| So you have bought a camcorder and have
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| | Perhaps instead of a pen-pal on the other
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| shot some footage, but truthfully you
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| | side of the world, you need to imagine
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| don't much like the results. Maybe I can
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| | that grandchildren 50 years from now will
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| help. My advice is based on ten years of
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| | be watching and enjoying your footage --
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| looking over people's shoulders at my
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| | they need to see more than this year's
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| business, the Video Kitchen in Louisville
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| | Christmas tree or a collage of
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| Kentucky, where people transfer old home
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| | unidentified faces all wedged together at
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| movies, duplicate video tapes they've
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| | the end of a table.If traveling and
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| shot, and edit their raw footage. My
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| | touring about, consider being rebellious
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| staff and I see a lot of mistakes being
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| | -- don't shoot a video that the travel
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| made. Other times we see exciting footage
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| | industry would want to buy, don't try to
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| shot by an amateur who claims to have no
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| | outdo the shots on the picture postcards,
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| education in the art of videography. What
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| | don't come back with hours of footage of
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| makes the difference? Lots of things.
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| | old churches and great overlooks.
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| I'll cover a few of the biggest issues
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| | Instead, shoot the little things that are
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| here.Let's start with a test: What's the
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| | different: the tacky, the elegant, the
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| easiest thing to teach a kid to do? Is it
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| | ugly, the glamorous. Get kids at play,
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| to feed itself, to go to the bathroom in
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| | beggars on the sidewalk, strange trucks,
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| the toilet, to walk, to talk? . . . No,
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| | painted front doors, signs that tell you
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| none of those answers are the one I am
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| | that you are "going to hell . . ."In
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| looking for. Here's a clue: What do most
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| | other words, take great care in capturing
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| kids do for more than 20-hours each week?
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| | what the trade calls "establishing shots"
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| Sleeping doesn't count. OK, here's the
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| | of a time and place. Get a picture of the
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| answer I'm looking for: The easiest thing
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| | neighborhood, the house, the rooms you
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| to teach a kid to do is watch TV. As the
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| | know and live in. Capture shots of things
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| kid grows up, how much time to we spend
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| | that wear out and become obsolete: cars,
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| teaching him or her to create TV? How
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| | telephones, stoves, TVs, clothes,
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| much time was spent teaching you how to
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| | shopping areas, airplanes, you name
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| create TV? Not much.Many years ago, when
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| | it.Break away from your friends and
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| I first started taking home movies, the
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| | family and get shots that put them in a
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| firms, such as Kodak, that sold film came
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| | time and place. I remember one morning
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| with instructions how to make good
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| | looking at a home movie shot in the hills
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| movies. Then, when you got your film back
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| | of Kentucky at a family funeral, probably
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| from the processing lab, you might find
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| | 60 years ago. There were white frame
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| the dreaded "It's not my fault" note
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| | houses, the family all dressed in black,
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| telling you how you screwed up with
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| | old square cars, a white frame church and
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| advice how to do better next time. Not so
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| | spectacular shots of a cemetery on the
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| with today's video equipment -- you're on
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| | side of a hill on a green and golden fall
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| your own. Maybe a family member will
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| | day. I didn't know are care about the
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| suggest your video is lacking, but most
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| | family faces but the cameraman had so
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| likely everyone will watch in stunned
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| | captured a time and place that I couldn't
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| silence and politely thank you for the
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| | take my eyes off of it. It was a glimpse
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| experience as they excuse themselves to
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| | into an era that no longer exists, and it
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| get some fresh air or go get a drink.The
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| | was caught very simply by a novice family
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| learning curve for shooting video is
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| | member with movie camera in hand.However,
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| similar to learning how to cook -- rarely
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| | you and most of your audience will care
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| does a beginner produce a gourmet meal,
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| | about the family faces in your video, and
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| but we all know what tastes dreadful and
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| | this is where you really have to go to
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| what is truly gourmet. This makes
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| | work. Some of the best shots occur when
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| learning how to "cook up" great videos
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| | you behave like a fly on the wall -- the
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| intellectually exciting. What looks
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| | actors in your video no longer care or
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| trivial -- just push the red button --
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| | know that you are there. It's actually a
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| really isn't. There is much more to it
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| | lot of work. You need to shoot, or look
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| than that, just as getting a great meal
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| | like you are shooting so much that
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| out without burning half of it and
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| | everyone starts to ignore you. You aren't
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| serving the other half cold and
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| | asking them to smile or say cheese. You
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| undercooked can be a huge challenge for
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| | aren't interviewing them. You are simply
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| the beginner (and even some of us who
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| | making a fool of yourself standing on a
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| have been doing it for years).Fortunately
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| | chair in the corner, crawling on the
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| for the rebellious souls among us, the
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| | floor chasing the cat, pushing in on the
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| rules for shooting great videos are not
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| | stove while someone tries to stir a pot,
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| cast in stone -- you can do rude things
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| | eavesdropping in on every conversation.
