Farewell Mark Nazarino

Dr. Oz turns the camera on Mark!

After 20 years at KOMO TV, Mark Nazarino clocked out for the last time on Tuesday, November 17th. Mark has been involved with almost every department at KOMO. He’s held positions in Master Control, EFP and KOMO Production Services. His last position was Operations Technical Supervisor overseeing and coordinating complicated studio productions for major clients. As a videographer, he’s worked with small local clients up to corporate level executives and has supported all types of productions at the station. If you click around on this blog, you’ll see many of the projects he’s been involved in. Mark’s great personality and “can-do” attitude will be missed around the station. Staff gathered in the main control room on his last day to share memories and to learn more about Mark’s new endeavors.

Pictures From The Main Control Room

 

Where Is Mark Going?

Mark is moving on to a marketing position with Farmers New World Insurance Company. He’s definitely not selling insurance but will continue with video production and marketing at this world reknowned company. Mark has indicated that we’ll be seeing him around the station in the future renting out studios for future productions. We wish him the best! For a personal tribute and account of some of Mark’s work, visit my blog at The Render Q here.

Photos From Mark’s Going Away Party At Daniel’s Broiler On Lake Union

Mark and Dennis Hanson

And the winners are... James Owen and Mark Nazarino!

Mark with Dan Lewis of KOMO 4 News

John Barret, James Owen and John Reynolds

Mark and Debbie Nazarino with Kathi Goertzen of KOMO 4 News

Mark and Debbie with Jaime Mendez (KUNS-TV) and Kathi Goertzen (KOMO-TV)

Mark and Debbie with KOMO TV General Manager Jim Clayton

DW Clark and Mark

Rich Roberge General Sales Manager for KUNS-TV and Jeff Loera KOMO TV Account Executive

Dr. Oz Visits KOMO TV

Here are some photos and a video shot when Dr. Oz came to Seattle to promote his new show on KOMO 4.

Nintendo of America Holiday SMT

This post was written by Mark Nazarino, KOMO Operations Technical Supervisor:

My day started at 2:30am at KOMO. Nintendo had a big announcement that needed to be shared to all major media outlets before the upcoming holidays. Nintendo was to lower the price of the ever popular Nintendo Wii to $199 and were gearing up to release a couple new games including a new Wii Fit exercise game and a four-player Super Mario. KOMO Productions Services conducted a Satellite Media Tour with Nintendo to transmit the announcement to 15 TV stations across the United States. Stations included were CNBC, WBFF Baltimore, KUSA Denver and Reuters to name a few. President and COO Reggie Fils-Amine of Nintendo America broadcasted out of studio C to make the announcement.

Steve Wilson and Reggie Fils-Amine

  

 

Reggie Fils-Amine and Mark Nazarino

Steve Wilson directs out of Control Room 2

InterConnection Interview on KUNS TV

This is a post by Mark Nazarino, KOMO Operations Technical Supervisor:

Today, I was lighting in Studio B for an upcoming production for Nintendo. From a distance I heard my name being summoned by a familiar voice. It was my cousin Charles Brennick. Charles was visiting the TV station for a news interview with our Spanish speaking channel KUNS TV Univision. Charles owns a non-profit company called InterConnection . KUNS was excited to interview Charles and learn more about his company and the efforts its doing around the world.  InterConnection, a philanthropical company provides computers to underserved people and communities around the world. With the help of Microsoft and other business partners, Charles will be traveling to Chile to complete the setup of InterConnection distributing center.

WSU Cougar Marching Band Visits KOMO 4

The Washington State University Cougar Marching Band paid a visit to KOMO 4 this morning. They played a some favorite tunes just outside the KOMO 4 newsroom just outside the area where KOMO 1000 News Radio resides. People from around the 4th floor gathered around to see what all the commotion was about.

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Deanno at Good Morning America

Paul Deanno just got back from a trip to New York as a fill in on the popular ABC morning show, Good Morning America. This was his first time on Good Morning America as a fill-in but he’s no stranger to national talk shows. He has also filled in on the Today Show from 2006-2009.

