Fordham Preparatory School - Ramview Ramview SPRING 17 | Page 17

Q: You met your wife in college?
Yes, I met my wife while in a production of Marisol – she was
homeless person number #1 and I was homeless person #2.
She’s an associate producer with Yahoo News.
Q: So, the big question – how did you end up working for the
MLB Network?
So after college, the goal is to just get a job. A friend was heading
to Syracuse University for a job fair and he asked me for a ride.
So I figured, why not tag along and pass along my resume? While
at the job fair, I ended up at the National Hockey League table
and spoke to the person there. I ended up applying for the job
and borderline stalked my future boss by constantly emailing
him. I think I wore him down because I ended up getting a job
with the NHL and eventually become a production assistant.
I got laid off two years later during the financial crisis while I was
at Brooklyn College getting my MS in media studies. I ended up
getting a job with Cablevision working for MSG Varsity as a
content producer and media trainer, teaching schools to
produce content for the MSG Varsity website.
During that time, my wife was going to Syracuse for her master’s
degree and she received an email for a job opening at MLB
Network in the media management department, which
interested me at the time due to what I was studying at Brooklyn
College. I applied for the job and was lucky enough to get it.
Being a baseball fan, it was almost too good to be true.
Q: What is your current position with the MLB Network?
I am the post production supervisor. I am in charge of the
schedules for our craft editors and post production audio
engineers. During the baseball seas on we can be live from 10 am
through 2 am, and it’s my job to make sure we have enough craft
editors to cover all the needs for live programming.
Q: So how did it feel to win an Emmy® award?
It was…surreal. Surreal to be nominated, let alone win. I didn’t
realize we could win an Emmy! The year before I got to the MLB
Network, our team had just won its first Emmy for Outstanding
Studio Show – Daily for MLB Tonight. We’re going against more
established networks, like ESPN and TBS, and for the MLB
Network, which only started in 2009, not only to get nominated,
but to win was a tremendous achievement. As I said earlier,
when I joined the MLB network, I didn’t realize we could win an
Emmy. But, in my first year, we were nominated and won the
Emmy. Then we won the following year and the next. We’ve now
won the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Studio Show – Daily for
MLB Tonight 5 out of the last 6 years.
Q: Are there any former players you are excited to work with?
(Laughter) Yes! Unfortunately, due to the nature of my position, I
don’t get to work directly with any former players but you do see
quite a few walking around. Two off the top of my head are
Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz. I have mixed feelings when it
comes to Pedro – he does a great job as an analyst, but I still
think of him as a Boston Red Sox and all those times he shut
down the Yankees. I still remember the one-hitter he threw
when we went to a Yankees game for Metropolitan Day. It ruined
my day! At least the one hit was a Chili Davis home run!
The second would be John Smoltz. He’s an imposing figure, and
when you think of his accomplishments – 200 wins, 300 saves,
Hall of Famer – it’s a surreal experience. In fact, I see him every
time he’s in studio because his office is right by my desk.
Q: What advice do you have for current high school or
college students who want to get into television?
If you want to get into television, you have to learn to take
constructive criticism well. You have to learn to improve. No one
gets it right the first time, especially on a project. If you can take
it, you will be in good shape.
Q: And finally, what can you say about your Fordham Prep
experience?
It comes down to taking “Men for Others” to heart, especially in
my job, and being considerate of time and time constraints.
During the baseball season, you’re asking people to spend time
away from their families and working late nights or odd shifts.
The editors understand it is part of the nature of television, but
because I’m responsible for schedules, I try to make it a bit of
give and take. Television is a cut throat business, but I don’t want
it to be like that. The editors trust me, and I want to create the
best schedule that works for everyone. It’s about looking out for
each other and taking into account each person’s welfare.
Thanks for your time, James!
Q: Did you get an Emmy?
Yes! The MLB Network was kind enough to purchase a statue for
everyone involved with MLB Tonight, and I am fortunate enough
to have four at home. They make a great conversation piece in
the house – friends want to hold them and take photos with
them. A lot of people work on the shows to make them
successful, and it’s a fantastic feeling to see people win their first
Emmy and their reaction to having and holding the award.
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