Okay, I owe the idea for this column to Robert Kinsler who wrote me this:
“Write about an assignment / task you didn’t look forward to at the time but ended up being wonderful and even may have had a longer impact on your interest in the subject.”
Back in 2011 I was assigned, for about the fourth or fifth time, to cover the “load-in” of cars for the OC Auto Show. Like in previous years, I had to write the story and shoot a video about it.
Why? Because back then the Orange County Register sponsored the show.
Folks, it’s really hard to come up with something interesting to write about for the umpteenth time about all the cars being driven into the Anaheim Convention Center – and shooting a video wasn’t that much more exciting either.
I mean, how many ways can you edit together video of all the different car makers cars being driven in, polished and more?
So, I grumbled, but was not given a choice and off to the convention center I went. Thankfully, a photographer was assigned (Lorren Au) so I didn’t have to worry about photos. By the way, he was as thrilled as I was.
I wandered the floor getting video shots of cars coming in, some of the special exhibits and interviewed some of the car companies’ reps.
Then I struck gold.
In the Honda Acura section there was this cool looking, sleek, black Acura. I didn’t pay much attention to it at first, focusing on just getting a static shot of it with a slow pan. Then I looked at the sticker.
Wait a minute! The price is classified? It’s a one-of-a-kind? What kind of car is this?
Turns out it was the car for S.H.I.E.L.D. of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. All the details on the sticker were all made up, as if you the Auto Show attendee had entered that universe. My eyes started to twinkle. I got one of those grins on my face. I thought, I could have some fun with this.
I went up to the counter and asked if there was anyone there that could tell me about the car. Pretty soon this lady came up and said she could help me out.
I had decided to do a separate fun, tongue-in-cheek video about the car. I asked her to do a sales person pitch about the totally fictional car. She got the idea right away so I handed her a microphone.
She described the car’s unique propulsion system, top speed, that it could go like a quarter million miles before needing more of its special fuel. The car’s defensive capabilities (there were, supposedly, a few missiles and other weapons hidden away) and more, including a unique method that allowed only the owner to actually start and drive the car.
Oh, and the tires could not go flat.
Now I had watched Ironman. But not any others that had come out. But after that, I decided I would definitely go out and watch all the movies as they were released.
Oh, and Lorren said he was amazed how I had turned the blandest assignment in the world into something interesting.
The video? It’s still on YouTube, and you can find it at this link.
This is my second column in me trying to get my writing mojo back. I try to write these in about an hour. If you have an idea of something I should write about, send it to me at: markaeades@aol.com. Yes, that AOL. I previously wrote about why I still have an AOL email and you can find it at this link.