January 20 was my last day at TV3 news as a full-time reporter.
Don’t rejoice too much as I will be popping up here and there, no doubt, I just won’t turn up the building every day.
I told myself I’d resign after I’d completed my dream interview list… and I completed my list a bit early. So I’m off to try and some other things for a bit. Anyway, I guess I’m using this as an opportunity to share how I got to have a really fun eight years. And to write about how the list started.
Warning: This is probably going to be a case of TL:DR. I’m being self-indulgent. If you’re in a rush, skip to part 2: part 1 is just pre-amble. Or better still, skip the lot.
Part 1:
I’ve been working at 3 News since 2004, when I started as a part-timer operating the autocue machine in the TV3 studio. I was in the 2nd year of a Communications degree at the time, and almost didn’t take the job. This is me in the AUT university quad:
Why didn’t I take the TV3 job? Well, I’d gotten a holiday gig as an Airport Security Officer. What a sight: This tall, lanky, be-specked idiot in turquoise pants, white shirt, tie. We were still in the grip of post-911 angst (heck, we still are) and over the break a bunch of airport staff were on holiday, or striking. I can’t remember which.
Anyway, with the old design at Auckland Airport they had an area where people departing could mix in the same area as those who’d recently arrived. This meant there was potential for devious behaviour: People leaving “weapons” for others to pick up. So I’d wander around airport lobbies looking for pointy objects (knifes, forks, samurai swords), and then go onboard planes and do the same thing. It paid really well, and made me feel quite important (I was in a uniform! I was security officer!).
Anyway, my university friend Bex had been working part time at TV3, and was kind enough to suggest me for a new autocue job. I turned it down. Then a day later I realised what a bloody idiot I was (the main rule of getting into TV is GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR YOU BLOODY IDIOT). I asked if I could still have the job. Bex rallied for me. A redhead called Megan hired me. Terrific.
For two years I turned a knob. The autocue knob. Newsreaders have words in front of them that scroll up in front of the camera lens (thanks to a really nifty mirror system they can look directly at you in your lounge through the words they’re reading). Someone has to make those words scroll.
There were about five of us autocuers, and we were a tight little unit. The 6pm news. Nightline. Sports Tonight. I hate to think how many kilometres I scrolled through.
This photo was the team. Bex is 2nd in from the left and got me my job. I like how I am sitting of awkwardly to the side:
Through that job I slowly got to know people; the wonderful kindness and skill of presenters like John Campbell and Carol Hirschfeld, the hilarity of Kate Rodger as she kicked off her Film3 brand, the generosity of reporter called Nickie Omer letting me tag along on some shoots with her.
And, slowly, I got to know the people who produced the shows: namely Angus Gillies and Rebecca Singh on Nightline. I started to work on the Chief of Staff desk – answering phones, doing “pickup” interviews for other reporters (you’re sent out with a list of questions to interview people for stories you know practically nothing about). It was great practice for what I wanted to do: Interview people I wanted to interview. Meet people I’d always wanted to meet. Because the whole selfish reason I wanted to do journalism was to get access to people I admired. Simple as that.
Part 2:
In my final year at university, Nightline producer Rebecca Singh agreed to let me do some stories. I’d be allowed to take a cameraman to film them, script a story myself, put my voice down on tape and cut it with an editor. Then Singh would put it to air.
And so we get to my best ever memory at TV3: My first interview.
I discovered Nine Inch Nails during high school, which happened to be Tauranga’s Bethlehem College. A friend called Rodney Marston handed me their album The Fragile, and told me the band was just one guy, who played every instrument on the record. I think he might have described Trent Reznor as “an industrial Moby”. I didn’t even know what industrial music was – rock wasn’t a big part of my Christian upbringing.
This is what I looked like at the time:
I put the album on, and part of my brain that had been asleep woke up. We’ve all had that feeling with music in our lives. Some early, some late. Mine was pretty late, I guess.
