SASKATOON — Logan Ferland, as nice a person as you will meet, was called upon to slide out of character for a few seconds.
“Do you want to do the mean ‘yelling’ one?” Saskatchewan Roughriders Digital Media Co-ordinator Morgan Fleury asked the CFL West Division’s reigning Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman during a Sunday photo/video shoot.
Ferland smiled and nodded.
On cue, he glared at the camera — operated by Electric Umbrella Images Inc.’s Derek Elvin — and unleashed a paint-peeling “AHHHHHH!” as the photographer snapped away.
A perfectionist, Ferland felt he could do better, so there was a second attempt … and a third.
“There,” he said, matter-of-factly and most satisfactorily. “That was the best one.”
The makeshift studio was a fifth-floor room in a University of Saskatchewan dormitory. No eardrums were damaged while documenting a deep-voiced bellow. If anyone heard the eruption, there wasn’t any cause for alarm. Everyone knows the drill.
Each year, during training camps throughout the CFL, a few hours on a designated day are set aside for photos and videos that will be used by the television rights-holder (TSN) and each of the nine member teams.
When the Roughriders’ turn arrived, 15 players visited three stations. It all unfolded like clockwork.
The aforementioned photography studio, in which Fleury was the director, was on the fifth floor. In her capacity as D.J. Morgy Morg, Fleury also selected background music that suited the mood.
Also on the set were Karina Peterson (Manager, Game Entertainment and Community), Rebecca Perigny (Manager, Marketing and Fan Engagement) and Josh Idoko (Social Media Co-ordinator).
Peterson, Arielle Zerr (Director of Communications) and Amelie Sarauer (Communications Intern) were principally responsible for ensuring that players made it from station to station on-time and in uniform.
Perennial All-CFL defensive tackle Micah Johnson took the process so seriously that he asked to be taped up, as he would before lining up against a living, breathing and, yes, even “mean” opponent.
Running back A.J. Ouellette made the rounds while cheerfully brandishing his trademark Thor hammer.
When Ouellette arrived at “Plexi,” Electric Umbrella’s Liam Richards — also a Roughriders game photographer — offered assurance that the process would consume just a couple of minutes.
“No worries,” Ouellette replied. “Take as much time as you need.”
The “Plexi” device, inspired by American photographer Robert Seale and embraced by Richards, was being used at a Roughriders shoot for the first time.
A thick Plexiglas shield, which was parallel to the ground, was mounted on a three-foot-high scaffold. A camera was affixed underneath the thick Plexiglas, pointed toward the heavens.
The objective was to take visually arresting, from-the-ground-up photographs of the players. Accordingly, you can see the bottom of their cleats and, ideally, a completely blue sky. The clouds, though, can add drama to the background.
Those images were collected thanks to the combined resources and expertise of Richards, Blake Tiedeman (Manager, Content and Creative), Matt Erichsen (Junior Graphic Designer) and Rylan Hill (Video Producer Intern).
A TSN truck was situated a few first downs away, near the gates to Griffiths Stadium. Externally, the vehicle was non-descript. The interior, however, set it apart.
There were LED lights aplenty, along with green carpet that created the illusion of artificial turf.
George Hupka operated the camera. Kyle Burgess handled the lighting — including close-up illumination of the players, just off-camera. It was the responsibility of TSN producer Craig Chambers to run through the checklist of poses.
“Do you have a signature celebration?” linebacker/special teams standout A.J. Allen was asked.
“I do,” he said
“Give us a ‘yeah!’ ” Chambers requested.
“YEAHHHHH!”
When prompted, the ever-accommodating Allen also flexed, pounded his chest, and did whatever was asked of him.
The eyes of set production assistant Allia Janzen were trained on a monitor. Her duties included ensuring that all the moving images looked as they should. Quick with a quip, she also contributed to the lighthearted vibe that characterized each player’s time in the truck.
Keep in mind, though, that the crew could be stone-faced and the upbeat Allen would still have had a grand old time.
The fourth-year Roughrider made the exclusive list of 15 — selected by TSN — on the strength of being the league’s co-leader in special teams tackles last season. He also returned an interception for a touchdown early in his first CFL start at linebacker.
He marked another first by being a part of video/photo day.
“I’m like a kid in a candy store,” he said, smiling.
For the proverbial candy store, closing time loomed. Most of the players had visited all three stations as Allen’s time in the truck drew to a close.
“Cover the camera with your hands,” Chambers said, whereupon Allen obliged, “and … that’s it!”
