BACK TO TODAY - A Today Show 60th Anniversary Documentary

On Friday, January 13th, 2012, NBC's "The Today Show" celebrated its 60th anniversary with a special featuring many former on-air personalities and a party for the crowd outside. Jason Allentoff, producer for Hey Killer Films and New Jersey radio personality, went to the event with plans to try and get his sign talked about on-air The sign had a picture of himself interviewing the Today Show hosts back in 1999 while a senior in high school, which was when Jason decided that broadcasting was the career he wanted to pursue. We got up ridiculously early that day, and followed him to the city to document the event.

But will he get on the air? Will Matt Lauer and Katie Couric remember him 13 years later? Find out in this short documentary, the first such endeavor from Hey Killer Films.

Music
Kevin MacLeod
www.incompetech.com

Comment below and let us know what you think!

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[jmaradio]

@NewlyFast - with all due respect, it was not a whim. I contacted NBC months in advance and because of scheduling issues and union rules, I was not allowed in the lobby of the studio building. I have several contacts at NBC but if they don't work at the show they couldn't help me. I never intended this to become a full on documentary FYI but thanks for your comments--even if you don't like it.

[heykillerfilms]

Don't get me wrong, this is a fun debate, and it's great to be having a back and forth with someone who knows how to do this intelligently! A rare thing these days!

- Russ

[heykillerfilms]

You mentioned this being a "non-event" but sometimes for a documentary (especially a short one done on a whim), it's a good idea to just pick up the camera and watch things play out, lettings things happen. We could have done a documentary on something as banal as the safety protocols of the train we rode into the city on, and something could have come out of it. I just liked letting things happen.

[heykillerfilms]

When I uploaded my own facts back in 2004 or 2005 (also with many inconsequential facts; what can I say, I was young and excited to be on IMDB), Jason called and asked how I got in touch with them to change my bio around as he had been trying to get a lot of the smaller, sillier details removed and hadn't gotten a response. The important details on his bio, however, are true and worth keeping on there.

[heykillerfilms]

And you mention his IMDB bio being absurd; you should read more IMDB bios. There are a lot like his. Many of the inconsequential notes on his bio were put there in the years following the movie he made in 2002, by others who worked with him.

[heykillerfilms]

As far as having a connection to get into NBC goes, perhaps on a regular day Jason could have found a way to get in (he's clearly persistent, lol), but in this case, no it was not possible. And a quick grab at dim limelight? Again, my idea, not his, didn't expect anything to come from this, just did it for fun.

[heykillerfilms]

What is considered worth documenting is really a matter of opinion in this case. I also think you misjudge our intentions here. Following him to the Today Show and documenting everything was my idea. It was done for fun on my part, and since I'd never really tried doing anything like this before. It was kind of a last second decision, and I had no reason to think anything would come out of it. I shot what I could, put it together, and I can't say I expected it to get the great reaction it did.

[newlyfast]

@heykillerfilms It is great to hear that some people have found something to like about this documentary, but I still contend that there is no content worth documenting in this piece. This thing couldn't have been better planned out? Jason, with his career in the media, didn't know anyone who works at NBC, or GE, who could have at least gotten him into the lobby building? It is hard for me to not read this as a quick grab at a dim limelight, similar to his absurd (auto)biography I found at IMDB

[heykillerfilms]

@goldnuggetsful I have to disagree with newlyfast. See response to his comment.

- Russ

P.S. - To answer your questions, it has to do with the 60th Anniversary of the Today Show because it happens during the 60th Anniversary of the Today Show.

[heykillerfilms]

Many who have watched it have commented and emailed us that it made them stop and reflect on the people in their lives who helped guide them on their own path in life, whether it be directly or indirectly. Once we've settled into our careers and embark on our adult lives, it can be very easy to forget the people and events along the way that guided us in that direction, and Jason is someone who went the other way, taking thanking his inspirations to the extreme.

- Russ