Business Insider
As a Senior Video Producer for Business Insider, I was involved in every step of the production process, from researching and pitching story ideas, to developing shoot schedules and formulating travel budgets, filming and conducting interviews, and finally scripting, editing, and occasionally narrating.
How Army Cooks Are Trained To Feed 800 Soldiers In The Field
We got an inside look at how Army Culinary Specialists are trained at the Joint Culinary Center of Excellence at Fort Lee, Virginia. After instruction in the techniques of cooking and baking, trainees prepare three meals a day for their fellow soldiers in an actual garrison kitchen. Training culminates outdoors, where trainees cook for hundreds of soldiers in the same mobile kitchens they could be cooking in if deployed.
(Producer, Writer, Narrator)
How Military Dogs Are Trained
I got an inside look at how military working dogs are trained at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Working dogs are utilized by every branch of the United States military for detection and patrol purposes, and there are about 1,600 serving today. The United States Air Force's 341st Training Squadron is responsible for training both military working dogs and handlers.
(Producer, Cinematographer, Writer)
How Football Players Train To Make It In the NFL
Rischad Whitfield — aka “The Footwork King” — is a movement specialist who has spent a decade training Pro Bowlers such as Odell Beckham Jr., Xavien Howard, Eric Ebron, and Mecole Hardman to optimize the skills that have made them superstars in the league. NFL hopefuls like Notre Dame tight end Brock Wright and Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh hire trainers like Whitfield and defensive/offensive line specialist Brandon Jordan to improve their skills in the hopes of boosting their status in the upcoming NFL draft and preparing to compete at the highest level of football. I spent four days at Whitfield’s facility in Houston as he and Jordan trained a handful of current and future NFL athletes just weeks before the 2021 NFL draft.
(Producer, Cinematographer, Writer, Editor)
Every Uniform In A Navy Sailor's Seabag
A Navy sailor breaks down every uniform that new recruits are issued at Navy boot camp. HM1 Daniel Andren explains the history, features, and uses for the six uniforms every sailor receives in their sea bag, which they’re issued on their first night and which stays with them throughout their Navy career, and shares his favorite and least favorite uniforms to wear.
(Producer, Cinematographer, Writer)
How TSA Airport Dogs Are Trained
The Transportation Security Administration — or TSA — employs more than 1,000 explosives detection canine teams at any given time. But before they’re deployed to one of the many mass-transit sites across the United States, they must graduate from the TSA National Explosives Detection Canine Program. I spent a day with the program at the TSA Canine Training Center, located at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, to see how the TSA trains both dogs and handlers, and then visited Philadelphia International Airport to shadow an explosives detection team in action.
(Producer, Cinematographer, Writer, Editor)
What New Air Force Cadets Go Through On Day One At The Academy
I got an inside look at what it's like on the first day for new freshmen, known as cadets, at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. In-Processing Day, or "I-Day," marks the beginning of these cadets' journey to becoming members of the "Long Blue Line" that represents Air Force officers. I-Day is the beginning of a challenging six-week basic training program all cadets are required to complete. After saying goodbye to their families, the cadets begin their journeys at the Air Force Academy.
(Producer, Cinematographer, Writer, Editor)
What Army Snipers Go Through At Sniper School
Before they become snipers, all students must graduate from the US Army Sniper Course, a seven-week program that teaches soldiers from the Army and National Guard essential skills in fieldcraft and marksmanship. I spent two days at the US Army Sniper Course inside the Fort Benning military installation near Columbus, Georgia, where I observed various classes at different stages of training.
(Producer, Cinematographer, Writer, Editor)
How Chefs In The NBA Bubble Make 4,000 Meals A Week
Alexia Grant — aka Chef Lex — was one of 10 chefs invited to cook for players inside the NBA bubble. From her kitchen at Disney World, she launched the pop-up restaurant Comfort Kitchen, specializing in Caribbean and Southern comfort food. Since, she's cooked for players from every team in the bubble, including the Miami Heat, the LA Lakers, and the Denver Nuggets. But cooking under strict quarantine isn't easy. She can't leave the bubble to do her own shopping and has to rely on runners to deliver her food to the players in the inner bubble.
(Editor)
What Navy Recruits Go Through In Boot Camp
I got an inside look at the United States Navy's 10-week basic training program at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes. Recruits must pass a physical assessment and a swim qualification before they train in seamanship, firefighting, and weapons training. They're also exposed to tear gas inside a confidence chamber where they learn to correctly wear gas masks. Training culminates with “Battle Stations” an all-night event that takes place on a mock Navy destroyer ship designed by companies who have created theme park attractions for Walt Disney World. After completing the event, recruits officially become sailors when they receive their US Navy ball caps.