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| and your audience may love it, just as a
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| | You tell everyone to not worry, that
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| great chef may burn and over-pepper a
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| | you'll probably throw 90% of what you
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| fish and sell it as "blackened" to an
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| | shoot away, and you well might.With the
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| appreciative audience. But you really
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| | fly-on-the-wall technique you are hoping
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| should know the rules of the game before
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| | to capture real people in action. Twenty
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| you start breaking them -- you need to
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| | or thirty years from now you'll want to
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| know how to use your tools and what
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| | know what grandma sounded like as a young
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| happens when you push things to the
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| | mother, your kids will laugh that their
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| limit.Put a video camera in the hands of
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| | uncle still walks just like he did when
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| a teenage boy and one of the first things
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| | he was a kid, they'll be amazed at how
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| he will do is shoot a bunch of footage in
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| | playful all the old goats were back then.
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| near darkness. Put the same camera in the
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| | These reactions don't come if every shot
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| hands of his teenage sister and one of
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| | is posed. A few interviews and
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| the first things she will do is turn the
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| | testimonials may be good, but if they're
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| camera sideways and upside down. Such fun
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| | bad, what do you do with them -- throw
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| -- just let me out of the room when we
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| | them on the floor and hurt someone's
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| have to view this junk -- it's roughly
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| | feelings?The fly-on-the-wall technique
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| equivalent to a child baking his or her
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| | assumes you will follow up and edit out
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| first cake with it's soggy middle and
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| | the junk and the boring but you don't
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| chocolate all over the kitchen.Most of us
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| | just want to leave the camera running
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| struggled through 12 or more years of
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| | endlessly. You want to get shots from
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| school where we were required to create
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| | different angles. You want to grab
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| essays for evaluation by our teachers.
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| | snippets and move. You need to hit the
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| Back the papers would come with red marks
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| | red button and stop the camera before you
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| all over them correcting grammar,
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| | hunt for the next shot. Sentences have
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| spelling and suggesting that we didn't
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| | periods. Don't be guilty of taking run-on
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| really get our point across. A lot of
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| | videos.If your subjects get busy and
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| years and a lot of essays later we might
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| | decide to do something interesting, grab
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| feel comfortable putting words on
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| | the camera. Maybe the guys will tear into
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| paper.This isn't the case for creating
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| | a car or motorcycle, maybe everyone will
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| video. Some schools offer a course or two
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| | play a rousing game of Monopoly, perhaps
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| but rarely have the poor teachers been
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| | the women will go shopping, how about a
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| taught anything about the subject, so how
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| | pickup football or basketball game, and
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| are they supposed to pass much knowledge
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| | certainly get shots in the kitchen. Get
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| on to their students? At best the system
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| | dad in his tool room, get mom picking
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| turns out budding newscasters, great for
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| | flowers, film washing a favorite pet,
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| TV stations who can pick the prettiest
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| | capture a stroll through the park.Let's
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| face from a huge oversupply of kids who
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| | look at taking such videos from another
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| want to chase policemen, but not really
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| | angle. Suppose you find yourself with
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| useful for all the other commercial and
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| | camera in hand at a deadly event you'd
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| artistic opportunities that are showing
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| | rather missed filled with boorish in-laws
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| up as video moves to hundreds of cable
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| | you really don't like. Just for the fun
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| channels, shows up on PC's and soon will
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| | of it you decided to record the event in
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| be everywhere on the Internet. For
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| | the most hateful manner possible. Here
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| examples, visit our web page at booklet
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| | are a few ideas. Start by shoving the
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| is not for those who want to shoot video
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| | camera in peoples' faces while they are
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| commercially. Most people (by a huge
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| | chewing on food and make them say
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| factor) simply want to create good videos
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| | something. Then move everyone to a
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| for fun and family just as many of us who
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| | cramped area and make them repeatedly say
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| aspire to be great chefs have absolutely
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| | cheese. If possible, put a bright light
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| no intention of ever darkening to door of
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| | in their eyes or put them outside in the
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| the kitchen in a commercial restaurant.
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| | sunniest place you can find. Make the
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| Unlike great or bad meals, however, a
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| | parents feel guilty for their kids that
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| video will likely be around for many
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| | won't stand still and film their anger
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| years and in some cases will be viewed by
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| | and frustration.After that, hope everyone
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| generations of unborn grandchildren who
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| | slouches down in a couch with a beer or
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| may judge you unfairly if your
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| | too much dinner to watch a football game
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| video-making skills are inferior.So now
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| | on TV. Stand over them like a regal king
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| I've scared you a little, I don't want
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| | and shoot down on them making them look
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| you to run from your video camera.
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| | as slovenly as possible. If you block
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| Instead I hope you feel challenged to
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| | their view of the TV, maybe one of them
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| jump in and start to master the subject.
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| | will stick his tongue out, curse you or
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| Like any subject, your skills improve
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| | give you the finger, all of which you can
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| with practice, practice, practice. You
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| | happily record for future generations.
