The official writeup of my recent on-set shenanigans (part 1)

Because I've got stuff to report and I have to tell someone about it

The outside of the Slushy Shack, with the inside-of-Shack set on the other side of the wall. The blurry photo backdrop to the right makes it look like there’s a real street outside when they shoot from the inside.

You’ve probably seen my official “Ten Things I Learned” post from Victoria, BC, when I went to the Reginald the Vampire set for Season Two filming. Now, for members of this site, here’s the real story from behind the scenes.

(Non members get a preview too. Everyone wins!)

What was new, and what was the same

The most marked differences between my Season One and Season Two trips were 1) the fact that the whole thing wasn’t entirely new and weird and dazzling to me this time around and 2) I knew people and hence wasn’t being tossed into a big group of strangers, worried that I’d do something wrong and everyone would be irritated that I was there. Those things combined to make a big deal.

Because really, put yourself in my original situation for a second:

You’ve been given special permission to enter a world that most people idolize at least a little (TV and movies feel magical to most of us, after all). To emphasize the fact that it’s special and definitely a favor, you need the permission of several people in order to go, including a few high-pressure screenings and an official access badge. The badge itself is special, too: I had the one that let me get close to actors, but not everyone can do that.

On arrival, you’re whisked through a bunch of situations you’re entirely unfamiliar with, so you have no idea how to act or what to say. This culminates in arrival on-set, where a thousand things are happening and you’re sure most of the time that you’re in someone’s way. You become aware that there are rules about what to do and what not to do, but you don’t know any of them. For all you know, you might accidentally stand in someone’s eyeline and be scolded like this.

Even in the best-case scenario — even if you do nothing wrong — you’re surrounded by a group and a work culture and a whole lot of folks who don’t know you and probably wonder why you’re there. It’s hard not to feel awkward.

This trip, though, all of that was out of the way for me. I’d done this before. I’d met almost everyone on my first trip, and I’d seen how people who didn’t yet know me responded when I introduced myself. I didn’t get any, “Okay, but why the hell are you here?” reactions during my first trip. Instead, when I met people, they lit up. “You’re the author?” they’d say. This was followed by 1) curiosity, 2) strange elation, and/or 3) sometimes, flatteringly, gratitude. I got a lot of thank-yous because my work had given them a job. That’s downright humbling to experience.

When a TV show goes into later seasons, it doesn’t always keep the same crew. This one did. And so, this visit, I already knew Rich from Crafty. I knew the other Rich, who watches the front doors of the studio building. I knew Kendall the 3rd AD, Dylan the TAD, Boris the DIT, and the Set Decorator, Cody, who was referred to universally by the full phrase “Set Dec Cody.” They and many others had all proven very friendly the first time, so this trip was like a reunion.

Same for the cast, by the way. The first scene I watched this go-round was in a cramped set, so I had to stand in the adjacent room to be out of the way. Mandela Van Peebles, who plays Maurice, happened to catch my eye. I just hung back because I didn’t want to interrupt, but then between takes, he made a point to come over and hug me. It’s a world of huggers. I’m a hugger too, so I was cool with that.

The familiarity of everything made me immediately comfortable. I didn’t feel in the way like before. I didn’t wonder if some people might not want me there. I’d gotten a feel for the vibe of most folks, so I knew who I could joke around with and how. It’s a really great group. I could joke with pretty much everyone.

Because things were comfortable and because I knew the ropes a bit more, I was able to settle right in. That, in turn, allowed me to pay attention to the process. I hadn’t been able to pay attention to that stuff before, and it was pretty rad.

But first, my job.

Oh, right. I should explain something before we go much further and before I start sharing all I have to share.

This time, I was there to do a job. Last time I was just a visitor, but this time I had an actual purpose in the production, just like everyone else.