainstormed about what features could be programmed to exploit these arrangements. It was the most fun I've had in years, simply an outstanding experience. I even got to contribute an idea for an upcoming theme. I had made up a card with my website address to give to them both, which I did, and I asked Robert if he ever looked at film sites on the Internet. He said he didn't, that he hadn't read TCM’s message boards either, so of course I gushed that we all discuss him, love him, and that if he ever needed an ego boost, he should check it out (Charlie confirmed what I said). But Robert said that he wouldn't want to fall into the trap of believing his "press" and instead chooses to focus on delivering what's been asked of him by the higher ups at TCM (Jeff?). By now, it was almost 2 PM and, though Robert didn't break off the conversation with me (and even invited me to come back someday), it was time for him to return to the set and for me to get home to pick up my eldest from school. If I never get another chance to visit TCM, I still feel like I'd died and gone to heaven that day.