I had my first experience on the set of a TV show as ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition came to Maple Heights to help the Anderson family. Here's a behind the scenes look of what I experienced.
First, there's a lot of waiting around. I was there the first day the crew came to the house and the day of the big reveal.
I interviewed some of the workers with Marous Brothers Construction, the company that built the 34-hundred square foot house. I also talked to volunteers and neighbors but of course I wanted to interview someone with the show. In order to get that interview you have to wait as different scenes are being shot, and you're working around their schedule.
I eventually interviewed one of the designers, Tracy Hutson who is very upbeat and friendly. She told us both Mrs. and Mr. Anderson are blind and one of their children Jaison is deaf. One of the main reasons they were picked is because despite all of their disabilities they have a positive outlook on life, and are always helping others in the community.
The day of the big reveal was even more of a wait. I now know the meaning of being on Hollywood time. We were told that 'move that bus' would happen between
2pm-5pm and we needed to be there by 12pm. Not wanting to miss anything, I was there by the time they said and stayed till 5:30pm when the family finally went in to check out their new home.
One thing I was surprised by was all of the dry runs crews went through before shooting. I can understand if I was at a movie filming, but this is for a reality show. They even had a stand in family so the cameramen could make sure they would have the right angles and lighting. Crowds practiced yelling "move that bus."
While waiting I had a chance to talk to several family members and the mayor. Everyone was huddled together behind barricades outfitted with rain gear trying to stay warm. The rain stopped for only about five minutes and temperatures were in the low 50's. I couldn't feel my hands and feet by the time I left.
I also took lots of photos.
Click Here Here I am in front of the bus.
The house is about three times what the Anderson's originally had and has all sorts of technologies to help them like a fingerprint pad to gain entrance to the house instead of using keys.
We weren't allowed to take any pictures inside the house, you'll have to wait to see the episode when it airs in early December.
Since the parents are blind they had a model of the house so they could feel it to get a sense of what it looks like. The family was emotional especially the mother, Jasmine Anderson was jumping up and down screaming in excitement.
Seeing the reaction was perhaps the best part of this and it's always nice to see a deserving family in our area get some needed help.
First, there's a lot of waiting around. I was there the first day the crew came to the house and the day of the big reveal.
I interviewed some of the workers with Marous Brothers Construction, the company that built the 34-hundred square foot house. I also talked to volunteers and neighbors but of course I wanted to interview someone with the show. In order to get that interview you have to wait as different scenes are being shot, and you're working around their schedule.
I eventually interviewed one of the designers, Tracy Hutson who is very upbeat and friendly. She told us both Mrs. and Mr. Anderson are blind and one of their children Jaison is deaf. One of the main reasons they were picked is because despite all of their disabilities they have a positive outlook on life, and are always helping others in the community.
The day of the big reveal was even more of a wait. I now know the meaning of being on Hollywood time. We were told that 'move that bus' would happen between
2pm-5pm and we needed to be there by 12pm. Not wanting to miss anything, I was there by the time they said and stayed till 5:30pm when the family finally went in to check out their new home.
One thing I was surprised by was all of the dry runs crews went through before shooting. I can understand if I was at a movie filming, but this is for a reality show. They even had a stand in family so the cameramen could make sure they would have the right angles and lighting. Crowds practiced yelling "move that bus."
While waiting I had a chance to talk to several family members and the mayor. Everyone was huddled together behind barricades outfitted with rain gear trying to stay warm. The rain stopped for only about five minutes and temperatures were in the low 50's. I couldn't feel my hands and feet by the time I left.
I also took lots of photos.
Click Here Here I am in front of the bus.The house is about three times what the Anderson's originally had and has all sorts of technologies to help them like a fingerprint pad to gain entrance to the house instead of using keys.
We weren't allowed to take any pictures inside the house, you'll have to wait to see the episode when it airs in early December.
Since the parents are blind they had a model of the house so they could feel it to get a sense of what it looks like. The family was emotional especially the mother, Jasmine Anderson was jumping up and down screaming in excitement.
Seeing the reaction was perhaps the best part of this and it's always nice to see a deserving family in our area get some needed help.