It was fair to say I became obsessed. I travelled to Auckland’s Real Groovy whenever I could and bought all I could – albums, singles, vinyls. As any NIN fan will tell you, there’s a shitload of stuff to collect, and that’s exactly what I did. This is about half of it:
By the time 2005 had rolled around, I was full-on obsessed, and noticed that they were going to be touring Australia as part of the With Teeth tour. This, and I’d just had a producer tell me I could do stories that would air on TV.
Something in my brain clicked.
I looked on some recent Nine Inch Nail’s records and saw that they were put out by Universal Music. I looked them up. I emailed them saying I was a new reporter with TV3’s Nightline, and would be in Sydney next month.
“Could I please put a bid in for an interview with Trent Reznor,” I asked in the email.
To my surprise, a man called Justin made enquiries. So did a woman called Tanya. I remember vividly in a dead-boring communications lecture getting a phone call from Justin going: “The label in America has confirmed some on-ground time in Sydney”. That feeling right then was really, really superb.
It was then that I pitched the story to Nightline producer Rebecca Singh as a “cool band called Nine Inch Nails that haven’t been on New Zealand TV before”. She said I could hire a camera on TV3’s dime, only if I got myself to Sydney and sorted accommodation for myself.
Except for a trip to Canada when I was 8, I’d never left New Zealand. I had a student loan and no money, so my only option was cheap and terrible airline Aerolinea Argentinas. A friend (who I’d found years ago on a Nine Inch Nail’s forum) agreed to let me sleep on their Sydney floor. Thanks, Emma.
The feeling on that plane was like no other. Every five minutes I would get a huge burst of butterflies in my stomach, realising I was going to not only meet, but interview my rock idol. It still hadn’t sunk in. This continued for the entire three hour flight. I’ve never had nerves like it before. I was comforted by the fact at least I’d look cool, because I’d borrowed my old brother’s leather jacket.
Yep.
When I landed I had a missed call and a message. Disaster. It was the Universal Music contact telling me Trent Reznor had pulled out. He was having vocal problems and needed to rest. My heart sank. It’s never sunk that much since. The upside was that I was offered the chance to come to soundcheck and meet the band briefly for a cheeky handshake. While amazed at that opportunity, I was still despondent about my interview being cancelled. It felt bloody awful.
On a whim, I decided to go to the venue early. The Universal rep agreed to meet me there, understanding I’d come all the way from New Zealand. And then I sort of begged. Well, not begged, but argued my case: “5 minutes. In-and-out. No bother. The easiest interview Trent would ever do in his life”.
It worked. The interview was back on.
At about 4pm, I found myself in a stark, white dressing room. I would see many more of these over the next 8 years, but none of them would have the dread of that room.
My cameraman was set up in the corner. I was wearing my brother’s leather jacket. I’d been waiting for about 30 minutes and it was excruciating. The leather jacket was hot and I was actually sweating.
Finally, Trent Reznor walked in. He was bulkier than I expected, and not to get all emo/goth on it, but his eyes were really, really intense. He walked over to the dressing room mirror, looked in it and made a joke about having to look his best. He shook my hand, we sat down, and we did the interview.
Afterwards, soundcheck was amazing. It was me and about 10 members of the NIN fan-club, watching a full run-through of three songs. It blew my mind. This was the first time I’d ever seen them perform live and it felt like I was having my own private concert.
It was the best gig I’ve ever been to.
Afterwards, Trent Reznor and his touring band (including Josh Freese and Jeordie White) came down to the floor and shook hands with everyone. They signed a poster, which now sits in a frame at home. Later that night, I attended the actual gig. It was great. I remember clutching the interview tape close to my chest, afraid I’d lose it. Afraid I’d lose all proof of what I’d done.
The story went to air back in New Zealand, a two minute thing I was insanely proud of.
Now I’m going to be honest: I don’t really remember that interview. I don’t remember what happened once we sat down on that dressing room couch. My brain couldn’t really take it. You must understand, this was my first interview and it was with my idol. If there was one person I could choose to interview at that particular time in my life – a dream interview, so to speak – it would have been Trent Reznor.