(Cinematographer)
Every Piece of Gear In An Army Cook's Mobile Field Kitchen
A US Army Advanced Culinary Specialist breaks down every piece of gear used in the containerized kitchen, or CK. The CK is equipped with an oven, griddle, refrigerator, and food warmer, and more, and has the capability to produce 2,400 meals a day. Staff Sergeant Nicholas Davis explains how all the gear is used to prepare meals for soldiers.
(Producer)
What New Air Force Recruits Go Through In Boot Camp
I got an inside look at the United States Air Force’s 7.5-week basic military training, or BMT, program. I spent four days at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, observing different squadrons at various stages of training. Trainees are instructed in marksmanship, drill, and battlefield first aid. The program culminates in week six with an event known as BEAST (Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training). During BEAST week, trainees live in a simulated combat environment and are tested in various field training exercises and scenarios.
(Producer, Cinematographer, Writer, Editor)
How Millions Of Pounds Of Coffee Are Processed At Hawaiian Coffee Farms
Although Hawaii accounts for less than 1% of the global coffee production, coffee is a $50 million industry for the state, and the number of coffee farms in the islands has been steadily increasing. But the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the supply chain into disarray, and as tourism to the islands plummeted, demand for coffee plunged. Now coffee producers throughout the islands have been left sitting on millions of dollars worth of last year's crop, just as this year's harvesting season begins.
(Producer, Writer, Narrator, Editor)
How Stunt Drivers Are Trained
With more than 50 years of stunt driving experience and more than 100 credits in film and television, Rick Seaman is considered a legend in the stunt driving community. Now retired, Seaman teaches the next generation the ins and outs of stunt driving at Rick Seaman’s East Stunt Driving School, a three-day course held at Wall Stadium Speedway in Wall, New Jersey. Students learn and practice a variety of stunt driving techniques including skid turns, flying 90s, 180-degree slides (both forwards and backwards), and multi-car interactions. I followed a group of students participating in the driving school as they attempted to execute a host of stunt driving techniques commonly featured in film and TV today.
(Producer, Cinematographer, Writer, Editor)
Every Piece Of Gear In A Military Dog Handler’s Field Bag
A military working dog handler breaks down every piece of gear he carries, including emergency medical supplies, various toys, and "doggles". MA1 Matthew Hollingsworth explains why each item is integral to the mission of a military working dog handler, which are used by every branch of the US military.
(Producer, Cinematographer, Writer, Editor)
What It Takes To Pass The Army’s Air Assault Entry Test
Before they can begin their training to become Air Assault-qualified, all students at the Sabalauski Air Assault School must survive "day zero," a physically and mentally grueling test that marks the beginning of what's known as the Army's "10 toughest days." On a scorching day in June where the heat index rose to over 100 degrees, I followed two students to find out if they have what it takes to survive day zero and move on to day one of Air Assault School.
(Cinematographer, Writer, Editor)
How The $30 Million 'Super Scooper' Plane Was Built To Fight Wildfires
This $30 million Super Scooper is the only plane in the world that was designed specifically to fight wildfires. The aircraft performs a dangerous dive down to a body of water, scoops up 1,400 gallons of water in 12 seconds, and drops its load of water on raging forest fires. We went inside this massive aircraft to find out how it works, what it takes to fly it, and why it’s considered the most efficient aerial-firefighting aircraft in the world.
(Writer, Narrator, Editor)
What It Takes To Be A White House Photographer
Pete Souza served as the official White House photographer for both President Barack Obama and President Ronald Reagan. Souza said for both administrations he put his personal life on hold for eight years to document history. Seven days a week, Souza followed Obama, capturing some of the most iconic moments of the administration. Souza breaks down his famous shots and what it took to get the gig.
(Editor)
How Fighter Pilots Train To Fly The Marine Corps’ F-35B
With a price tag of just over $100 million, the F-35B from Lockheed Martin is equipped with the most powerful engine of any jet in the world, as well as the most advanced sensor suite of any fighter jet in history. The Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina, is the sole location for the training required to fly this unique plane. This training is focused on teaching pilots how to perform short-distance takeoffs and how to land the plane vertically like a helicopter. Pilots also learn to master technology and utilize gear unique to the jet. In March, Insider was granted exclusive access to the Air Station, where we observed these pilots in training.
(Writer, Narrator, Editor)