Lights … Camera … Play Ball!
During the first two games of the recent National League Championship Series in Philadelphia, millions of viewers made sure to situate themselves in front of their televisions in time for the first pitch. And while those countless Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers fans sat in their living rooms, anxiously waiting for the game to begin, the home-plate umpire stood peering into the dugout at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Ballpark, looking for the signal from one Rider University junior that it was time to yell, “Play Ball!”
For Kelly Dixon, it was one powerful perk of her job as a production assistant with the FOX television network. The Communication and Journalism major from Glen Mills, Pa., has been working as a freelance production assistant for FOX, ESPN and ABC since landing a gig with ESPN for the network’s coverage of the Little League World Series in August 2007. Dixon’s job isn’t always glorious, but she’s earning a paycheck, as well as recognition and an impressive résumé.
And while she confesses it can be slightly intimidating to work among high-profile on-air personalities as well as superstar athletes, Dixon did enjoy seeing a familiar face from Rider at the NLCS, which saw the Philadelphia Phillies advance to their first World Series since 1993. Senior Sean Rainey, a Television and Radio major, also worked as a freelance production assistant with FOX. Both Dixon and Rainey are members of the Rider University Network (RUN), where they are actively involved in the production of multiple television show that air daily on campus on Channel 20. They agree that their experiences have been unforgettable – especially for two Phillies fans.
“It really makes you realize how much goes into the production of a televised event. Most people don’t realize all that goes into it,” said Dixon, who, in addition to her seat in the dugout alongside FOX field reporter Chris Meyers has worked closely with FOX NFL sideline reporter Pam Oliver and sat ringside with ESPN boxing commentators Teddy Atlas and Joe Tessitore. She’s also been on the scene for NASCAR and horseracing, in the studio for ABC’s College Football Scoreboard show, and worked with the Eagles, 76ers and Flyers, locally.
Rainey, of Washington Township, in Gloucester County, N.J., worked the NLCS as a productions runner for FOX’s lead play-by play duo of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, assisting them as required during the telecast. “We also picked them up after the game and took them down to let them out of the stadium,” Rainey said.
Dixon and Rainey both say that the decision to get involved in television production at Rider was an easy choice, after working in the medium at their respective high schools. But unlike Rainey, who favors the technical aspects of production and camera work, Dixon seeks a career in front of the lens.
“I’ve always wanted to do it – I’ve been a ham my entire life,” explained Dixon, who balances her extroverted approach to social interaction with a determined seriousness to pursue her career. “During my freshman year at RUN, I kind of stood back and relied a lot on the upperclassmen to do things for me. But since I started working as a production assistant, I’ve become much more serious and focused about it. It’s much more gratifying this way.”
Rainey, who says he’s not at all concerned with being an on-air talent, enjoys production work – what he called “taking nothing and turn it into video” – and has also had the opportunity to work in political media with RUN. “I’d like to get into sports, but I realize politics is big,” said Rainey, who will reprise his role with FOX during the World Series beginning with Game 3 in Philadelphia on Saturday, October 25.
Dixon will also remain at Citizens Bank Ballpark for the World Series, but rather than working for FOX, she’ll be there as a staff member for Major League Baseball International. “MLB is starting its own network for next season,” she said. “So hopefully this will help me get my foot in the door.”
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