Go to Work with Geoffrey Baer

Chicago Works premieres Tuesday, December 9 at 7:00 pm on WTTW and streaming on the PBS app and at wttw.com/chicagoworks.

One of the things I love about my job is that it’s different every day, and I get to meet and talk to fascinating people across Chicago’s many neighborhoods and suburbs. Chicago Works took us near and far to meet the people whose everyday work keeps our city humming. So we thought it was only fair to turn the tables and give you a behind-the-scenes look at our own work here at WTTW.

It takes a dedicated group of people to bring our shows to life – producers, writers, directors of photography, gaffers, editors, graphic and web designers, fundraisers, marketing folks, and so many more. On this day, we’ve got a few different production pots on the stove – we’re wrapping up Chicago Works while simultaneously working on our next program about trains and railroads! Here’s a peek inside a day in my life.

I begin the day reviewing and editing a script that I’ll need for a voiceover session later in the morning. It usually takes us four to six weeks to write the first full draft after we wrap filming our shows. Once we start editing our footage, we go through many, many revisions of the script as we see how the scenes are coming together. I counted ten drafts of the Chicago Works script by the time we were done!

People often ask me what a producer does. My answer? What don’t they do! Our producers craft our shows from story concept through to the finished product you watch at home. Their work often involves research and writing, overseeing filming in the field and the editing process, and supervising associate producers and other staff. On this day, I spend some time meeting with our production team about a new project in the pipeline.

To the recording booth! We record the audio narration you hear when you’re watching one of my shows – essentially this is me, reading the final script – in a soundproof booth, a snug space that I’ve spent a lot of time in over the years. For today’s particular voiceover session, I’m re-recording just one sentence from the Chicago Works script. (I had stumbled over a word when we did it the first time – hey, it happens!). I say the line a few different ways for the producer and audio engineer who are in another room down the hall, and we all decide on which take will make its way into the show.

Next, I meet up with an editor who is working on another program in development. On this day, we’re looking at a “tease” – the high-energy start of a program designed to hook the audience. There are countless elements to consider as we finalize the tease: multiple camera angles, archival video and photos, graphics, sound effects, music, and more. Once this last bit of editing is wrapped, our show will be audio-mixed and color corrected, and then routed for one last round of review.

Before we head out the door to film a scene at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois, I have to get “camera-ready.” I’ll admit, putting on makeup is not my favorite part of the job. Luckily, on this day, I was able to use our studio’s makeup room but, more typically, I’m applying makeup in less glamorous settings – like in the back of a production van or a public restroom!

Well, now you have a glimpse into what it’s like to be me! On any given day, you might find me in one of the settings above – or live on television or radio during a WTTW or WFMT pledge drive, hosting an event or our annual Sweepstakes drawing, or taking our WTTW members and viewers out and about on tours. You probably know that I host boat tours along the Chicago River and lakefront, and just a few weeks ago, I led a tour aboard a 1923 ‘L’ train that the CTA still operates for special excursions. As a train geek, this was a thrill for me!

At the end of the day, I feel lucky to do what I love alongside such talented, passionate people across the many disciplines in our organization. No two days are ever the same – and the story of our city is one I’ll just never get tired of telling.