When I finally smartened up and discovered independent pro wrestling, I went to a couple local shows. At that time, I was very active on my pro wrestling YouTube channel, The Raw Loaf. One of the wrestlers, Suede Thompson, saw me in the audience and contacted me about doing a recap-style web show for Adrenaline Unleashed. For about 10 months, I was a web show producer for a recap show and a few various other videos for them.
What I did
Set up, shot, edited, directed, interviewed, hosted, and even helped write promos a little for Adrenaline Unleashed: Siphoned.
Job Highlights
- One of the referees, Allie Parker, was about to make her wrestling debut. We shot a training video for her featuring the wrestlers from the promotion. At the end of the video, the champion, Tommy Misfit, wished her well. For whatever reason, after they walked off camera, I panned over to Misfit. He was eating cantaloupe, and I filmed him just eating cantaloupe for over 20 seconds. At the next show, fans who had seen it brought Misfit cantaloupe and gave it to him while he made his entrance. Pro wrestling is a weird world and the fans are as much as part of the show as they want to be.
- I got to work with some well known wrestlers in the indie scene, Allison Danger and Ares.
Positive Takeaways
- I got to live my dream for a bit and work in pro wrestling.
- I got to build on my video production skills as a web show producer. If we had the budget and the knowledge I have now, the show would’ve been MUCH better. Thanks to college, I thought I needed $1,000 for the equipment I needed. Turns out maybe $100 would’ve done it.
- I was given more opportunities than I deserved.
Negative Takeaways
- Those opportunities I spoke of above? Well, I threw a lot of them away, mostly because of college.
- It was all such a big deal to me and maybe I was looking at it all wrong, but I was a bit nervous about these opportunities. I felt like I was moving up the ladder WAY too fast.
- The blurred line between what was real and what wasn’t became not so blurry. Editing the footage was a pain because I spent a good amount of time watching the fans’ react to the wrestling.
- Money just really isn’t there. I was aware of this when I said I would help out, but it is kind of shocking how much indie wrestlers are willing to do for little-to-no payout, and how little money for photographers and even a web show producer.
Web Show Producer Final Words
Back: Me, Tommy Purr, Tomaste, Jace Battle, Allie Parker
Front: Gabriel Busan
Unfortunately, Adrenaline Unleashed folded. As far as me getting back in to pro wrestling, who knows? Maybe I will. Not to wrestle you stupid idiot!
I wish I would have just quit college and focused all that energy into my web show producer position at Adrenaline Unleashed. I truly believe things would’ve turned out for the way better for all parties involved.
If you want to gain some experience in live event video production, contact your local pro wrestling company. A special thank you to the former owner of Adrenaline Unleashed, Kent Wilson (Eccentric Lion), for having me!
Here is the show with some cantaloupe!
Questions? Comments? Email me or Tweet me! Also, visit my page with my thoughts on pro wrestling, The Raw Loaf.
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