That's okay film crew, i didn't really feel like sleeping anyway

Moving a 3.5 foot Nurse shark from the boat to the pen

You ever watch a TV program and wonder how they get the footage to look so good?  I used to, but then I worked first hand with several different film crews and realized it's more complicated than you might expect.  Now, i'm not just talking about the actual process involved in filming a TV program, but rather the entire experience of housing, feeding, and basically babysitting full grown adults.

So, without further introduction, here is my list of fun facts about film crews...

1. They take their sweet ass time - Sure Mr. Director, i'll wake up at 5:30 to get everything set up and ready for your crew to begin filming at sunrise.  What's that?  You'll actually not get here until 7 and then spend thirty minutes making coffee and asking me why it's overcast?  Awesome, I hate getting more than five hours of sleep anyway.  
2. Professionalism varies - While every crew usually brings an assortment of cameras that i'd gladly give a testicle for, they don't always bring the same work ethic.  No, i don't think I feel comfortable holding your $80,000 camera while you snorkel through the mangroves in your speedo to take photos with the new SLR and housing that i am sure was a "business expense".  On the other hand, they don't pay me enough (at all) to watch you swap lenses a gazillion times to ensure that you've captured every angle possible of the host picking up a scalpel.
3. Sound guys are tools - Sweet soul patch bro, how long did it take you to get those six pubic hairs below your lip to grow that long?  That was smart of you to put your microphones in condoms so they stay dry, glad they're getting used for something.    
4. The host always gets their own room - I used to think this was a primadonna thing, but the reality is that, after a long day of being told to repeat yourself a million times by a fat dude with a fanny pack, the talent needs their beauty sleep. 
5. Their budgets are ridiculous - Brand new outfits, camera equipment worth more than Kenya's GDP, catered meals, and full speedo attire are just some of the luxuries i've encountered.
6. They freestyle it - Writers?  Who needs a script when you're entire crew has seen Jaws at least twice. 

For obvious reasons i cannot disclose any specific information about the filming that goes on here at the lab.  To be fair, film crews are very important to us, and everyone works hard on both ends to make the best programs possible.  That being said, I can still poke fun at things, just as i'm sure they're laughing at my bunk bed.

Back in Bimini...

That didn't take very long.

Mmmmm

To be honest, I'm really not sure how to start this first entry.  I've been back in Bimini now for over two weeks and, although the internet is partly to blame, i've been putting off writing this first entry.  It might be the excessive heat, the copious amount of boat paint and fiberglass I've inhaled, or the brain damage incurred from painting a roof with metallic silver roofing paint in the blinding sun, but i've just been at a loss for words.  To be fair, I'm never really at a loss for words, it's just that I'm not sure it's really hit me that I now live in the Bahamas year round working at a shark research lab.

I guess the reason i'm having trouble writing is that before, while I was here as a volunteer, the whole experience was temporary and thus I wanted to share as many of the individual experiences I could.  While i'm still planning on writing about the cool and crazy things we do here, i'm also hoping to write about marine and other environmental issues that I think people should know about.

If you're wondering why I am suddenly back at the lab, after returning home I was called and offered the recently vacated assistant lab manager position.  It took all of five seconds to decide that I would rather spend my time back in Bimini working with sharks than living in Philly serving overpriced salad and pizza to yuppies.

So, here I am back in the same cramped two bunk-bed room, sweating all day in the blazing heat, showering in brackish water, and thanking our wonderful plumbing for the all too often phantom floaters my lab mates leave behind.  Thus far its been both a tiring, and yet smooth, transition back to life at the lab.  We've already done a South Bimini mini PIT where we gillnetted for twelve strait hours three nights in a row.  Not that it's been too long since i last drove the skiffs, but there's nothing like shuttling sharks to the pens in the middle of the night with only a few flashing strobes to guide the way to get your adrenaline going.  Now, as a staff member, reef shark dives get a little  more interesting, as I'm responsible for hanging out behind the line of volunteers and scaring away the sharks that circle around by swimming after them and grabbing their tail.... 

We've had a few days off, gone spearing and freediving, and were treated to a fireworks show only the Bahamas could provide.  I wasn't going to be the one to do it, but someone should've told the guys lighting them that fireworks are not supposed to blow up at ground level or be launched directly toward onlookers.  Regardless, it was a great show, even if I did feel like I was in Nam getting shelled for the majority of it.

Tomorrow is another day off, and i'm hoping to get out on the water to do some more freediving.  Several of us went to the pool the other night to practice breath holds, and i set a new personal best at 3:17 seconds.

Alright, that's all the summary i've got in me today.  I'm planning on blogging fairly often again like i was doing before, so check back soon.