Randy
Young directed over 100 Oprah shows during a year-long relationship with
Harpo Productions. The shows featured a wide ranging series of topics and
celebrity guests. Topics included the Free Speech series where Oprah got
together radical lawyers, conservative spokespeople and American Nazi Party
members on the same stage to discuss constitutional freedoms. Produced in
typical Oprah fashion, it was a stimulating discussion long before the pollution
of daytime tv shock topics of today. Musical program guests included Lionel
Richie, Dollie Parton, Luther Vandross and the Teenage Mutant Ninga Turtles.
Perhaps the most widely remembered programs were the "Alaska Bachelors Shows"
where Alaskan Bachelors were matched with available women. It was one of
the all-time highest rated Oprah shows. Oprah played to a worldwide audience
of some 80 million people per week in several languages.Jubilee 2000
At Chicago's Soldier Field a crowd anticipated to be 50,00 faithful needed
to see "close up" the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago's celebration of the
mass and the main celebrant Francis Cardinal George. Jam Productions of
Chicago called upon TAP Productions to provide video coverage for the event.
At first it appeared to be just another I-mage job but then came the rain.
Six cameras (two hand held and four fix position) were placed around an
elaborate stage constructed for the Mass. Two record VTR's and two playback
decks were primed ready to go. Preproduction packages were shot on site
to serve as show elements, backgrounds and graphic pieces. Then came the
Rain!A down pour broke through the clouds and soaked everything for the entire production day. Everything and everyone was wet. The cameras held ground fairly well until the end of the four-hour event and they began to fail. By the end of the show several cameras were down for the count due to the water. But the show must go on so Randy finished the program with the last two working cameras as the Cardinal made the final procession to end the Mass.
Jam Productions' Matt MiGinn produced the event and commented that only Randy could make the last 2 cameras look like we still had all six at the end.
House of Blues Chicago: Web site broadcasts
The House
of Blues Chicago has become known as the Chicago venue of choice for national
musical acts. Its intimate environment and performance ambiance make it
a pleasure to play. House of Blues Digital Group, headed by Director Kerry
Asmussen, have been calling upon Randy Young and TAP Productions to direct
multi-camera shows at HOB for worldwide web distribution. The programs feature
not only up coming acts on tour but well-established touring veterans as
well. Each show is shot using four to six cameras and recorded on DigiBeta.
The key to the production is the 16X9 shooting format. The 16X9 aspect ratio
allows for more creative opportunity in shot composition and combination,
while the DigiBeta recording process preserves quality and allows for seamless
transition to video streaming on the HOB web site.The House of Blues is quickly becoming THE location on the web for live music and video streaming. Chicago is a great music city and the Chicago productions are a key element to the web site and HOB Digital Productions.
The Chicago Holiday Parade
Held each year during Thanksgiving weekend, the parade brings together bands, marching troops, floats and a television crew spearheaded by Randy Young and TAP Productions. In recent years the program has aired on CBS Chicago and most recently on Fox Chicago. Under the direction of Randy Young, the two-hour broadcast features the city as much as the performers as the parade travels down Michigan Avenue. Syndicated to stations all over the country during the holiday season, the show is also carried live in Chicago and Milwaukee.
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