Living in the reel world |
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Oswaldo Jimenez/The Gazette |
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With a newborn on the way, videographer Rudy Childs, 39, knew that he was running out of space. For 12 years, Riverdale Heights native Childs had been
operating his video business out of his garage. And during those years, his business had been growing. Childs' video business started with a $200 wedding gig for a friend in 1987. He filmed the entire event with a
Panasonic VHS camera. Today, it's a full-time job. In addition to doing 40 weddings a year, Childs now also oversees the taping of instructional videos for Amtrak, Embassy Suites and other corporate clients; and the
cablecast of Home Team Sports' "Ballroom Boxing" show. Child's production company, Spero's Video, has found a new home at 6218 Rhode Island Ave. in Riverdale Park. "I'd been wanting out for a
while" Childs said. "The garage was so full I couldn't even find my lawnmower anymore." Childs said he chose the new office space after being attracted by the new sidewalks and vintage lighting
recently installed at the Riverdale Park Town Center by the town of Riverdale Park. Inside his new office space, Childs has a plaque from South Shore Technical High School in Hanover, Mass. It commemorates his work
on the yearbook committee. Childs developed an interest in photography while doing photos and layout on the yearbook. After high school, he decided to put the hobby to good use. Childs took to taking photographs at
rock concerts. Ted Nugent, AC/DC, Ozzy Ozbourne and The Outlaws were among the artists who were captured by Childs' camera lens. "It was a lot of sneaking around because you weren't actually allowed to
photograph a lot of bands," Childs said. "[After taking the photo,] you'd pass it off to your friend, who would hide it while you were getting frisked. It was exciting sort of stuff." Childs said he
sold a few photos to Billboard and a few magazines overseas, but he didn't get rich off his rock 'n' roll venture. "I would sell my pictures for $1 or $2," Childs said. "I had a steady job at Amtrak
for 20 years. That was what I was really making a living off of." However, Childs said he is still reminded of his concert days from time to time. "I was watching VH1 the other day and one of my
photographs was on the Lynyrd Skynyrd [Behind the Scenes] special," Childs said. By 1984, the dawn of the MTV age, Childs was ready to purchase his first video camera. Childs would film "personal
stuff" and weddings. "People would invite you to their wedding because they knew you had a camera," Childs said. It wasn't until 1987 that a friend actually paid Childs to videotape a wedding. Soon,
another friend had offered Childs an assignment. And before long, Childs found himself in business. Rather than spending the initial income he had coming in, Childs invested in new equipment such as batteries, better
lighting and eventually, better cameras. In the meantime, Childs continued to work for Amtrak as a car repairman. Childs said he learned to change the wheels and brake shoes on trains from his grandfather, Spero
Siadys, an Amtrak employee for many years, and the man for whom Spero's video is named after. "I did heavy duty repairs. A real dirty kind of job," Childs said. In 1991, Childs began doing "Boxing
Spotlight" for Prince George's Community Television in Largo. "It gave me the opportunity to hone my skills," Childs said. "Without public access, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
After six years of "Boxing Spotlight," Childs was offered the position of producer and director for Home Team Sports' "Ballroom Boxing" program.
Today the show is broadcast in 10 million homes, Child said. Childs works with a crew of 12 for boxing matches. For weddings, Childs said, he typically works with three assistants. All of Childs' camera people and
editors are hired on a contract basis. By 1998, Amtrak had recognized Childs talent for video, and transferred him from car repair to overseeing video production for the company. Speros' "How May I Assist
You?" -- a video on assisting customers with disabilities -- won a 1998 Telly Award. These days, Childs said, he reports to Amtrak in the morning, then heads to his new editing studio in the afternoon, where he
can do editing or writing. When he moved into the 1600-square-foot office in October, the largely vacant building needed new carpet and a vent as well as repairs to the concrete floors and lights. But by Feb. 5,
Childs was ready for his grand opening, which was attended by Riverdale Park Mayor Ann Ferguson, members of the Town Council and District Councilman Thomas Hendershot (D-Dist. 3) of New Carrollton. "I know this
area suffers from lack of walk-up clientele," Childs said, "but I have a 12-year client base built up." Many clients also find their way to Spero's through the Internet. Spero's Video has a home page
at www.sperosvideo.com. In November and December, Spero's Video attracted more than $10,000 worth of new business from the Internet, Childs said. He's also looking at the Internet as a way to expand his business.
After 12 years, Childs still enjoys his profession. "A lot of times people [have great] ideas or dreams, and can only tell you about them. My stories are visual." |
