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TV Production
You never know who's watching!
By Nadia Datskiv, Class of 2004
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That gift is evident to those who tune in to watch the ministry's TV programs, including "Something Good Tonight: The Hour of Healing." Since the program began in 1997, thousands of confirmed healing testimonies have come in as a result of what God is doing through this inspiring and entertaining hour. Directed and produced by Wathen, "Something Good Tonight" features ORU president Richard Roberts and his wife, Lindsay.
"I implement the [television] experience I got at ORU as a student. It has brought me to where I am today," says Wathen, who also oversees the daily operations of all the Oral Roberts Ministry's and the university's TV programming.
TV might be the only way some people outside of Tulsa hear about the ministry and ORU. "Make Your Day Count," the ministry's other popular program, features ORU's first lady, Lindsay Roberts, and is aired all over the U.S. Like "Something Good Tonight," this show's crew is also composed primarily of ORU students.
Much can be accomplished with thirty determined students in the studio. They learn to operate everything from a camera to a videotape machine, in filming "Make Your Day Count," "Something Good Tonight," chapels, basketball games, and more. The job, they will tell you, has to be done right, because you never know who's watching!
Since the 1980s ORU has offered students various positions in its television department. Today, some of these former interns are currently running TV departments worldwide. "If they want to go into any type of production, our students are getting the best training in the country," Wathen believes.
Student worker Sarah Dash likes the challenge of working with diverse personalities. Being involved with TV, she hopes one day to be in front of the camera.
"I take every opportunity that comes my way because I want to influence peoples' lives," says Dash. As floor director for "Make Your Day Count," she feels called by God to impact the world through communications.
A large percentage of the students working at ORTV are not TV majors. Two things bring them to the studio: interest in TV and scholarship opportunities. Their duties are wide-ranging: operating videotape, camera, audio, lighting, graphics, and engineering. "It's the real world where students are expected to be flexible, willing to change, and to improve constantly in their camera skills," shares Wathen.
Many past (and current) full-time employees in ORTV began as students. According to Wathen, the ideal student is one who is eager to learn, ready to put time in, and most importantly, has a good attitude. It's not your ordinary get-through-college job.
David Cox (84), the director of "Make Your Day Count," handles scheduling details, and works tirelessly to train the students. Beginners learn through a hands-on method, or may go through a one- to two-week training process with an experienced camera operator.
"Running camera is a skill; like playing the piano, it takes practice," Wathen says. To "warm up their fingers," so to speak, students participate in an all-day training session once per semester.
An average student who works in the TV department stays for one to two years, although some stay for four years.
Wathen hopes his students will take what they've learned to advance in the TV profession. His main role as a manager, he says, is "to create unity with the team by helping everyone work together for one purpose."
