Over the course of my career, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a number of filming projects. And most of those efforts were very rewarding.
I’ve worked with some of the best in the business — people like Glenn Lau, the Lindners, JM Associates, and Japan’s top outdoor videographer, Iga Igarashi. We shot everything from television to instructional videos … all in the hope of helping people catch more fish.
I even did a few commercials and a series of short features on vintage fishing tackle for ESPN. Those projects were fun, too. But it seems anymore, at least to me, there is way too much fishing on TV. It’s as if any swinging stick with a video camera has his own show these days. And sadly, most of them aren’t very good.
Am I wrong?
Grip-n-grin
To me, outdoor programming has become so redundant and cheaply produced, it’s getting harder to watch. There’s no sense of originality or adventure — at least not in most of the shows I see.
What’s really disappointing is how some have become simple marketing platforms — trying to sell the viewer on the latest and greatest. It’s gotten so bad some shows are even scripted around specific products.
Don’t get me wrong. I realize these programs require sponsor dollars to get the cameras rolling. But why can’t they present the products they’re trying to promote more credibly — rather than pounding the viewer with talking points or staged catches to drive the message home?
To me, the best shows have almost no product mention. They concentrate on the people, places and the fish they’re trying to catch.
Take Costa’s series, “GEOBASS,” for example. Now that’s true entertainment!
Four average Joes traveling to distant, unfamiliar waters, in search of fish they know little or nothing about. It’s real, and it’s un-staged, and each episode is an adventure.
I know, I know — not all shows have the budget to produce programming on this scale. But even those with a limited range could do more to add some flair to what they put on the air.
Keeping it real
All television programming relies on viewership. And the more viewers a show can attract, the more sponsor dollars it can command. The formula has been proven many times over. But why do so many of us follow shows that force-feed product? Have we been “programmed” ourselves?
Whatever happened to shows like The Walker’s Cay Chronicles — the old ESPN series hosted by Flip Pallot? That guy traveled throughout North America and the Caribbean chasing fish with a fly rod, and he never wore a logo or talked product. Yet, his was the most watched outdoor program on television.
Others have tried following the Walker’s template, but their shows lacked originality or a credible host, or they faded due to insufficient funding.
Then there’s Bob Izumi’s Real Fishing Show. Granted, Bob promotes product. But at least his show is, well … “real.” It’s not staged, and he’ll use whatever it takes to put a fish on camera legitimately.
Bob doesn’t need to be the star either (something many other show hosts insist on). He’s content to let his guests share their expertise or catch the bigger fish. It’s more about teaching the viewer, rather than selling them product. Some of Bob’s peers could take a lesson.
Recently, I worked with Color Blind Media — the group that produces the new TV series, Gypsy Angler with Capt. Ray Van Horn. We did a piece on coastal redfish, then moved inland for some bass fishing. I also shot with Rob Fordyce, host of the new web series “Voo-Doo Daddy.” Both efforts were stellar, and I can’t wait for you to see them.
But the point I want to make is this: Those guys never dictated what I had to wear or which lures to throw at any point in either project. I was given free reign, and that’s rare under today’s programming parameters.
It’s a wrap!
Perhaps I have a distorted view of what’s on the air. If I do, I’m sure I’ll hear about it in Bassmasters’ Facebook forum below. Even so, I would bet there are a good number of you out there who agree with my assessment.
So, before you post, know that I am not against televised fishing. I like it as much as the next guy. I just want to see more legitimate programming without all the salesmanship.
And I don’t think that’s asking too much.