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| are in control. You can (and should)
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| | One of my favorite shots occurs when you
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| throw away your junk footage. Plan on
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| | burst into a bathroom while someone is
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| letting the world see maybe as little as
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| | sitting on the pot. Wake someone up who
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| one-sixth of what you shoot and you'll
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| | is taking a nap. With luck you can so
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| have much more fun.If you were making a
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| | invade someone's territory while they are
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| Hollywood movie, you would need a script,
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| | having a serious discussion that they
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| professional actors, and a support team
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| | will stick the palm of their hand out to
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| of dozens or hundreds of people to manage
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| | block your lens just like a good
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| everything from lighting and staging to
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| | communist policeman might have as he was
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| snacks and insurance for the crew. If you
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| | beating up on a kid.Find the fat people
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| were shooting a documentary, you'd need a
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| | and film them to show off their large
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| story line, a point of view, an argument
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| | stomachs. Find the old and shriveled
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| that you'd want to show and prove. Much
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| | people and go in tight on their bad skin.
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| the same can be said for videos that
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| | If one of the kids is a bully, film him
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| sell, train or record for posterity a
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| | persecuting his younger siblings. Capture
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| defined event or staged production. But
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| | whining and temper tantrums if possible.
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| here you are, you have a camera, want to
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| | Pray for a big family argument that you
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| shoot video, but don't have any of this
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| | can film surreptitiously.That's just a
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| working for you. What are you to do,
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| | few suggestions how to make people look
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| leave it in the closet? No, but you do
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| | awful -- it's very easy to do, and most
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| need to go about your task with some
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| | subjects will rise to the occasion
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| "do's and don'ts" in mind.When your job
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| | without much prompting. In fact, if you
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| is to watch days and days of old home
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| | are not careful, you will accidentally
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| movies and family videos, you understand
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| | capture lots of such footage without
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| the comment of one of my staff after a
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| | really trying. We see it all the time at
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| really busy period: "I think if I see one
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| | our shop.If you have any other questions,
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| more Christmas tree, shots of kids at the
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| | please visit our web page at: us at:
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| beach, or a family eating a large
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| | 1917 Blankenbaker Parkway
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| Thanksgiving meal, I'll throw up!" In the
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| | Louisville KY 40299
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| middle of this rush, a large order came
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| | Call us at:
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| in of 1940's footage shot in and around a
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| | (502) 266-0905That's all for now. This
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| family summer home that was a total show
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| | is a work in progress and I've put the
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| stopper for my staff. My guys all said,
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| | rough version up on the web hoping for
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| "Wow, look at this!" and we did. For me,
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| | some feedback. If there's interest, maybe
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| it was a time warp -- return to a
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| | that will spur me on to finish it
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| childhood era I knew, but for my young
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| | up.Video Kitchen was founded in 1992 as a
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| staff born 30 years after the footage was
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| | place to "cook up a great video!" Over
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| shot, it was completely fascinating too.
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| | the years over 25,000 customers have come
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| What had this long forgotten uncle done
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| | through our doors to do everything from
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| right that so caught our eye, so
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| | duplicating a tape for their family to
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| interested us? Simple things, really,
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| | production of sophisticated
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| things that you and I can do with no
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| | broadcast-quality videos for businesses,
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| great effort or planning.Here you stand,
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| | organizations and charities. We have
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| camera in hand, with no story in mind.
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| | grown from one to two closely integrated
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| You don't know how the day is going to
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| | operations in Louisville Kentucky. The
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| unfold, nor do you expect anything
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| | original operation is at 2323 Bardstown
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| unusual to occur. You don't even know who
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| | Road, Louisville KY, 40205, a mile and a
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| your audience might be if you roll the
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| | half north of I-264 in the middle of the
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| camera, but you want to capture the
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| | bustling Bardstown Road corridor. If you
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| moment, you want to play with your new
| |
| | look at a map of the Louisville
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| toy. Where do you start? Here are some
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| | metropolitan area, we are very near the
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| things to think about that may help.Be
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| | center of the map. In April 2004 Video
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| selfish: assume that you will be the
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| | Kitchen opened a second location to
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| ultimate audience -- that you are trapped
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| | better serve you at 1917 Blankenbaker
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| in a nursing home with hard floors and
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| | Parkway, Louisville KY, 40299. This is in
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| hard walls surrounded by strangers,
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| | Louisville's east end, two traffic lights
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| lonely, and no longer interested in a
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| | south of I-64 in the Blankenbaker Place
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| world that is spinning away without you.
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| | Center.Not only do you gain access to
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| What would you want to relive and
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| | professional equipment, you'll find a
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| enjoy?Create an imaginary pen-pal on the
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| | professional staff ready to help you
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| other side of the world: imagine you are
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| | create a superb video. If you need
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| exchanging "this is my world" videos with
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| | copies, one or thousands, we are the
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| that person -- someone you want to
| |
| | place to do that for you, six days a
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| impress but whom you feel has no idea
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| | week.
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| what everyday life in your world is like.
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| |
|
