Backstage

A day in the life…of Managing Video Editor Jay Morales

Jay Morales is the Managing Video Editor of the New York office and Continuity Supervisor. He has been with Mercury Radio Arts/TheBlaze since 2010, when he was hired as a video editor. In addition to managing the six editors in the New York office, Jay is involved in directing, shooting, and editing various projects for TheBlaze TV. Below is a glimpse into his typical day.

5:00 AM: The alarm goes off at 5 o’clock. I hit snooze. Then it goes off at 5:15. I hit snooze again. I try to get up around 5:30 to go to the gym. I go to the gym and come back about an hour later. In the morning, usually I get up and it is music right away. I really like music, so it is always on as soon as I get up. I get up and read my Bible app and my Pulse app to catch up on news, graphics, videos. It gives me a daily feed. And if I don’t do that as soon as I wake up, I usually will do it after I get home from the gym, or on the subway, or waiting for the subway.

6:30 AM: I have two pugs, Brutis and Wallace. If my wife, Angie, hasn’t fed the dogs, I’ll feed the dogs and get them all taken care of. I take them out, come back, and then battle with Angie for the bathroom. I try to take a shower while she does her hair and makeup – she gets mad at me if I steam up the bathroom. For breakfast, if I am running late, I will throw peanut butter on an English muffin, grab a banana, and bring it to work. Otherwise, I will have a bowl of cereal, or an English muffin with orange juice, or some toast.

7:45 AM: My wife and I try to leave together to catch the shuttle from our place to the subway at Columbus Circle. Then we take the 1 train a couple of stops. We get off at the same stop. I kiss my wife goodbye, and it’s off to the office.

8:15 AM: I get to the office anywhere between 8:15 and 9 o’clock. I like to get here early so I can just kind of get ready mentally. If I am working on a project, I like to have that quiet time to work on anything I was thinking about. I kind of obsess over it – over the process of the project. It never leaves my mind. I am always thinking about how can I improve it, what’s lacking, whether its color, story, whatever it is. If I am working on something, I like to have some time in the morning to pick that up before I get going and start checking in with everyone.

9:00 AM: Between 9 and 10 I make rounds and check in with everyone. I check in with all the editors – follow up to see how everyone is doing with their projects. I manage six editors now. I like to follow up with the producers to see what is coming next. Then I check in with Michele [Smiley, Network Operations Manager] and let her know what I have going on. She downloads me on anything that is coming down the pipe or any surprises, things that we may not have known about. We are just shuffling the pieces and saying, “Am I doing this? Do I have someone else who can pick it up?” And then I get back to my desk. I put all of the information into an email to the producers, the editors, Michele, and the Dallas edit team, so that everyone is on the same page. Sometimes people approach us with a project without knowing what else is going on, so it is a good way to keep everyone informed.

10:00 AM: If I haven’t had coffee along the way, I will have my coffee then. Depending on the day, it’s a Starbucks Triple Mocha. I hate ordering Starbucks the way they ask you to order it, like with the “Venti” and stuff. I just say large. Otherwise, on a normal day – if I have gone to sleep and everything else – I will just grab my Dunkin Donuts. I used to make my coffee at home, when my wife was drinking it too, but she is pregnant now, so she isn’t really drinking coffee. I used to make the coffee in the morning, have a cup at home, get to the office, have another cup, and then have my afternoon cup. But I have been scaling back on the coffee lately.

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Glenn goes to the gun range

Brushes with Beck: Visiting the Glenn Beck studios

What’s it like to visit The Glenn Beck Program studios in Dallas, TX? One audience member explained in a letter to Chief of Staff Joe Kerry what it was like to stop by the studios.

Joe,

I have been wanting to send you a thank you email however the past few days have been really hectic and I apologize for not writing sooner. Marina and I had such a great time on our visit. We knew that we were going to enjoy it however it turned out to be so much more enlightening and interesting that we could of ever of hoped for. On the way home from the studio all Marina kept saying was “fun stuff” “fun stuff” “fun stuff”!

Moreover, the high level not just of professionalism but of the decent kindness observed of the entire staff was really remarkable. More notably and even more impressive was to see this from people that are apparently rather young! Even the staff in the control room was offering us beverages.

Its hard for me to describe but its as if the whole studio is this microcosm of extremely high creativity coupled with decency, dedication, integrity, honor and meaningful purpose. It was really that good! In fact, I left the studio asking myself if there was a way that I could bottle some of it up and take it back to my office.

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American Dream Labs: Building the robots for Man in the Moon

We’re planning to do some amazing things this summer at The Man in the Moon. Many of you have probably joined us at one of the “Restoring” events, but this is going to be something very different. The storytellers at the American Dream Labs are going to be telling the story of America in a way that has never been done before. It’s a story of struggle and triumph, of good and evil and of simple people finding a better way.

The American Dream Labs team has been hard at work developing new pyrotechnic, visual and audio techniques that will change your family’s Independence Day forever.

As we get closer to the event, I’m going to be sharing some of the behind-the-scenes stories of what the American Dream Labs team in Salt Lake City is developing. Just the other night, the head of our SLC Dream Labs Ben sent over this video of the team working on the very early stages of the robots that will be a big part of the show.

Let me know what you think.

A few words with 1791 Design Manager Tim Didanto

RawDenim.com sat down with 1791′s design manager recently to discuss the inspiration behind 1791, their denim collection, and what you can expect to see coming from them  the future.

[Hint: If you've been looking forward to more sales…and a women's line, there may be good news for you coming soon.]


This past week I had the pleasure to chat with
Tim DiDonato, design manager of 1791 Supply Co. 1791 is a New York/Dallas, TX based denim company that also specializes in shirting and graphic tees.

Established in late 2011 the brand strives to embody the feel of vintage Americana and work wear with its collections. So sit back, relax, and enjoy all that 1791 Supply Co. and DiDonato have to offer.

Read the full interview HERE.


Man in the Moon producer went to see a man about some planes

This is how I produce a show from across the country. I trust my partner Ben to find the right people and tools. Today he went to see a man about a plane … Or three. Thursday they go up for a test run to see if they can do what we need them to do during one of the fireworks sections of the Man in the Moon on July 6th. Thought you might enjoy this quick peak behind the scenes.

Glenn speaks at Game Changers event in Dallas, TX

Joe Kerry, Glenn’s Chief of Staff, was on hand at a speech Glenn gave last week at American Airlines arena. Glenn spoke to a number of student-athletes, coaches, and other members of the Dallas community. He spoke of the importance of character and faith, telling the crowd, “If you lose your name, your honor, and your integrity you have nothing”.

A wonderful Sunday morning with the family

With Cheyenne at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City

Glenn visits the American Dream Labs

For the full size image click HERE

Congratulations Stu and Lisa!

Ainslee Faith:

2/9/2013 (same birthday as Stu!)

3:51 pm

5 lbs. 14 oz.

And the family: