“credentialed news media”

[Steve Wargo]

I think that Adobe illustrator or Photoshop should be where you should start. When I worked for ESPN, I never actually worked for ESPN but the production company that produced the Speedworld Off-Road series. We made our own Press Pass Badges. Our second client was TNN, the Nashville network.

Our badges had Arrow Productions across the top, then a mugshot, name and the title Internatinal Photo Journalist, and below that were the TNN and ESPN logos in full color. I even put a barcode across mine at the bottom. If someone questioned our status, I asked them to scan the barcode. When they said that they didn’t have a scanner, I asked when they were going to move up in the world so that we didn’t have to go through the same BS time after time. Of course, no one had a scanner back then but they didn’t know that. The badge had a pocket on the back that could hold an actual pass when we were issued one.

Remember Bob, in our line of work “It doesn’t have to be. It just has to look like it is.”

By the way, which airline was this? I know that we’re always allowed to pre-board but I hadn’t heard of the other allowances.

Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!

Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
2-Sony EX-1 HD .

[Todd Terry]

I must admit that I’ve pulled a similar stunt as Steve.

Many years ago in a previous life, I worked in broadcast television. As a behind-the-scenes guy now, many people are surprised when they learn of my newscaster background… but for more than quite a few years I was an on-air correspondent for an NBC affiliate.

Credentials? What credentials? Even though my mug was on the boob tube every night at 6 and 10 at the number one station in a decent-sized market (and occasionaly on NBC Nightly or CNN, etc.), the closest thing I had to “credentials” were business cards. We simply didn’t have them (and I was not aware of anyone at the competing stations in the market having real credentials either).

Well (and I’m about to tell on myself here regarding some slightly questionable ethics), one time my girlfriend, my buddy, and I planned to go to a major theme park in another state… one that had a fairly high admission price but one that also let media in free. Now, this was a bit before the Photoshop or computer graphics days, but my girlfriend happened to be a graphic artist… and after a little bit of effort on her part we found ourselves suddenly “legit” with nice looking laminated credentials complete with station logo, mug shot, bar code, even a magnetic strip on the back. The somewhat unethical part (ok, more than somewhat, but I was younger) was that I was the only one who was an actual employee… but suddenly she was the “Art Director” and my buddy was the “Stage Manager.” Hey, we bought enough of their overpriced concessions to more than make up for it.

I’d say, yes, make your own. Don’t lie about who you are or who you work for… but it still can look perfectly legit.

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com

[Arnie Schlissel]

Throughout most of the 1990s, I was the proud holder of a NYC press card. The card was issued by the NYPD. Check with your local PD and find out if they issue press credentials, and if so, how do you apply & qualify. Also, if you regularly (or even occasionally) contribute to a local news paper or program, ask your editor if they can help you get a press card.

Arnie
Now in post: Peristroika, a film by Slava Tsukerman
https://www.arniepix.com/blog

[Steve Wargo]

I have a friend that owns a store called Spy Headquarters.

Click here: https://www.spyhq.com/novelty.php?protyp=ID+Cards&offset=5

Don’t tell anyone else about this.

Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!

Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
2-Sony EX-1 HD .

[Rennie Klymyk]

Keep in mind for airlines and spot news on the street situations these Network/company id’s may work fine but many 1 of a kind gigs like rock concerts and international sporting events etc. issue their own credentials specific to the event. They are often color coded to permit different levels of access. Show up with anything other than official credentials and you will be directed to the media office for clarification. Using counterfeit press passes at some of these large events could probably get you a free room for the night with the security thing being what it is these days.

I remember listening to a radio interview with a survivor of a terrorist assassination wherein a video camera packed with explosives was used to do the dirty deed. An interview had been set up with the 2 officials who met with the camera crew outside and they all walked upstairs to the designated room together. Once inside the terrorists said something which let their victims know what was happening moments before they detonated, killing one and maiming the other. Sometimes the right thing to do is wait your turn and pay the price, leaving the advantages of press credentials to those who truly need them.

That said, how many times have you walked through a press gate without even a glance from security simply because of the size of the camera you’re packing.

“everything is broken” ……Bob Dylan

[Mark Suszko]

Real credentials come from your local PD and sometimes your sity or state film office. If you work for a service like AP or Reuters, etc. they also supply a pass. In NYC there are several levels of passes, some also give you the right to temporary illegal parking and these are like gold, hard to get.

Depending on the town and circumstances, real credentials can be obtained simply by presenting the desk sarge with a letter from your boss confirming your employment. Other places, you may have to bring a demo reel of say three stories that have made the air at some point, like fire coverage, etc. Still other places have statewide press associations to which you may apply for credentials.

Faking it with photoshopped lookalike badges used to be an option but these days in this new security climate, will likely make more trouble for you than just being honest. Hauling a big*ss betacam on your shoulder used to be a good go-anywhere pass, sometimes still is for low-intensity events, but considering how our pro cams are everyday getting smaller and looking more like consumer cameras, that may not help all that much anymore. Yes, I’ve seen places where just carrying around some XLR cables and a monitor and looking preoccupied would get you past a door. But for places that really matter, not so much anymore. And putting press placards in your vehicle these days doesn’t prevent you from gettign tickets, but it still does advertise to local crackheads that your vehicle is a tasty target for a break-in.

[Rick Dolishny]

That’s how they shot that awesome scene in the doc I think it was called “Finding Michael Moore” where they printed business cards at Kinkos to get access.

Happens quite a bit.

—
Rick Dolishny
Discrete Editors COW Leader
http://www.thecreativeprocess.ca

[Bob Cole]

[Rick Dolishny] “That’s how they shot that awesome scene in the doc I think it was called “Finding Michael Moore” where they printed business cards at Kinkos to get access.”

didn’t see it — could you explain?

MacPro 2 x 3GHz dualcore; 10 GB 667MHz
Kona LHe
Sony HDV Z1
Sony HDV M25U
HD-Connect MI
Betacam UVW1800
DVCPro AJ-D650

[Steve Wargo]

Around 1987, a production buddy and I wanted to get into a Phoenix Suns basketball game. I grabbed a long 26 min CCZX(?) cable and we started running for the big roll up door next to security in the parking garage. As I got close, I yelled out “Where is the TV remote truck?”. The guard pointed down a hallway and pushed some people out of the way so we could get through. One of my fondest memories.

Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!

Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
2-Sony EX-1 HD .

[Bob Cole]

I can see why that would be a cherished memory.

Did you ever see the piece on some news magazine about the relatively older gentleman who had gone to every Super Bowl in memory, usually into the locker rooms as well, and never had a ticket or a press pass? The acid test was going to be the New Orleans game after 9/11 I believe, where the Superdome was circled with barbed wire and National Guardsmen

And he walked past the soldiers, and as someone exited one of those doors with no knobs on the outside, he slipped right in.

Of course, after reading your story, I realize that the fact that he had a professional video crew tailing him is probably how he got past the National Guard. But you have to give him credit for figuring that out too.

MacPro 2 x 3GHz dualcore; 10 GB 667MHz
Kona LHe
Sony HDV Z1
Sony HDV M25U
HD-Connect MI
Betacam UVW1800
DVCPro AJ-D650