Shooters love to talk… Just hang out at a police stakeout for a few minutes and you’ll know I’m right. I think it’s because we’re forced to be silent when the red light is glowing in the viewfinder. We take advantage of the moments when we don’t have to be “on the ready” to relax and chat.

We’re unveiling a new chat room system that’s integrated into the b-roll.net FORUM. This will allow you to go directly from the message board to the chat room and take your screen name with you. Only registered members of the message board will be allowed in the chat room, so you should know who’s chatting.

When you’re logged into the FORUM, look for the b-roll.net CHAT link at the top of the page. Stop in any time to check it out. There are a number of rooms available — based on different topics like photography, editing, and live trucks.

Keep your eyes open for AutomaticPhotog, he’s an AI bot who hangs out in the TV photography room. Ask him some questions… he’s a smart one…

We’ll schedule themed topic chats in the near future… but why not stop in for a chat right now?

I’m happy to report that video from this year’s NAB is now online. Click here to view the clips. We have four reports online from Manfrotto, Porta Brace, JVC, and Cineflex. Stay tuned to the b-roll.net NAB page for new clips coming soon.

Every year, I seem to forget the mammoth nature of the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas.

I don’t think I would have made it through the week without the assistance of some great people.

Andy “focusthis” Grossman has been a friend and supporter of the Las Vegas adventure for many years. His uplifting sense of humor, insatiable love of TV gadgets, and unsurpassed work ethic make Andy the perfect cohort on the floor. Andy shot all of the b-roll.net videos from NAB07. Fighting more than your average challenges - badly mixed room lighting, incredibly overused wireless microphone RF spectrum, and heavy room noise - Andy pulled off great video and sound to tell the story of the ultimate TV toy store.

JL “LittleLostRobot“ Watkins stepped up to the plate and hit one out of the park as interview host and second camera operator. His witty blog entries and “Click on JL” video reports for WYFF made me realize he would be the perfect host to take us through the show. He did not disappoint.

Clare came along to offer a fresh set of eyes to us haggard veterans and a breath of fresh air to everyone we met. She learned more about TV equipment in one day than most of us see in a career. At the same time, she proved to be one of the most bad-ass bouncers at the door of the b-roll.net BASH. She kept me laughing and made the trip worth it. For that, I can’t thank her enough.

Thanks to everyone who was part of the b-roll.net NAB07 TEAM. Let’s do it again next year!

kev