We’re Gonna Interview WHO???
It was the Fall of 1990, and I was 19 years old. I had recently graduated from TV school, and despite my best efforts, had not yet landed a job in my field. Instead, I was spending most of my waking minutes volunteering at Skyline Cable 22 in Ottawa, gaining experience and making local TV shows with cool people.
One day, I was on a video shoot with cameraman Dave, who I’d been assisting for a week or two. As a new volunteer, my job was to haul equipment, set up microphones and lights, and generally help out. That day, Dave and I had been assigned a video shoot in downtown Ottawa. We were to meet up with our volunteer host, Maureen Kincaid, to shoot an interview with Senator Eugene Forsey at his home along the Rideau Canal. The show was U.K. Connection, a community production geared towards ex-pats from the U.K. It was decidedly popular, because if there wasn’t a new episode airing in a given week, the viewer response line would light up with lovely polite British ladies saying such things as, “I was a bit disappointed to see that the U.K. Connection was repeated YET AGAIN this week. I hope to see new episodes soon. Cheerio!”.
Anyway, Dave and I completed a successful interview with Maureen and the good Senator, and were driving back to the station at 1810 St. Laurent Boulevard when we got a call over the radio (it was 1990, so yes, we had a CB radio in the van, no cell phones!). It was André, the producer of U.K. Connection and also Soundtrack.
“Hey, Dave, it’s André. The shoot is a go at Barrymore’s, want to stop on your way back? The reporter will meet you there.”
Dave replied, “10-4, man! Talk soon. Hey, Sue, want to do another shoot?”
I said, “Sure, who’s it with?”
“Davy Jones,” says Dave, like he’s telling me his Tim’s order.
My heart skipped about 30 beats. “From The Monkees?”
“The one and only!”
OH. MY. GOD.
35 years later, I am still not emotionally prepared for this moment. Not only had I never really met a famous person before (aside from Ronnie Prophet, but that’s another story), I was about to be in the same room as someone I had IDOLIZED as a child. I mean, what 11 year old girl DIDN’T have 30 pictures of ♥️ Davy ♥️ that they’d ripped out of Teen Beat magazine adorning the walls of their bedroom, right?
I grew very quiet all of a sudden, and Dave asked if I was okay. “Uh, yeah…bit nervous,” I muttered, as we pulled up outside the venue. We grabbed our gear and trudged up the staircase at Barrymore’s, setting up on the first balcony.
About 15 minutes later, I was tweaking the back light when I felt a presence next to me. “How’s everyone today?” he said, and gave me a little wink.
DAVY JONES JUST WINKED AT ME.
My knees buckled slightly but, ever the professional, I just smiled, politely said hello, and continued to look busy.
I gestured to the chair and said, “Mr. Jones, you can sit here,” (oh geez, did I really just call him “Mr. Jones”? I’m such a dork).
Cameraman Dave was making some final adjustments, and he suddenly handed me the lavallier mic. I stared blankly at the mic in my hand and Dave whispered, “Clip it on him please.” I froze. Took a deep breath, and turned around to face Davy.
“I…I just need to clip this on….”
“Ok, no worries!”
I reached for his lapel, hands shaking more than I wanted them to, and gently clipped the mic on, tucking the cable neatly. I did it without passing out, so I call that a win.
The camera rolled, and the interview started. He was so genuinely lovely, telling stories and reminiscing about the old days with Micky, Mike, and Peter. The sweetest guy, just like my 11 year old self dreamed he would be!
This was my very first and definitely most memorable Soundtrack shoot, and thankfully I was able to gain access to the video…so here you go!
Enjoy.
