Guest Blog #2: Erin, 1st AD/Writer

For our second guest blog, we welcome last week's TCB winner, Erin! This is her third year on Bay State. She began as a PA, as we all do, and quickly became the set director. After a rigorous series of director's trials, during which she directed the epic "Come off it, Ben!" scene, Erin's excellent organizational and planning skills led to her current position as 1st AD. This semester is also her first as a writer.

Erin, rocking out on the famous, though un-aired, Samantha/Ben location shoot (April 2009)

The 20th season of Bay State is now underway, and shaping up to be just as crazy and awesome as the last. In my second semester as 1st Assistant Director, I am no longer that phased by having to schedule things that look daunting on paper. Therefore, when I arrived at auditions on Tuesday and was immediately reminded by the producers that I had the hardest job for the day, I knew it would work out. Because no matter how many challenges are thrown at us, we always accomplish what we set out to do.

Erin setting up a shot, checking audio, and keeping the camera dry on location (April 2009)

I'll never forget the one Saturday shoot last semester when we managed to film 3 scenes, including a set change, with a crew of only 8 people (even with our producers on camera, we didn't have enough people, so camera 2 was locked in place and unattended all day). Another example is the archives shoot last semester, when we finished on such a tight schedule that the shot of the "blood" pouring from Ben?s head was filmed while the set was being dismantled around him.

Set Director Erin and Art Director Haley working on the new board for the newsroom (October 2008)

Thanks to careful planning, lots of help from Field Producer Jinny and Head PA Megan, and a hard-working crew, auditions were a success. We kept a steady stream of prospective actors going in and out of the studio and the entire crew got a chance to see at least some of the auditions. For me, it was very exciting to be able to watch all of the auditions from the control room this year. Last year when I was Set Director, I spent a good part of the night running around shuffling actors between rooms, and only got to watch some of them. So to be able to take notes and have input on the casting process was a big honor. Thursday we had callbacks, which could not have been more of a success! Our new actors (whom I can't wait to welcome to the Bay State family) sold us so much that at the end of the night there weren't even any disagreements regarding who should be cast. It was a perfect example of Bay State, really: the process was long, crazy, and occasionally stressful, but everything clicked in the end and the pay-off will be so worth it.

Director Maddie and 1st AD Erin working on a scene. (March 2009)

This is also my first semester as a writer- as a matter of fact, this Tuesday will be my first experience seeing scenes that I wrote be filmed. I know that hearing actors whom I have worked with and gotten to know over the past two years say my dialogue will be an extremely bizarre and rewarding experience. The writing process for the show happens so far ahead of time (next week we begin the treatment for 117, and we've only had one day of filming for 115) that you really get to see the development of an episode through from beginning to end. I was so excited about the scenes that I was assigned for 116 that I literally started drafting them that night when I got home.

Director Chris filling 1st AD Erin in about his updated shot list (January 2009)

Today we received an updated shooting schedule for the semester, and with the added challenge of adding an episode to our regular season this year, we are in for some crazy weeks ahead. Even if you've been to one of our shoots, I think it's hard to understand just how much work goes into producing the show. Aside from Tuesday nights and the occasional Saturday or location shoot, there are multiple meetings to plan art/set and blocking beforehand. The week preceding the epic archives shoot for 114, I think we had a total of 6 plus hours of meetings to ensure that day went smoothly.

Erin on camera, back before she was the one telling the cameras where to be (December 2008)

But I would not take back a minute- I think Lauren summed up the sappy feelings I have about my involvement in the show pretty well, but I want to add that joining this crew was the best decision I have made at BU. I have learned so many skills that I will take with me as I pursue a career in television, and met amazing friends. I even just concluded my paper on soap operas for my TV Drama class with a paragraph on Bay State, because really- how could I not?

Erin, after building the set for the photoshoot. (October 2008)

Thanks for blogging, Erin! Can't wait to see what happens next in the upcoming episodes!

Mini-muffins are ready!
-Jenn