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The White House’s first official videographer, Arun Chaudhary, tells Alan about his experiences with the president.
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Welcome a run -- dream he has written a book called.
First cameraman documenting the Obama presidency in real time.
You haven't really you had probably the most unique job.
Knowing this job didn't exist until the Obama presidency right now that's right it was a great trade opportunity and honor what it says of an average tell me how you walked into this job biggest no no president -- -- had a video -- for you this book that is really Palestinian.
All the little's.
Nuggets of stuff you don't normally get about the president but let it happen well for me it was a definitely ranks right place right time kind of situation I was.
You know working independent film in New York -- fiction filmmaker -- documentarian -- a friend -- a right -- was -- CNN and that's a much more normal.
-- traditional path of journalism and politics took the job is -- director and she was like you know around that to really get at this clemency.
Come -- the Chicago and see what happens.
Just a video during the campaign -- very early onion 2007.
This is if Obama at this point -- -- Hillary let's Munich president.
Who's this Obama guy don't have cable though he was I was teaching in NYU and I -- then I'd be back for the winner semester not to worry.
-- so this when -- -- start getting serious.
Permit was Jefferson Jackson dinner and Iowa Malia and I knew it was serious number one because they asked me to videotape the speech crap which never happened to four hours ago and I think that's the way this -- gone and we -- -- -- elaborate plan saying you know -- -- traditionally it's when whoever comes out of that has the momentum and -- be able to know that's a very important dinner in the political process that takes place every.
For years and it's very key terms the president this kind of inside politics but that.
-- unfortunately is a very it was a very important of I was that it.
A few years ago and it's really fascinating what goes on there.
-- what kind of relationship did you start developing.
With Barack Obama this is when he's still a senator.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- But very quickly I think we had a similar sense of humor and kind of become more -- -- and yet you spend so much time.
When you're campaigning at the white house with the same small group of people so -- in this you have globally with -- really weren't -- -- that -- mean the bubble is very accurate description -- and would you like you Axelrod -- those people.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I'm I'm it's a thirty minute man and we're shooting at the end and guys really want to quote unquote thoughtful looking out the win -- we don't know that shot and I want I was like you -- fifteen minutes of the sense -- -- great.
But Senator Obama really said -- I'd prefer it if we can just do it when I really do it naturally you know it's a couple of our car -- -- you know at some point it's gonna happen to your mind.
-- and the answer has to be no of course not that's a great thing to want to you don't have a certain personality to fit in to that kind of situation and not be intrusive.
Not be annoying.
You're the guy with a -- and his face them in you you can't be an annoying guys.
That's right situationally I do think it's a -- overcome and it's funny you asked because people don't.
You know devise Vasco let's affecting flying alone it's like no was it like trying not to be annoying trying not to be guy with a camera in your face and why would he want that while -- accepted.
Do you.
That fly.
Being around all the time one because I think he's so comfortable with himself that he knows that nothing that -- is gonna happen on camera and more so than him senior advisors and stuff like that -- -- -- -- it.
But also I have to give myself some credit I'm not a new engine now I don't yell about not getting a -- -- never complained the answer was always shore silence -- can I go someplace else to something different like you know what what it was his -- -- they trying to accomplish by having you on board and when it first you know it's really become a full time thing.
No not not not really at all and I was talking David Axelrod about this when I was reading the book.
And he said -- we know what we didn't really know.
We -- video would be an important online video -- important way to show the sort of life of the campaign and that that this had to be a campaign like that to succeed.
And I think that's one of the smartest things and it's sort of the real.
Hallmark of Internet age when you invent things that you don't exactly know what they're going to be four and you started this before you two became as big as it became.
Well it kind of came of age of this and that you know on the heels of each of becoming mean phenomenon so I think like trysts folks -- -- were so excited that there was a campaign stocking there.
Channel and -- -- a thousand videos I think they put something on their blog about it they're like you know holy crap -- thousand videos later the Obama campaign students where.
