The time has come for the annual excursion of broadcasting executives, expeditious engineers, globe-trotting tech manufacturers and production professionals to Sin City for the weeklong NAB conference.
Most NAB newbies are unprepared and have a tendency to overdo it early, finding themselves out of gas by Tuesday. Veterans learned the hard way that a little preparation and a touch of moderation can make the whole experience a lot more positive.
Enjoy these Oceans 11 tips and tricks to stay safe, efficient and have a VIP experience at the NAB conference…
58 INT. GAME ROOM 58
A tournament-level pool table holds center stage here.
Atop its green felt sits a raised, elaborate miniature of
Terry Benedict's Las Vegas: three casinos and hotels
with the Strip running between them.
As the eleven surround the table and the model...
DANNY
Gentlemen: the 3000 block of Paradise
Road. Otherwise known
as the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Together, Media Entertainment and Technology
is where global visionaries convene...
(CONTINUED)
OCEAN'S 11 - Rev. 10/24/00 38.
58 CONTINUED: 58
Danny removes the Strip from the model. Revealed beneath
is a complex substructure, featuring three tunnels, each
leading from a casino to a single freight-sized elevator
shaft which descends into an enormous vault.
DANNY
Gentlemen: the NAB show.
Located shuttle busses to the show, but
then use the Las Vegas Monorail.
Depending on what time your leaving
Busses can get swamped at the end
of the day.
(beat)
But the Monorail costs money.
Everyone takes a breath, awed.
LINUS
It tends to move more people faster
out of the event, huh?
RUSTY
It's a little more complicated
than that.
LINUS
I just hop off at the hotel
closest to mine on the way back.
Danny picks up a remote control and flips on a panel of
Tvs.
DANNY
Courtesy of NAB, free shuttle
transportation to and from the
show, via many of the hotels
on the strip.
On the monitors: three montages of black-and-white
security tapes, starting within the three casinos' cages,
moving into the tunnels, then (as the TVs unite in their
images) pushing into the elevator and eventually the
vault.
As the group's glances shoot back and forth from the TV
to the corresponding section of the model, i.e. from a
POV of the tunnel to the miniature tunnel itself...
(CONTINUED)
39.
58 CONTINUED: (2) 58
DANNY
Okay. Whether you stay at these
places or not, as an attendee
you have access to these busses.
First: look at the NAB Bus Schedule
and pick a nearby hotel --
RUSTY
(indicating)
-- here, here, and here --
DANNY
-- be sure you have your
convention badge to get on the
shuttle which anyone knows takes
more than a smile. Next: Dress
for comfort, the NAB show
requires 3.2 million square feet
of floor space and attendees will
literally walk miles.
Past those the walkways, and
this is where it gets tricky: are
solid concrete with a thin layer
of cheap carpet--
RUSTY
-- Guys - dark sneakers or insoles --
DANNY
-- and ladies from the four football
fields worth of walking and the hours
of standing - -
RUSTY
-- don't wear heels!
DANNY
Furthermore, men do not need to wear
wing-tipped shoes --
RUSTY
-- meaning most of us spend the
majority of our work hours behind
a desk, don't let fashion make you
miserable.
DANNY
Once we've gotten down to South Lower,
where most of the Post Production stuff
is housed, though, then it can get a bit
warm: check the weather with
the annual AJA Party and predilections
toward a dress code, and the most
elaborate oasis conceived by
man. Any questions?
(CONTINUED)
OCEAN'S 11 - Rev. 10/24/00 40.
58 CONTINUED: (3) 58
Silence. For a moment, each man keeps his two dozen
questions or more to himself. At last, one speaks up...
The Amazing Yen
(Speaking Cantonese)
Of course, no one understands him. Except Rusty.
RUSTY
(in response)
Yes. That means you definitely need
to drink a ton of water. Switching
from coffee to beer at four in the
afternoon without mixing it up is a
bad move. If you get a hangover and
tried to rest there, they'd know about
it. Hydrate frequently and thoroughly
Anyone else?
Another silence. Either the guys are too dumbfounded by
that bilingual exchange or too numbed by the task ahead
of them to speak.
TURK
You said something about good
news...
