Me and Television

in #kyiv5 months ago

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Hey, guys!

We survived another terrifying shelling on Monday. As I used to say when my friends ask me how am I: change diapers, take a shower and keep pretending a normal life. 😀

My husband is back in town this week. Most likely for a short term. So last night I booked 2 tickets on an excursion that he might like. It is dedicated to history of (Ukrainian) television with a visit to the TV studio of a real TV channel.

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When I arrived at the meeting place, I was already very tired. I carryed a heavy backpack and it was terribly hot. The air these days is like warm milk in the morning, not only in terms of temperature but also in terms of density. When the forecast says +36 C, it means a special measuring conditions. But when you in the midst of hot asphalt, concrete and a endless rows of ​​cars with running engines it turns +40-45. Ad to this the inability to turn on the fan or air conditioner due to mass power outages.

Anyway, the TV channel we were going to visit is located on the 3rd froor of Parus BC. Thanks godness, it was nice and cool inside, so our guide, a former TV presenter, just started her story...

When Nick, my hubby, received a call, and then he had to return to military service ASAP. WTF! It was my 3rd attempt (since winter!) to get him out, to give him a break from all the military bullshit. Again, not today. Well, at least they returned money for 1 ticket.


The thing that caught my eye first when I entered was the vintage interior. Expensive furniture, decoration and overall design. This was the less expecting thing.

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Then, I realized that they work not in a 'studio' format but use open space. There were live show recordings. TV presenter and 2 male guests were sitting at the "pill" as they call big round table and talking about politics. Our guide had to whisper, and we were moving around so that not to be caught by one of the working cameras. This was a new and fun experience 😄

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We sneaked into the room where the sound engineer and his team worked. Apparently, the glass door insulated the sounds well, because inside there was an incredible cocoon of sounds and images, and it was impossible to understand where these sounds were coming from and what was happening. In addition, staff constantly shouted something at each other.

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Some cool gear and transparent (but isolated!) rooms for sound processing.

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People were coming and leaving time after time, paying no attention to our small party.

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However, open space on TV has obvious drawbacks despite its chic look. The TV presenter hear all the noise around, and I am sure that when there are more staff and more work she may not here her guests. 😃


What a TV channel without a green room? And all that stuff - marks on the floor showing you were to sand, green screen, which then turns into any background and teleprompter.

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Now it's time for some girly things - the dressing room and costume room.

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The employee, who is applying make-up, uses common cosmetics but must have her/his own tools - brushes, sponges, etc. There is a separate set of tools for guests, which is disinfected every time.

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This elderly lady stood out among others with her comments and corrections. Sometimes only I heard (or paid attention to) her comments, and it was obvious that she is in the know. So we exchanged brief impressions during the tour.

As I said, our guide was a TV presenter when she was younger. She didn't look old though but I couldn't get rid of the feeling that her telling imbued with nostalgia for the Soviet era. Now there are such times in Ukraine that I inevitably recognize people as "friend or foe". And I couldn't understand what exactly I didn't like about all this. It turned out that my new acquaintance felt the same way.

We ended at this location and walked to the building of the very first Ukrainian Tele-center. So the lady and I have time to talk. I found out that she worked on TV a little, then lived in US, then worked as an attaché at the Embassy of Sweden in Kyiv. 😍 She was so nice, and we talked very well.

On the way to the TV center, I saw a small crew filming a girl in the middle of a street full of cars. They were standing on the so-called "island of security". It seems like everything is about footage this day.

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Once, the National TV Center stood right on the main street of Kyiv. Later, the building of some ministry rose right in front, hiding it inside the enclosed space. You can get to it by going through the arch. All this has a rather gloomy appearance.

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Aftertaste

The icing on the cake was what I read about this channel this morning. It turned out that this channel was opened by a rich and corrupt businessman who planned to use it for election propaganda. His candidate lost the election, and after a full-scale invasion, the channel was banned for spreading Russian propaganda. The channel formally closed, changed owners (it seems to be a front person), changed the name and now continues to work on YouTube. What a story! Damn, I wouldn't have joined if I had known that before.

Epilogue

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Even before I knew the story of the channel, I could only recommend this tour if you really want to visit a real TV studio. Actually, that was exactly the hook I pecked at. It lasted 3 hours, and it was physically difficult for me to stand, my backpack was heavy, my body was swollen from the heat, my back and feet ached. But it was a very busy 3 hours. I learned a lot, including something interesting. Besides, I met an amazing person, and hope to meet her again during future tours around our city.

The most important thing is that I could not think about where I am and what is happening in my country. I am very sorry that my husband had to leave. I wanted it for him too. Well, maybe next time...

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Being a military wife means being alone all the time. I want him to be home with me, but I can't ask him for it. Even when he is around, he is not with me, he is with his brothers. And I can't blame him for that. It's our choice, a hard choice.

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Now, it's time to thank you, my dear readers, for your precious time and attention.

See you around.

Yours truly,

@zirochka

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!LUV

I hope your husband reads these when he has a chance. If he couldn't be there with you at least he gets to see it through your eyes.

We viewed pictures I captured, and I shared what I remembered but it's diferrent. Thank you for your kind words, @wanderingmoon

No wonder your guide worked there!!! They're probably all the same 😡

Ignoring that, it looks like a very interesting tour, getting to see what goes on behind the scenes. Too bad Nick for called away, but he's doing it for the country and greater good, it will be worth it in the end ❤️

An interesting day trip sadly alone, I have just finished reading this book, it talks a lot about the traitor, Medvedchuk and his pro Russian media interests.

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Slava Ukraini

Wow. I'd like to read it one day

I hope it is released in Ukraine, it is very interesting....If not I shall bring you mine when I get to re visit Kyiv

We saw on television here in the US that the Russians bombed a children's hospital in Kyiv this week. It seems that nothing is sacred. I'm glad you got to spend some time with your husband! The television station tour looks very interesting! It reminds me of the set of the old series Newsroom. I hope you're having a decent weekend my friend.

Russia bombs children's hospital and Russia chairs the UN Security Council. Security Council. The message is clear - I can do whatever I want and you cannot stop me.

You know, that lady, former attaché, she told me "We need Pearl Harbor". ☹️

That's despicable! Even during wartime some things should be off limits. We'll probably see a huge effort to end the war if Trump gets elected in November (which looks like it'll likely happen). What that means for the Ukraine will depend upon the peace negotiations. I hope your country doesn't have to give up too much in that regard.

I would like my country not to have to give up our territory. Other peace plans, except for the Ukrainian one, firstly legitimize terrorism, and secondly, they do not bring real peace, but only postpone a new strike. I do not think that politicians do not see this. But their voters...