At what point to become a full time -- when he when when he got that when you knew he'd be the president when he finally won the nomination he won the election.
Was there -- -- -- go to the White House -- they're not yet decided within have a video -- for now in the White House -- unlike many the president.
Had made intellectual decision that we want to keep doing -- thing I want to keep this thing going.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I mean when he's accepting the nomination you're there when he's making that big speech.
That you know and.
In the -- DNC you know you're there when he wins the election.
Are you willing to all of this young yet it's funny Elvis special moms talking about it's always anti climax for me really don't like I remember we telegram park I think about the Porta -- is that I stood next here for two hours talking about a convention I just think about.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- You don't think of those.
That behind the scenes stuff in terms of you know campus and there really was my life and to be in the most unglamorous spot with some amazing was happening was almost that's occurred at some point you know you -- -- and enemies that was happening I was we have -- -- -- -- -- like the dichotomy between we had just been what you just photographed and where you are in the bathroom floor to that would.
Absolutely I had -- as you know it.
It it it's something you get used to especially because you see the president get through it right I mean I think the real lesson for me about what the presidency is like a wanna try to communicate to people the -- and we can stuff is that.
It's not the actual moment it's a series of moments on one moment you're talking to the teacher of the year -- your -- comforting.
You know -- grieving family of this -- on Afghanistan.
And to be able to switch back marvelous things and watched politicians do that you realize that's the real -- -- ultimately still photography which you do because still photographers a frozen moment and you're doing -- moving.
Moment and in time so it's not give an ultimate contacts and a very different ethnic secondly if so did so different we see iconic photos.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- And -- a time was by Robert Gibbs.
And both times for the same reason it wasn't that the president was gonna say it was because they wanted the people the president was talking to -- be able to respond -- -- and you didn't go to the White House living quarters percent.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- It was -- known even thought of him we're doing with ought to be cancer being president.
One and a half he's changed and also find out.
About some of the key moment to talk about in the book.
To tuck and -- run shot through the -- fiscal first cameraman.
Documenting the Obama presidency in real time if you want -- ask the questions.
-- an 8773672526.
I wonder how you saw the president -- we knew as a senator and a rather unknown senator at the time change over the last few years did you know before anybody knew we was.
And you document and him.
The -- -- you know -- that work.
The so what I was teaching I would say when I saw his authority a a very prominent personalities so maybe there's transmission that I haven't that haven't -- I think what's remarkable about him and his personality.
And you know -- famous Communists is that he really does not change much for situation situation from year the year.
And I was in my best example of this is you know everyone was like -- my goddesses.
That you take the president from Harvard make increasing speech next some kind countenance a sort of I don't remember getting credit time what was cylinders and Washington -- -- job drop in the fascinate me I was like I'm into that's the president just as a young guy like sounding exactly that the president.
Yeah make a speech about something like unbelievable -- this person really is just census.
Comfortable you know the hatred toward him I thought they really hit -- -- them -- impeach them.
But I find hatred toward President Obama even more vicious more cruel more -- Certainly the certainly racial aspect to it in some places.
How does this every get to him -- -- that what his reaction until -- You know I think it's a very practical vision of all this and the only insight that I can -- you view directly into it it is sending is that I remember once from a mentoring event.
That we were doing at a school in his talking to a group of predominant in the African American and TC.
-- and talk to them about you know.
You know things may end up being hard harder for you because -- -- you -- -- when he can and he -- that you can again angry about it again and it just like -- -- because of that because it doesn't make sense to me and accident it and it and and he was passionate about it they still have that -- firmness gives him lose his temper.
I have never really seen them loses temperance union angry.
And -- he's usually the times has been angry at them people have been directly you know messing with someone on his staff and he's very protective of the personalities and staff -- they -- spam I I this is a pretty interesting good sense of humor that the public doesn't get -- city.
Yeah -- there's a -- of the book about him.
Apparently working with someone working with a robot he's doing a robot impressions and he's very -- he he is very quick and he's very funny on his feet and you know he we he has -- their about a multiple occasions.
