Best job in the world for Ema Q

Sat 17 Jan 2009
Now well informed about the opportunity available to one lucky human and the best job in the world. Yes, it was true Queensland Tourism had apparently lost the plot and offered $150,000 aussie dollars for someone to stay variously at Hamilton Island and other places on the Great Barrier Reef for fish feeding, pool cleaning… for just six months.

The truth was that the job for an avid tourist, writer and photographer to come and experience the Great Barrier Reef and write, photograph and video tape it. How very interesting.

A plan was hatched for how Emanuela (now Ema Q) could put her best foot forward and off we went. Using the bag of equipment that I was travelling with, we could organise something relatively good, and Ema was certainly eager to do what is necessary.

Into the city we went, old city Rome to some of the classic places that people around the world know, Ema camouflaging her pink and black wet suit under a long coat, myself shouldering the Sony HD cam and audio gear.

The looks were to die for. The travelling public and locals were observant enough to notice a tall Italian lass, Pink/black wet suit, matching fins, matching mask and snorkel …. Naturally…. She is Italian after all. Mind you, most Rome city sights are home to various vendors peddling things that fly, roses, slide photos and of course the ever present guy dressed as a Roman soldier. This guy was everywhere. The Trevi fountain, the Spanish steps and the Coliseum … some places he had cloned himself and working as a pack, helplessly trying to engage with the tourists. From my observation while filming the most common and creative of his lines were about the sexual ability of the woman's partner, present or otherwise. You have to hand it to these guys - the technique must work, otherwise they would not do it … surely! (mental note made).

Anyway, Ema looked quite the sight along side these guys…. and strangely some Japanese tourists wanted to pay to be photographed with her…. The shifty looks from the fake Romans were sharper than their plastic swords.

The fun continued. Over at the Trevi fountain, our final scene desired some local police types to restrain Ema to stop her from swimming and thus making the final gag of the film. They were plenty of cops about, but they were nil interested in being involved. Against their rules apparently. There was some raised eyebrows and quite a few words in local speakie about our need for a permit to film and whether we were commercial or not…. Considering the fact that every, I mean every other person at the fountain had at least one camera and was madly clicking reminded about aged laws regarding commercial filming in open places… and of course, the Italians are better than most at be officious.


None the less we continued, the local horse and cart guy provided the restraint. It would be enough.

Ema committed as a good sport, as did various management and works at the Gucci store that came out to regard us filming Ema flopping past their store in full reef gear. Ah yes, most people go to Rome and take self portraits at the famous land marks… I had been to the majority of the land marks and now had some memories that were much more valuable…. Game over.



Related Links:
Ema Q's web site