Click image to enlarge
Magazine editor turned videographer: Russ Case films two Russian tortoises for a new ReptileChannel video. |
A local nursery was also on the filming itinerary, to photograph grasses, clover and hibiscus plants such as these that make excellent tortoise foods. |
ReptileChannel Associate Editor Ben Weiner shoots some grassy footage. |
My first job on
REPTILES magazine was as the managing editor, back when the first issue made its debut in October 1993. Over the years, as the magazine matured (and me, too, I guess), editing articles for the magazine was my main purpose in life. Lately, however, there’s a lot more involved in being the editor of
REPTILES than just editing articles.
For one thing, there’s this blog, with its weekly deadline. This is my tenth. I’m enjoying it so far, but I must admit that it seems no sooner do I finish writing one blog that I turn around and the next one is due. Ben Weiner, my editor on ReptileChannel, might take a cat o’ nine tails to me if I miss a deadline. I know how editors can get about such things as missed deadlines (personally, I prefer a cudgel to a cat o’ nine tails).
I’m also increasingly involved in a seemingly never-ending whirlwind of meetings that address myriad issues as they relate to the publication of not just REPTILES but other magazines with which I’m involved (covering such diverse topics as motorcycles, tropical fish and classic car restoration). BowTie Inc., the publisher for which I work, is comprised of many creative people – including myself, I like to think -- who are always looking for new avenues to explore. This results in lots of meetings. Yesterday I had three. Today I had two. You get the picture.
For instance, aside from my reptile-related duties, I’m helping to initiate a new campaign for Auto Restorer, our magazine for people who like restoring classic cars. It’s called the GU30 campaign (“GU30” stands for Gearheads Under 30) and seeks to identify and solicit input from younger auto restoration enthusiasts. Did I ever in my wildest dreams expect to be involved in such a project back when editing reptile articles was my primary purpose in life? Nope!
I’m also becoming something of a video auteur. We’re planning to make videos increasingly available to ReptileChannel visitors. We already have some, which you can see by clicking on the Reptile Videos link on the navigation bar on the left side of this page. There are different types of videos. Some are created by us, showing, for instance, some happenings at different reptile shows, featuring breeders discussing the show or their animals, etc. Club Reptile members can upload videos of their pets, as well, and Brian Barczyk’s Snakebytes videos are a part of this section.
A still from the upcoming tortoise video. |
As I write this on Wednesday, March 18, we’re a couple days away from shooting a video about feeding tortoises. I think the video will be about three minutes in length. I’ll tell you, creating even a three-minute video is a lot of work! I’m writing the script, which can only be done after conducting a fair amount of research into proper tortoise feeding. Like many other areas of reptilekeeping, not everyone agrees with each other in regard to what makes a healthy tortoise diet. So research is necessary in order to put together the best possible video containing advice that won’t inadvertently cause people to make unwise decisions (though the video will of course stress that people need to conduct individual research on any animal they plan to obtain).
In addition to writing the script, I’ve been running around to feed stores, grocery stores and pet stores buying props for the shoot. These include various fresh foods, commercial tortoise diets, and even hay (grassland tortoise species need hay and grasses, as you may know). On the day of the shoot, Friday, I’ll be picking up some living tortoise models to appear in the video (a couple or Russian tortoises), as well as some flowers, because tortoises do like eating flowers.
Then, of course, there’s the actual shooting of the video. As of now, I’m pegged to appear in it.
All this for a three-minute video! But we want to make it a good one, that’s useful to people. We hope you agree it is when you have a chance to see it for yourself, once it’s posted (right now, I can’t say exactly when that will be).
If you look around on ReptileChannel you’ll find lots of fun things to do. In the Fun and Games area there are games such as Feed the Beardie, e-cards, puzzles and other activities. Of course there are many articles, species profiles and other editorial information about reptiles and amphibians elsewhere on the site, too. I had to review most of these things and add my two cents to their application.
Recently, I’ve been drafted to help create a 30-minute reptile presentation to be given at the America’s Family Pet Expo, an annual three-day show that is held in Costa Mesa, Calif. BowTie is a longtime sponsor of the AFPE, and we create the show program. This year we were asked if we would be willing to put together some presentations to entertain and educate show attendees. A reptile event seemed like a natural crowd pleaser, so now Ben and I will be working on that. Luckily, Prehistoric Pets will have a booth at the show, too, and they were kind enough to agree when we hit them up to provide some reptiles for our show. The goal of the presentation is to educate people who may be thinking about entering the reptile hobby on how to get started off on the right foot. It’s a tried and true subject, and one that should be broadcast often. Hopefully it’ll be fun!
These are just some of the things keeping me busy lately. Don’t think that I’m flying solo in any of these projects I’ve been describing. Many talented people are involved. I don’t want you thinking I’m trying to take credit for a bunch of other people’s work. All the games you see on ReptileChannel, for instance, involved many people’s input, from editors, to illustrators, to computer whizzes. There’s the idea people, the techies who make it happen, and everyone who is consulted along the way to a project’s completion.
And don’t think for a moment that I’m complaining about any of this stuff. I’m not whining. I enjoy doing these things (well, sometimes too many meetings can make one somewhat weary). My point with this random neural firing is to illustrate the changing role some magazine editors, such as myself, are experiencing these days. This is due in large part to the advancement of the Internet and new technology associated with it. It’s a very interesting time in the publishing industry. I, for one, am learning a lot about other facets of the media beyond magazine publishing.
One wonders what the future holds. Maybe someday technology will enable us to beam an interactive holographic image of myself directly into your living rooms. I could shoot a video while I’m there, for a new web series called Reptilekeepers’ Cribs. If you don’t like this idea, remember: there’s always the cudgel.
Back to Blogs>>