But.
That that they humor that I always find the best for him is he's very good but the call back is very good at making a joke and then five minutes later making reference to that benefit that -- -- political combat yeah he is he is a master of the call back -- -- very guy thinking you know the -- its dividend correspondents dinners but.
He does have a very good comedic -- you've compared what you did at the White House to being a wedding photographer.
With the same room with a rotating group -- hysterical -- hysterical -- Edwards he is.
But he may be hysterical but let's say very very concerned that things go right guests you know and it's important when you're setting up a White House event you want to be perfect not for the president you know improved from the people who -- yeah who you know love their country and might want this to be the most special day that they have incidentally it's so so -- -- wedding.
And you only have to pretend to -- perfect for as long as the guests are there in -- -- and then very quickly if you watch any of us and western week.
We've you leave the beautiful flag draped around and then you're in a crappy freight elevator to go down as some loading -- that's why you are you walk into the kitchen to get the -- exactly and you look through a lot of pitches and you smell lot of athletes when president.
What chips.
What memory stands out.
In your mind -- -- -- what moments do you.
Reflect upon the most in terms of all the is that you've had some you've got a little world right equipment -- you have traveled some amazing places you know a moment -- I'll always remember really well -- -- outside BM.
It's forbidden city in China and I was getting a nice -- -- -- shop president walking there's this great and I'm backing up and he's sort of look and little.
And a nightclub got to keep shooting as I don't want him but that funny unequivocal in his face some running and -- and like he's looked -- at some -- and interest thing.
And so I keep rolling and he says look and really concerned I'm like well who's really concerned that he just lunges -- and grabs me and and I'm about to walk backwards off about a twelve foot drop.
Real you usually aren't around here and here yes.
Birthday and I might rising making this funny look like usually so -- like a camera lies and you're you're physically -- -- -- yeah yeah yeah I'm like he's blown a shot for me did you just think about the shot and how he and I think he -- over his head on this but.
It used that it is always a camera on him almost at every moment you're you've got to live your life anyway and -- American -- now like here and video table.
Where did you -- I was dating online -- -- -- -- but had had she -- used to living with that thing you have in your hand it lands in his face off.
-- -- one I think he knows who he is and feels pretty comfortable with -- But number two it's like.
He is very good at creating private space in public and a and I can drop -- -- examples of that.
One is a very famous picture that -- -- attack and -- -- ninth or a freight elevator here's laws as the chief for -- -- sitting next him and I haven't videotape and he.
And you -- -- them in Secret Service agents and their downs and succeed as -- and having its moment -- touching foreheads but there's like about thirty people on this huge -- -- yeah.
Another one was during the convention rules that it doesn't it convention.
We did -- sort of strange event and a family's.
Present was watching Michelle make the speech yet in in a family's.
House and the whole time it was a little sort of -- not we're not as good as cool to dot would be but actually when -- -- he was -- watching there.
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Take care of myself better.
And and where do you go and how -- -- then he'd quit your job.
Want to tell the front and Alex Bentley I'm gonna go to the president today in San -- It came down actually it -- -- told the -- passover saner.
In.
2011.
-- I was thinking about leaving in the summer and it's working out it was exactly answer.
And you know and and he.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- The level atrocity.
They've built up because of that relationship between a photographer.
The video -- for.
And someone who's now the most prominent person in the world.
That that's a trust that -- -- after the crowd but I but I find some I think -- -- -- very hard to replace I you know I thought it would be impossible but as someone who was the key player for us and the campaign -- -- who has on.
The bit on my team and -- Joseph Biden a lot.
Came on board and when.
She was tailing me for a couple weeks kind of training.
Yeah and now we're filming the president at the State Department doing some -- And he came over and I said -- Mr.
President you know you remember hope and he has designed for of his.
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Having this kind of intimacy.
With a the other for thank you very much around for being here tonight thanks -- have a run Chaudhry and the book -- first camera man.