I do remember getting increasingly hotter in the leather jacket and not being able to do anything about it. I remember Trent Reznor being a total gentleman and answering my questions slowly and deliberately, despite sitting in front of a clearly scared, inexperienced reporter in a leather jacket.
Watch the full interview here.
From that moment I made a mental list of 15 musicians I wanted to meet in my TV3 job. I promised myself when I completed the list, I’d stop for a bit and do something else. Last year, I completed the 15 with Chris Cornell in Los Angeles. So that’s why I’m leaving.
The Kill List:
1. Trent Reznor
Just my first proper musical love, really. Also he's a musician who just keeps on giving. "Hey, let's take a break from this goth thing now I'm in my 40s and write Oscar-winning soundtracks.” Sweet.
2. Damon Albarn
Blur, along with Oasis, ruled my childhood. Like Reznor, Albarn didn't stop there: Lifting his game and constantly working with an assortment of other talented musicians.
3. Mike Patton
Prolific. From Faith No More to Fantomas to Mr Bungle to soundtracks to terrible "rap" albums. The man keeps you on your feet.
4. Noel Gallagher
He was the best bit of Oasis: An amazing songwriter, and his sharp tongue is always amusing. Less of a mono-brow than brother Liam. His solo record last year was my album of the year.
5. Jack & Meg White
I count them as one: They're the White Stripes. Enough said
6. Jonsi (Sigur Ros)
I got into Sigur Ros around the time of ( ). Or Untitled. Or whatever you called it. A gay frontman with a bung eye: Total win.
7. Danny Carey
Tool's drummer and occultic mastermind. Son of a master Freemason, he collects original texts by Crowley and once summoned a daemon and stored him in his bass drum. The story goes his kit's laid out to best exploit "sacred geometry" - sort of a happy clappy hippy vibe mixed with some serious magick. Live, you'll notice a modified Enochian magic board behind him: That's basically his portal to places he's been that we'll never go.
8. Adam Jones
Yes - three on my list are from Tool. Adam is Tool's guitarist. He also helped make the dinosaurs on my favourite movie of all time, Jurassic Park.
9. Maynard James Keenan
Part of my "favourite vocalist trinity" - made up of Chris Cornell and Mike Patton. Maynard's a bit of an asshole in real life, but his work with Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer is always rewarding to the listener.
10. Josh Freese
Probably the most hilarious drummer that's ever lived, and a genuinely fun guy to hang out with. I've seen him live with Nine Inch Nails, Weezer and A Perfect Circle - and he's a session musician on over 300 albums. Prolific.
11. Serj Tankian
Along with Freese, one of the warmest, nicest guys you'll meet. System of a Down is a great band and I'm glad they're back.
12. James Hetfield
Metallica's frontman. 'Nuff said.
13. Tom Araya & Kerry King
Another duo. Ever since listening to Diabolus in Musica at my Christian school, I was terrified of Slayer. The only band I naively associated in my head at the time with pure evil. Turns out they're really bloody kind.
14. Cedric Bixler-Zavala & Omar Rodriguez Lopez
These two ARE The Mars Volta.
15. Chris Cornell
One of the best voices in rock and roll. Soundgarden is better than Pearl Jam.
That was my musician kill list - the people I really wanted to meet. Some of them I spent days with, some of them 20 minutes, some of them 10 seconds. Along the way I met other's I admire, some from the world of music, others not: Jessica Alba, Meatloaf, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Christian Bale, Leonardo DeCaprio, Mel Gibson, Tom Morello, Weird Al, Linkin Park, Gary Oldman, Harrison Ford, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jet Li.
It's been a fun ride. With hopefully more to come.
But the list started with Trent Reznor. I’d never dared to watch the full tape of that interview again, but I just got it re-encoded. Watch the whole embarrassing thing.
Oh Christ, it’s hard to watch.
Bye! (for now!)