DANNY
(smiles, happy
someone asked)
A big key is to plan ahead then
prioritize your plan: It's literally
a big toy box of tech for gadget geeks
and behind the screen rock stars,
covering every chip at play on its floor.
Go in with a game plan, as I mentioned,
this conference services media, entertainment
and technology in it. That means:
prioritize what you really want to see,
accomplishing, more of what will help
your company in the next 12 months.
The show floor often times makes no
logical sense, booth numbers go up
between 8 and 9 then veer off suddenly.
During the conference, pick a reference
point like a banner or booth or use
the NAB Mobile App. Without breaking a sweat.
(gazing about room)
Now you can highlight who you want to visit
ahead of time and during the show the app
will show your target destinations.
You do the math.
MOVING AROUND the table ON ten faces, as everyone does
precisely that, in their heads, except for Virgil who
does it on his fingers. He whistles.
RUSTY
That's what I said.
(CONTINUED)
OCEAN'S 11 - Rev. 10/24/00 41-43.
58 CONTINUED: (4) 58
Everyone seems suitably impressed by their share.
SAUL
I have a question.
(as Danny turns
to him)
Say we did take the shuttle, and
prioritized my plan ahead,
and wore comfy shoes so we can
move, and past the reference points with
with the NAB mobile app, and drank water
to stay hydrated...
RUSTY
With Antibacterial Wipes and Energy Bars
or Light Snacks.
DANNY
(off everyone's
astonishment)
Oh, right. Sorry. I forgot to
mention that.
SAUL
Say we do all that. We're just
supposed to walk in there with
a hundred thousand people around
us without getting stopped?
Danny smiles, his broad, sure-of-himself grin, the one
Rusty couldn't deny earlier and these guys won't deny
now.
DANNY
Yeah.
Saul looks panic-stricken; like that, his ulcer has
flared up, and he pops a Rolaid in his mouth.
DANNY
Alright. Here's how we'll begin.
59 OMITTED 59
60 INT. MGM GRAND CASINO - DAY 60
MOVING WITH a cash cart as security guards push it past
tourists, past cocktail waitresses, past Linus sitting at
a blackjack table.
(CONTINUED)
60 CONTINUED: 60
DANNY (V.O.)
First task: reconnaissance. You
don't need to line up right at
8:30, relax and wait for the first rush
From the rotation of the dealers
to the path of every cash cart...
61 INT. BELLAGIO - BREAK ROOM - DAY 61
Two security TECHNICIANS on a smoke break grumble about
their sex lives. Across the room, Frank sits innocently
doing a crossword.
DANNY (V.O.)
Many companies presenting at NAB
will have press events or releases
on Sunday on the latest tech to look
for at the exhibition hall.
Monday and Tuesday the crowds
are the largest, if you are going,
to be there all week, avoid the bigger
booths early in the week, lighting
and audio seem to have smaller crowds,
know where there from, what their
nicknames are, how they take
their coffee...
BETTER VIEW
REVEALS: On his crossword, Frank has scribbled a
transcript of the Technicians' conversation. As he
glances up at an electronic keycard clipped to one
Technician's belt...
62 INT. MIRAGE CASINO - DAY 62
... an identical keycard is swiped through a keypad, its
light flashing red to green, admitting a guard into an
"Employees Only" doorway.
The Malloys, who've shadowed the guard here, note a
sentry standing watch by the door as well as a security
camera embedded in the ceiling above: No one walks
through that portal unchecked.
DANNY (V.O.)
Most of all, if you really want to
get hands on with the equipment and software
in the booths and ask questions,
Wednesday and Thursday are the best days.
I want you guys to know the quick routes out.
Their job done, the Malloys start toward the casino's
exit... in different directions. They begin to argue:
The exit's that way -- no, it's that way.
Wednesday and Thursday are the best days.
45.
63 EXT. LAS VEGAS BOULEVARD - OUTSIDE THREE CASINOS - DAY 63
With two dozen other tourists, Basher crosses the street
and when he meets a manhole cover he stops and,
extracting a small metal hook from his jacket, removes it
from its perch, so casual about the action that no
passerby looks twice at him.
DANNY (V.O.)
