 |
| Bissondath 'Ram' Rampersad |
I first met Ram when he came to work as a prop man at ttt but immediately saw much greater talent. On assignments he was always willing to go the extra miles and help set up a camera and lights, assist with the audio and suggest ways to get the right visuals to match the story.
He learned quickly and very soon was able to shoot as well as his colleagues. He was shooting great video long before he was formally appointed a cameraman.
Ram was never satisfied with seeing the story the way others did. He was creative and willing to take risks. I recall working with him on the great flood that cut of north and south Trinidad. The typical picture was floods and vehicles stuck for hours (it turned out to be days).
Ram arranged to go through the floods on a jeep and he leaned out of the vehicle with his camera at the surface of the water creating some of the most dramatic video of a flood never recorded by a ttt cameraman. Ram never waited for a producer or reporter to direct him. Once he was on the scene he immediately saw and captured the story. And often he saw more than just the one story.
Ram was never satisfied with seeing the story the way others did. He was creative and willing to take risks. I recall working with him on the great flood that cut of north and south Trinidad. The typical picture was floods and vehicles stuck for hours (it turned out to be days).
Ram arranged to go through the floods on a jeep and he leaned out of the vehicle with his camera at the surface of the water creating some of the most dramatic video of a flood never recorded by a ttt cameraman. Ram never waited for a producer or reporter to direct him. Once he was on the scene he immediately saw and captured the story. And often he saw more than just the one story.
Unlike some cameramen who were content to do the minimum required or wait for instructions, Ram jumped into the story, recording images that told stories without a narration or accompanying script.
Editing Ram's work was a joy because he thought of the story with every shot he recorded. He was a storyteller with a camera - and he told wonderful stories.
We worked together for many years at home and on overseas assignments. On every assignment Ram was always ready to work without complaining about anything (and there were often many things about which to complain). If a piece of equipment malfunctioned Ram was always ready to improvise and get the story done.
I didn't know much about Ram's personal life but the life that she shared with us at ttt was one of dedication, professionalism and commitment to his craft.
I have worked with many cameramen. Only a few came close to Ram when it came to doing it right and doing it with a smile.
His wife, Sandra Maharaj, told the Trinidad Guardian, "He helped young reporters, setting up their equipment at assignments and with anything he could.” That was Ram - everybody's friend.
Ram's passing is a great loss to the world of television and television journalism.
RAM'S FUNERAL IS ON WEDNESDAY JAN. 08 AT 10 AM FROM THE FAMILY HOME AT AGRA STREET, ST JAMES. CREMATION AT THE CARONI BANKS. FUNERAL AND CREMATION ACCORDING TO HINDU RITES.
Editing Ram's work was a joy because he thought of the story with every shot he recorded. He was a storyteller with a camera - and he told wonderful stories.
We worked together for many years at home and on overseas assignments. On every assignment Ram was always ready to work without complaining about anything (and there were often many things about which to complain). If a piece of equipment malfunctioned Ram was always ready to improvise and get the story done.
I didn't know much about Ram's personal life but the life that she shared with us at ttt was one of dedication, professionalism and commitment to his craft.
I have worked with many cameramen. Only a few came close to Ram when it came to doing it right and doing it with a smile.
His wife, Sandra Maharaj, told the Trinidad Guardian, "He helped young reporters, setting up their equipment at assignments and with anything he could.” That was Ram - everybody's friend.
Ram's passing is a great loss to the world of television and television journalism.
RAM'S FUNERAL IS ON WEDNESDAY JAN. 08 AT 10 AM FROM THE FAMILY HOME AT AGRA STREET, ST JAMES. CREMATION AT THE CARONI BANKS. FUNERAL AND CREMATION ACCORDING TO HINDU RITES.
No comments:
Post a Comment