So how did our favorite morning weatherman get such a coveted spot on GMA? When Sam Champion takes vacation, GMA searches for fill-in candidates from ABC affiliates. Thankfully, they picked our own Paul Deanno for some national spotlight! Here’s what Paul said of the experience:

*Favorite thing:  The entire GMA experience.  It is such a privilege to be part of a show that literally takes more than 100 people to put on the air.  It is such a huge production (music, photography, audio, satellite interviews, producers, hosts, makeup, etc.) that it makes my head spin watching everyone do their thing.

 *Everyone you see on TV on GMA is very tall!  I’m 6’4”, and I was a tad shorter than Chris Cuomo.  Robin Roberts is also very tall, as is Kate Snow.  We’d make a good basketball team!

 *Pictures from outside are directly outside GMA’s Times Square Studios at 44^th & Broadway… great location!

 

 

 

 

 

Flashback: Grey’s Anatomy Production at Fisher Plaza

Back in 2004, the producers of Grey’s Anatomy approached Fisher Plaza looking for a site to film a scene for the pilot episode of Grey’s Anatomy. There were actually 2 locations they were considering, Fisher Plaza and Harborview Hospital. Both locations had a helipad but we won out because of our vicinity to Elliot Bay and the Space Needle. A location scout took a complete survey of our space before determining this should be the site of their production. After securing permits and legal documents from the City of Seattle and Fisher Plaza, the production crew was assembled. It consisted of their core group from Los Angeles as well as freelancers from Seattle. Fisher Plaza was then transformed into Seattle Grace Hospital. Logos and other graphics were painted onto the helipad to complete the look.

The day before production, the crew arrived at Fisher Plaza to determine logistics and performed test landings of the Airlift Northwest helicopter. Director Peter Horton surveyed the location an blocked out the shots. On the day of filming, a second helicopter based at the Seattle Center parking lot provided air to air shots. Celebrities on set included Chandra Wilson, Ellen Pompeo, Katherine Heigl, Sandra Oh and T.R. Knight. The production photos were taken from the filming of the pilot episode in 2004.

In 2006, they returned to do additional filming for another episode which brought back another crew of over 90 people sandwiched into the Summit Conference Room and the helipad. If you look at the video at about 29 seconds in, you’ll see Khym Clark and I are right up there in the action… Really, we were just standing around observing the chaos. Enjoy this exclusive behind the scenes video montage.

 

The following photos capture highlights from the initial production for the pilot episode of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy back in 2004. Much work went into the preparation and tight timeframe of the production. We had help from EGIS who had to manually open and close the ventilation vents on the rooftop each time the Airlift Northwest helicopter took off and landed. In addition, EGIS also helped secure power and access to restricted areas of the roof. To this day, tourists and fans of Grey’s Anatomy stop into Fisher Plaza asking if this is the site of Seattle Grace Hospital. Shots of Fisher Plaza can be seen in the open of the show with the Airlift Northwest helicopter flying past the Space Needle towards Fisher Plaza. It was a great experience and opportunity to have the crew from Grey’s Anatomy here!

 

The crew arrives at Fisher Plaza to survey the location and to secure any special requests required before production day.

 

 The Airlift Northwest chopper arrives and the crew

Blue Angels Practice Over Seattle

I just finished a shoot for the Washington Education Association and as I was heading back to my desk, I heard the roar of jets outside and realized the US Navy Blue Angels were out practicing today so I grabbed my newly acquired Nikon D100 and started snapping away. Today is the first day of their practice flights before the actual shows on Saturday and Sunday over Lake Washington. Taking pictures of the Blue Angels isn’t easy especially when I’m at full zoom. And for some reason, the auto focus wasn’t responding very quickly so I went manual. Most of the shots were too backlit but luckily, the #7 jet flew past the west side of the building and I got a decent shot of him. This marks the beginning of the SeaFair weekend here in Seattle, an event locals and tourists look forward to. This weekend, I’m going to try to get a closer look at the airshow.