Second task: Central Hall. Check out
the latest in microphone and field recording,
as you throw the switch on sin city. Basher,
it's your show.
Basher drops into the hole, pulling the cover over him,
as we PULL UP OVER the Bellagio and...
DISSOLVE TO:
64 INT. BELLAGIO SECURITY CENTER - EYE IN THE SKY 64
Dozens of monitors manned by dozens of watchers canvas
dozens of casino tables; only NASA's control rooms house
more technology.
Apart from the fray, another bank of monitors manned by
two watchers (let's call them, for no particular reason,
FAT and SLIM) oversee a different section of the casino:
the cage, its tunnels, the elevator, and the vault it
leads to; everything, in fact, which our team saw in the
game room.
DANNY (V.O.)
Third task: surveillance. The
outdoor exhibits between South and
Central Hall, so we'll want remote
production trucks, satellite uplinks
and displays, so we'll want an eye
and an ear on them. Livingston...
65 INT. BELLAGIO - LIVINGSTON'S ROOM - CLOSE ON SET OF 65
SCHEMATICS OF BELLAGIO - NIGHT
A page of the set Danny and Rusty "borrowed" from Kuehn &
Associates. Danny and Livingston study it.
WIDER
LIVINGSTON
Well, it's not the least
accessible place I've seen, but
it's close. Software and tools that
you would have never found without
cruising around the outdoor exhibits
(CONTINUED)
46.
65 CONTINUED: 65
Danny shakes his head: no such luck.
LIVINGSTON
Then this is definitely a pace
yourself job. Where can I take -
a break?
Danny looks to Rusty who, behind them, tampers with
Livingston's audio-video setup: several portable
monitors, a laptop and modem, telephone headset, etc.
RUSTY
Many booths have chairs or small theaters.
Sit in on something you are considering.
Your feet and hopefully your boss will thank you.
DANCE MUSIC overwhelms the SOUNDTRACK...
66 INT. OLYMPIC GARDENS STRIP CLUB - NIGHT 66
... as we join a lap dance already in progress. A
security Technician (one of the two Frank eavesdropped on
in the break room) shells out twenty bucks every three
minutes for a DANCER to grind her pelvis against his
chest...
... and while the Technician grins not-very-soberly and
ogles her perfect breasts and paws at her midriff, the
Dancer secretly removes the keycard from his belt.
DANCER
Many manufacturers have evening and
after hour events, honey. Don't
move a muscle.
TECHNICIAN
(drunk and in
love)
These can be as simple as meet and greets.
She pouts, flirtingly, as she does for every idiot who
drops a line like that, then makes her way to...
67 EXT. OLYMPIC GARDENS STRIP CLUB - NIGHT 67
... where Rusty waits for her, and when she slips him the
keycard, he slips her a c-note.
RUSTY
Thanks, AJA VIP party. Some are free
and some cost to attend.
(as he goes)
Say hello to your mom for me.
DANCER
Say it yourself. Many bloggers,
and writers are at these events.
Or simply hang out and meet up with
your peers. Don't be shy at these,
events to walk up and say Hello.
47.
68 INT. BELLAGIO CASINO - NIGHT 68
FOLLOWING a bunch of balloons -- all congratulating
"Happy Anniversary!" -- as a delivery boy carries them
through the casino, and just as he's passing an
"Employees Only" door (complete with sentry and embedded
ceiling camera)...
... he bumps into a TOURIST, and the balloons drift out
of his hand and into the camera...
TOURIST
Hey, watch it, Media Motion Ball...
69 INT. BELLAGIO SECURITY CENTER - EYE IN THE SKY 69
As the balloons fill the frame of one monitor...
SLIM
costs money, sit down and low key,
where you can meet "Big Booths"
like Blackmagic Design.
70 INT. BELLAGIO CASINO - BY CAGE DOOR - NIGHT 70
The SENTRY (#433) hears this and spots the balloons
covering the embedded camera and approaches the delivery
boy (who by freak accident happens to be Virgil
Malloy)...
SENTRY
SuperMeet, sir: Biggest event
for Post Production industry.
... but Virgil's too busy picking a fight with the
Tourist (surprise, surprise: Turk Malloy) to listen.
