Catapulting Your Broadcasting Career
With Super Bowl XLVII in the books, it’s that time of the year again when Ferro Productions says goodbye to it’s NFL Programming responsibilities and hello to the world of endless entertainment and production possibilities. It is always around this time of the year when many of our friends and industry peers begin asking the same question, “What are you guys up to now?” Well not to worry folks… we are undoubtably busier than ever and loving every minute of it. That is not what this story is about, however. This story is about taking time to reflect back on the New York Giants memorable run to Super Bowl XLVI last season, as told by Ferro Productions own, me.
It was a bone-chilling afternoon in East Rutherford, New Jersey and the New York Giants had just suffered a heartbreaking defeat to the rivaled Washington Redskins. The date was December 18, 2011 and pardon the cliche, but, I remember it like it was just yesterday. Not only did it appear that Big Blue had just let another opportunity to return to the playoffs slip away; it appeared that within the next three weeks I would be looking for another job. It was my second season working with the New York Giants Broadcasting Department via Ferro Productions and I was sad to face another offseason and the possibility of never working with the crew ever again. In order for my job as production assistant to continue for a few more weeks the Giants needed to pull-off two big wins in week 16 & 17… and sure enough…
Eli Manning addressing the media after the Atlanta game.
Next thing I knew I was witnessing the Giants steam-roll over the Atlanta Falcons as they christened MetLife Stadium with it’s first ever post-season victory. After assisting with the audio set-up for the post game press conference, I remember sitting down and listening to Eli Manning address the media. He spoke of comparisons to the 2007 post-season and how this team was looking as though they were following in the same footsteps. This was legitimitely the first time I considered the possibility of the NYG and Ferro Productions making the trip to Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI, however, it wasn’t something that I was going to dwell on or get my hopes up for. After all: I am an employee, not a fan. That’s not to say that I don’t have a deep passion for the game of football, though. On the contrary; I played football throughout my youth and high school days, all-the-while rooting for the New York Giants.
Going into work at the Timex Performance Center that following week was thrilling. Ferro was busier than ever with extended playoff coverage, interviews, additional press conferences, etc. and I began finding myself getting thrown into different situations and taking on much larger production responsibilities than I had ever faced before; Needless to say I was loving every minute of it. The energy around the facility was buzzing and I started noticing more familiar faces from ESPN and NFL Network around that week. It truly was beginning to feel like something special was in the air. That feeling would be multiplied by 1000x within the next two weeks following absolutely exhilarating victories in Green Bay and San Francisco.
Monday, January 23rd is a day that I will never forget. It was the morning after Big Blue attained the 2011 NFC Championship and my boss, my mentor, and my executive producer (who all happen to be the same person) called me aside for a meeting. He informed me that I would be traveling with the crew on the NYG team plane and spending the week in Indianapolis working as a camera operator and production assistant. We were going to be shooting fifteen shows that week and we needed all hands on deck. “Your going to be recieving a crash course in a lot of subjects this week, but for some reason I have full confidence in you.” he told me.
Photo captured of myself operating 1st-Camera on the set of Giants Opening Drive Live: Super Bowl Edition, in Indianapolis.
HOLY $&@# !!! : I was ecstatic to say the least. I felt like my whole life, especially everything I had been working so hard at for the past few years, had brought me to this one magical moment in time and I knew that I was going to rise to the occasion and seize the opportunity.
Now, instead of documenting my week in Indy for you here in this Article, I am going to provide you with a link to our very popular “Super Bowl Series“ which I worked on every night last year while in Super Bowl City. I highly recommend you take the time to read the short series, as it will truly put you in my shoes and show you exactly how incredible Ferro’s week was.
Michael Morrissey began his career at the age of 20, working as a production assistant with the New York Giants Broadcasting Department. Since then Michael has endured numerous freelance positions in the New York City area including working with the 16-time Emmy Award winning crew of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as well as operating network camera for NYG Broadcast’s MSG and FOX daily programming, including on-location camera-1 operator during Super Bowl week in Indianapolis. More recently Michael has expanded into the cyber-world acting as the Chief Staff writer and Content Manager for FerroProductions.com, all-the-while continuing his never ending passion for television production.
One of the most memorable moments of my life.
