Anyone Interested In Doing An Interview?

[Greg Johnson]

Hi folks!
Well, after our first chase through northern Texas, we finally have some firsthand experience with running alongside a large number of chase vehicles. We had a chance to chat briefly with a group of students from OU before the rain/hail hit, but of course, we didn't get much time to talk before it got interesting.

What we're wondering is if any of you chasers would be interested in chatting with us in front of a camera? Not only are we excited about chasing storms ourselves, but we're also interested in "chaser culture" and finding out what drives people to pursue that which most people hide from. We understand the motivation, of course, because we enjoy it, too, but we would like to record some observations and thoughts from others. We're currently in Weatherford, TX, have decided to scrub the day for chasing, and are heading towards Norman, OK (maybe we can see the school Met. facility; any suggestions on who to talk to?) and OKC, then setting up for tomorrow and Friday as interesting days in east OK/west AK and MO.

This is a friendly, up-front interview; we're not starmakers or snake-in-the-grass types (think Borat). We're just a group of guys from Canada who are looking to make a high-end record of our USA chasing experiences, or possibly even a short documentary. What do you say? Try me at (306) 537-5763 and let us know who and where you are. My name is Dallas, I'm an Environment Canada trained weather observer and aviation meteorologist with Nav Canada, and I'm accompanying a group from Greg Johnson photography (www.gjphoto.ca). We're posting at www.canado.ca if you want to see some of our footage so far.

Hope to hear from you! We're going to be around most likely till around the 12th or 13th of May before heading back to Saskatchewan. Thanks a lot!

Dal

 

[Melissa Jablonski]

Uh....No. uh, no one trusts the press, dude.
Melissa

 

[Jason Tunzer]

I think you misunderstood what they are looking for Melissa. They just want to get some footage for their personal enjoyment of other chasers that they met out on the road chasing storms. Correct me if i'm wrong Dallas. Good luck out there!

 

[Melissa Jablonski]

Gotcha, thanks for pointing that out.
Melissa

 

[Robert Dewey]

Uh....No. uh, no one trusts the press, dude.
Melissa

Please don't speak for me. Next time, you could just say "almost everyone," but I'm guessing other's probably don't need you speaking for them neither.

 

[Greg Johnson]

No hidden agenda here gang. We are on a two week trip and we are trying to get as much storm footage and meet as many people (in person) from stormtrack and chasers in general that we can. We are not press. In fact we are being interviewed by our hometown media outfits about what we have seen and where we are chasing. When we are chasing we always end up in group of vehicles all looking essentially for the same thing. We would love to meet some of you people.

 

[Jason Foster]

If it is used in any official capacity...even if not necessary for profit, but is going to be part of a distributed media (including Facebook, Youtube, etc.) I suggest you guys get model releases from your interviewees and anyone else in that video...just one of those CYA kind of things. If you interview anyone from a TV station, or with logos in the background...might want to think about releases for those too.

 

[Melissa Jablonski]

Please don't speak for me. Next time, you could just say "almost everyone," but I'm guessing other's probably don't need you speaking for them neither.

Sorry dude, no harm meant. It's unlikely very many others were offended though. I've known a lot of people who were burned in interviews. I spoke for them. I'm pretty sure most people understood I wasn't trying to speak for every chaser. If I have offended anyone including the media I hereby apologize. this is all I have to say on this . Didn't anyone catch I was doing a really bad Beavis and Butthead?
Melissa

 

[Tracey Rogers]

We're currently in Weatherford, TX, have decided to scrub the day for chasing, and are heading towards Norman, OK (maybe we can see the school Met. facility; any suggestions on who to talk to?) and OKC, then setting up for tomorrow and Friday as interesting days in east OK/west AK and MO.

I wish you the best of luck. It's AR btw not AK. Not being the English police but that is something that really bugs me! Again, good luck!

 

[Melissa Jablonski]

No hidden agenda here gang. We are on a two week trip and we are trying to get as much storm footage and meet as many people (in person) from stormtrack and chasers in general that we can. We are not press. In fact we are being interviewed by our hometown media outfits about what we have seen and where we are chasing. When we are chasing we always end up in group of vehicles all looking essentially for the same thing. We would love to meet some of you people.

Sorry Greg, I misunderstood what you were looking for. I have several friends who were burned by the press recently.I've only been on here a short while but I've been a chaser for longer than many storm track members have been alive. No offense I hope. Us old people get crotchety sometimes.
Melissa

 

[Rob Sermon]

Hi folks!
My name is Dallas, I'm an Environment Canada trained weather observer and aviation meteorologist with Nav Canada,

Hey, Dallas!

Can I assume that Nav Canada is synonymous with Flight Service in the U.S.A.?

 

[Greg Johnson]

Tracey, AR not AK...got it... lol. I have to admit that I am a little embarrassed. Live and learn.

Jason, thanks for the tip about model releases. I do appreciate it. I am a commercial photographer and often use model releases so this is something that we definitely have been doing.

For those of you that have replied privately, thanks for the help. We have one week left to go so the offer still stands....We want to hear your cool stories, all of it. Not just the tornado encounters, but the busts, the driving, the hotels, the hail damage...you get the picture.

www.gjphoto.com
www.canado.ca