2025 has been a year of achievements and leaps for Spectrum Fusion, whether it be the nearly sold-out Filmmaker Showcase screening at River Oaks Theatre back in April, the three-tiered partnership with Houston TV secured in February, or the batch of new hires and clients that have walked through our doors. It all felt like an underdog story came to life, but without a formula to predict what lies ahead. Then along came July 12 to add a new venture for the company & their Media Team in a year full of them: An out-of-state production, more specifically, an interview of Vivienne Ming, 53, a “Professional Mad Scientist” based in Berkeley, CA. Her interview was to serve as a segment of a documentary exploring the link between autism and homelessness.
CEO Dr. Heidi Ham joined Chief Editor Philip “Phil” Thomas, videographer/audio engineer Darren Logue, and videographers Gabriel “Gabe” Hood & Shane McCarthy on their journey from Houston, TX to San Francisco CA. Luckily, they arrived early enough at IAH Airport to grab some lunch rather than have to bear the trials and tribulations of just surviving on snacks. The airport trip marked new territory for most of the Media Team as it was Shane and Phil’s first time flying without their parents, and Gabe’s first plane trip since childhood. Unfortunately, Darren was denied similar gloating rights as he had flown solo prior.
Upon landing and gathering luggage, the team took an Uber, their primary mode of transportation throughout the trip, to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Berkeley Marina, a waterside hotel with gorgeous views, activities, and delicious food. Mr. McCarthy even spent over an hour walking the premises for potential B-roll before the team had dinner at the hotel’s in-house restaurant.
Any fears or dangers of overheating were immediately dashed by a persistent cool sea breeze throughout the shoot. The production also provided two bonuses: getting enough exercise to make up for skipping gym day, and meeting Mrs. Ming’s wife (unnamed for legal reasons) & adorable dog. Uber also got the ultimate revenue boost with the team’s seemingly endless reliance on their services. In addition, the schedule allowed for a chance to eat delicious local food.
July 13 marked the big day, with a schedule far different from the team’s usual workday, right down to a wake-up time of 7 A.M. Over the course of approximately 10 hours, the crew captured Vivienne telling her story amongst several backdrops, including but not limited to UC Berkeley’s Bakar Bioenginuity Hub, surrounding green spaces, and her home. The crew was given a glimpse into the backstory, personality, and essence of Mrs. Ming.
Along came July 14 to put an end to all things, with all Media Team members giving video reflections of the trip against the hotel’s marina backdrop. All bid goodbye to Berkeley as they boarded the plane back to Houston. The two-hour time difference resulted in a late night arrival, a wait only heightened by the tedious wait for oversized items. The day wrapped up at midnight with one last Uber trip to Dr. Ham’s home, where all parties disbursed back to their homes for much-needed rest and recharging for the lengthy uploading & editing that followed.