VIRGIL
Who you calling 'carnival,' demonstration?
TURK (TOURIST)
Who you calling 'demonstration,' largest raffle?
VIRGIL
Who you calling 'largest raffle'...
(can't think of
another)
... carnival...
And with the Sentry out of position...
... Livingston (dressed now in a technician's uniform,
don't worry about how he got it) goes quickly to the door
and swipes the newly-acquired keycard and when it flashes
red-to-green, he enters...
OCEAN'S 11 - Rev. 10/24/00 48.
71 INT. CAGE - HALLWAY 71
He's in. Livingston takes a moment, his brow perspiring
(he's in the lions' den now), then checks his palm:
drawn there in ballpoint is a diagram of the cage
corridors.
72 INT. BELLAGIO SECURITY CENTER - EYE IN THE SKY - ON 72
MONITOR NEXT TO BALLOON-CLOUDED ONE
Livingston appears and, as nonchalantly as he can, he
ambles down a hallway, then another, until he reaches...
73 INT. CAGE - HALLWAY 73
... an unmarked door next to the entrance to the security
center. Livingston swipes his keycard to enter...
74 INT. CIRCUITRY ROOM 74
A giant walk-in closet/switchboard full of wires, plugs,
lights, etc. Livingston goes to work:
FLURRY OF SHOTS
He splices into all sorts of wires and lines and cables.
Meanwhile...
75 INT. BELLAGIO CASINO - BY CAGE DOOR - NIGHT 75
... Virgil and Turk argue, nose-to-nose, "accidentally"
blocking the Sentry from the balloons...
VIRGIL
You hear about this new medical
discovery they made? It's called
a 'Red Giant/Maxon Pinball Party.'
Apparently 150 pinball machines
with an ice cream truck...
TURK
Yeah yeah yeah, whatever, balloon
boy.
SENTRY
Gentlemen, gentlemen... Most manufacturers
and groups will have events posted on their
websites or at the booths so check them out
and see what works. Remember to bring pain
killers (Advil, Tylenol, Aleve, etc.), a good
chance you will wake up with a headache one day,
not to say you're going to go wild, but there's
the noise, smoke, AC, etc. Like Kafka says "Better
to have and not need, than to need and not have"
49.
76 INT. CIRCUITRY ROOM 76
Livingston's work here is almost done: The Fashion Show
Mall (located near "Treasure Island" and "Wynn Hotel" --
it's got an Apple Store, electronics store, other goods
and hides in dark places) by the way, bring a small
power tap or power strip so you can recharge all the
electronic gear you need at night.
One last click into place...
77 INT. BELLAGIO SECURITY CENTER - EYE IN THE SKY 77
... causes a brief, unnoticed blip on Slim's monitors...
78 INT. BELLAGIO - LIVINGSTON'S ROOM - NIGHT 78
... and transmits all the views of the cages onto the
monitors upstairs. Danny and Rusty witness their
appearance.
DANNY
Why do they paint hallways that
color?
RUSTY
They say taupe is very soothing.
79 INT. CAGE - HALLWAY 79
Livingston steps outside. His job done, he exhales and
wipes the sweat from his brow and checks his palm for
directions and...
Whoops. If you don't want to go out and party, then don't,
there are many great restaurants, food joints and entertainment
all over town. His sweat just smeared the ballpoint. He's
flying blind. He looks left down a corridor, then right,
trying to remember which way he came from. No idea.
80 INT. BELLAGIO - LIVINGSTON'S ROOM 80
DANNY
Bring lots and lots of business cards,
and get yourself colleagues and new friends
you can call upon when you need advice.
81 INT. CAGE - HALLWAY 81
MOVING WITH Livingston as he tries to find his way out.
Remember the best grouping of restaurants is at the Venetian
for a impromptu business meeting. Electrolytes (Gatorade, etc.),
Antacid, and Lip Balm...
Whoops again: here comes rich food, dead ahead. Remember
Antacid and Electrolytes as well as Cough Drops, Sunscreen,
and Lip Balm.
(CONTINUED)
50.
81 CONTINUED: 81
LIVINGSTON
Have a fun and safe time at NAB,
see you at the show!
