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Weasel
Starting Member
3 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Jan 2007 : 13:52:44
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| Soooo, this might be a bit of a cheeky one. Shoot me down in flames if you wish (aren't forums great!!) but i'm a bit stuck and i'm hoping some of you might be able to help me. I work for RDF television and we're about to start production on a new series for the BBC about pest control. We've got a pest controller to get rid of the little blighters when we find them. Obviously he's helping us find people with infestations but he mainly deals with commercial clients and we're looking for residential. I'm now a bit stuck as to where/how to contact people who need bugs exterminating. Obviously it's telly so the bigger the infestation the better. Any ideas? You can call me on 0117 970 7650 if you like, or email [email protected] |
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Iain
Moderator
United Kingdom
180 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2007 : 14:15:28
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As the saying goes - you'll be b****y lucky! When a 'residential' discovers that they have a pest problem, they are likely to want it sorting NOW! So finding someone that can accommodate you in the necessary timescale will be very difficult.
I see from you phone number that you are based in Bristol. Is this where the camera team work from? If yes, your best bet will be the Bristol City Council, Environmental Health Department, who will tend to get a lot of 'residentials' on a daily basis. The man to talk to there is Richard Bevan.
If he can't help, he may at least be able to suggest other Councils who might.
Be warned, however, as previous experiences with 'Life of Grime' and the like have left very sour tastes in the mouths of some Council pest control departments I've talked to.
Pest control may make great 'telly', but the more you TV people upset individuals in our industry, by seeking out the sensational and being selective with your editing, the less likely you will get co-operation in the future. |
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Weasel
Starting Member
3 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2007 : 14:24:06
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Thanks Iain, all good advice. I'll start contacting the councils. I've got a feeling this one is going to be tricky because as you stated, people would want the problem gone ASAP. I'll just have to hope I can make enough contacts to find some candidates when we're close to our shoot dates. Any other suggestions?
re. telly being selective...you're right, it can be. We're not out to make fools out of anyone here though. It's a show about horrible infestations and high tech gadgets to get rid of them. Anyone heard about the snow machine thingy that freezes everything? Sounds brilliant! |
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Iain
Moderator
United Kingdom
180 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2007 : 14:41:00
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Hmmm - yes we've heard of the 'snow machine thingy'. Would probably make good TV, but according to some of the responses on another pest control forum:
http://www.ukpcoforum.org.uk/
...somewhat less than 'brilliant'. Look under the 'Cryonite' string.
Unfortunately for you, I suspect that a lot of the 'high tech gatgets' you refer to may sound great - but don't actually work. I'm not saying that the Cryonite system doesn't work - it is just that whilst it may have some uses, it also has a lot of limitations. Some of the gear that I've seen advertised, however, is simply a con.
I hope to God that you've got a decent technical adviser to keep you creative chappies on a leash, otherwise you could end up looking rather silly.
But then that would make good telly, wouldn't it..... |
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ABPest
Senior Member
United Kingdom
152 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2007 : 15:30:12
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Weasel, I used to be a pest control manager of a local authority and I had many requests from many types of media to provide them with interesting pest control jobs. Invariably the domestic customers did not wish to admit to having problems, much less have them published in the media!
My pest control staff also turned down the opportunity to be on the " Life Of Grime " series, after they had seen what had gone before!
Why not employ Iain as the technical advisor?
I wish you luck.
Adrian.
PS I was called out to a mouse job in an old couples bungalow yesterday, the 2 electronic mouse deterrents they bought before Christmas had not worked |
Edited by - ABPest on 02 Jan 2007 15:32:34 |
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Weasel
Starting Member
3 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2007 : 16:07:15
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We have a pest controller who's been in the business for years so we're hoping he knows what he's doing!
As far as getting people to admit they've got pests on TV goes, i'm hoping the lure of the free treatment will be tempting enough, and they also get a small contributor fee too. |
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Iain
Moderator
United Kingdom
180 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2007 : 17:21:48
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Adrian,
Thanks for the plug, but unfortunately I suggested a 'decent' technical adviser. I've been called many things in the past - but never 'decent'! 
I met an EHO a few weeks ago who had 'starred' in a recent 'Life of Grime' series and innocently asked how he had got on.
Talk about lighting the blue touch paper!!
Allegedly - some of his staff had been encouraged to be - shall we say - less than professional in order for the 'product' to be more 'entertaining'. He certainly was very vehement about how some of his comments had been 'edited' out of context and put back over different visuals. His had not been a happy experience.
The two occasions I did radio and TV work they were both live, so although I ran the risk of verbal diaorhea or of being set up with an 'anti' I at least avoided being 'cut and pasted'.
Mr. Weasel - let's hope your advisor really does know what he's doing - and you take on board what he says......
In this profession all the 'high tech' tools in the work will only ever be as good as the skill and experience of the person using them. |
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NickA
Hyperactive Member
United Kingdom
700 Posts |
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Right then pest people, can you help me?
