Setting up at JM Studios

Posted on
With a new season on the horizon (ESPN 2 - March 9, 2019), JM Associates, the TV arm of B.A.S.S., redesigned the set where Bassmaster TV, the Livewell and Bassmaster LIVE are produced. First order of business was upgrading the 2014 Toyota Tundra to a newer model. (With only 1,800 miles on odometer, bet this Tundra will be quite the acquisition for its next owner).
With a new season on the horizon (ESPN 2 – March 9, 2019), JM Associates, the TV arm of B.A.S.S., redesigned the set where Bassmaster TV, the Livewell and Bassmaster LIVE are produced. First order of business was upgrading the 2014 Toyota Tundra to a newer model. (With only 1,800 miles on odometer, bet this Tundra will be quite the acquisition for its next owner).
Moving it out of the studio into the garage was not an easy task, but Howard Downs, who manages about every physical item in the building, shows how the angle was correct to just slip it out the double doors.
Moving it out of the studio into the garage was not an easy task, but Howard Downs, who manages about every physical item in the building, shows how the angle was correct to just slip it out the double doors.
For Downs and others, the quick turnaround was pressure-packed. Sans truck, the TV crew hosted a number of Elites in the middle of January for video shoots promoting the season. The beginnings of the new look can be seen in the bricks on the left.
For Downs and others, the quick turnaround was pressure-packed. Sans truck, the TV crew hosted a number of Elites in the middle of January for video shoots promoting the season. The beginnings of the new look can be seen in the bricks on the left.
Behind the scenes, plenty of work was being done. The back of the garage was a shop and staging area for items like these recently stained boards. (Not every guy seen standing around was just 'supervising').
Behind the scenes, plenty of work was being done. The back of the garage was a shop and staging area for items like these recently stained boards. (Not every guy seen standing around was just ‘supervising’).
The shiny new 2019 Tundra, with 5 miles on the odometer, has arrived, and Downs navigates its trip through the double doors.
The shiny new 2019 Tundra, with 5 miles on the odometer, has arrived, and Downs navigates its trip through the double doors.
Downs makes sure he’s got it all lined out and the trajectory is on path. The plan is to get the truck in position …
Downs makes sure he’s got it all lined out and the trajectory is on path. The plan is to get the truck in position …
… then jack it up and place the rear wheels on tire skates. (Safety first, Downs hollers to get out from under, even though arms stretched and the Tundra’s high clearance left no worries).
… then jack it up and place the rear wheels on tire skates. (Safety first, Downs hollers to get out from under, even though arms stretched and the Tundra’s high clearance left no worries).
Sound engineer Danny Hampton is reflected in the rearview mirror as he waits for Downs to call for the team to push the rear end of the Tundra over.
Sound engineer Danny Hampton is reflected in the rearview mirror as he waits for Downs to call for the team to push the rear end of the Tundra over.
Weighing more than 5,000 pounds, Downs gives an initial push that required several others to swing the rear end around and align it with the doors.
Weighing more than 5,000 pounds, Downs gives an initial push that required several others to swing the rear end around and align it with the doors.
Might not need as many studio lights with these bad boys on.
Might not need as many studio lights with these bad boys on.
Downs hops in to make sure everything is copasetic and straightens out the wheels.
Downs hops in to make sure everything is copasetic and straightens out the wheels.
Then he jacks the truck back up to remove the skates …
Then he jacks the truck back up to remove the skates …
… and drives right into the studio. Easy peasy, truckee squeezee. From mirror to mirror, the Tundra measures 84 inches -- the doors are 91 inches wide.
… and drives right into the studio. Easy peasy, truckee squeezee. From mirror to mirror, the Tundra measures 84 inches — the doors are 91 inches wide.
The process halted work for a bit, but the crew is back at it after the production truck pulls back into the garage. Jim Miller, brother of longtime JM cameraman Wes Miller, carries in boards for a platform he’s building.
The process halted work for a bit, but the crew is back at it after the production truck pulls back into the garage. Jim Miller, brother of longtime JM cameraman Wes Miller, carries in boards for a platform he’s building.
Wes works on the aforementioned platform for the new studio desk that will sit in front of Tommy Sanders, Davy Hite and Mark Zona, who is in studio this week.
Wes works on the aforementioned platform for the new studio desk that will sit in front of Tommy Sanders, Davy Hite and Mark Zona, who is in studio this week.
Cameraman Carey Barrett gets some work done on the boom camera he operates so deftly. Upgrading electronics and getting them all plugged in right was a big concern as the production truck had a lot of new equipment installed. It gave everyone a busy month to prep for this week’s Elite season opener on the St. Johns River.
Cameraman Carey Barrett gets some work done on the boom camera he operates so deftly. Upgrading electronics and getting them all plugged in right was a big concern as the production truck had a lot of new equipment installed. It gave everyone a busy month to prep for this week’s Elite season opener on the St. Johns River.
B.A.S.S. Vice Present of Media Content Mike McKinnis (left) talks with Sanders about the new desk setup as Downs and graphics guru Kevin Witherspoon discuss the next steps.
B.A.S.S. Vice Present of Media Content Mike McKinnis (left) talks with Sanders about the new desk setup as Downs and graphics guru Kevin Witherspoon discuss the next steps.
After building the platform, the Miller boys work to carpet it. In the back right, Witherspoon works on graphics that will fill the windows. (Kevin, told you not to look in the camera.)
After building the platform, the Miller boys work to carpet it. In the back right, Witherspoon works on graphics that will fill the windows. (Kevin, told you not to look in the camera.)
Michael Middleton makes a suggestion to Witherspoon and fellow producer David Lipke while the carpet tacks fly.
Michael Middleton makes a suggestion to Witherspoon and fellow producer David Lipke while the carpet tacks fly.
With the set taking shape, McKinnis said let’s turn it a couple inches this way. Downs replied, “Ok, 1, 2, 3, push.”
With the set taking shape, McKinnis said let’s turn it a couple inches this way. Downs replied, “Ok, 1, 2, 3, push.”
The only thing left to finish with the Toyota desk is some lighting. The crew believes the work will go down to the final minutes before Bassmaster LIVE debuts in 2019 on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. ET.
The only thing left to finish with the Toyota desk is some lighting. The crew believes the work will go down to the final minutes before Bassmaster LIVE debuts in 2019 on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Like little brothers, Ronnie Moore (seated) and Mike Suchan (hey, that’s me) get the hand-me-down desk. But the team that does Facebook Live pregame and midday mini shows gets moved more front and center. Sanders asks, “Does it fit?”
Like little brothers, Ronnie Moore (seated) and Mike Suchan (hey, that’s me) get the hand-me-down desk. But the team that does Facebook Live pregame and midday mini shows gets moved more front and center. Sanders asks, “Does it fit?”
The new look is not quite complete, with work continuing on things like lighting. The unveiling with be Thursday, but don’t expect to see it a lot as there are plans to bring more action from the water. LIVE will now have 10 cameramen on anglers, two more on our roving reporter, Davy Hite this week, and emcee Dave Mercer. B.A.S.S. invested in 20 devices with Skyping capabilities, meaning viewers might see almost half the field on the first two days of coverage.
The new look is not quite complete, with work continuing on things like lighting. The unveiling with be Thursday, but don’t expect to see it a lot as there are plans to bring more action from the water. LIVE will now have 10 cameramen on anglers, two more on our roving reporter, Davy Hite this week, and emcee Dave Mercer. B.A.S.S. invested in 20 devices with Skyping capabilities, meaning viewers might see almost half the field on the first two days of coverage.