Young Adult TV Show

Ishu and I met Lauren an as actor in another spec TV pilot filmed in DC.  We all quickly took to one another, and we were very happy to offer her the role of “Vikki” in Young Adult.  She has an uncanny ability to make a mundane line into a hilarious one.   I sat down with Lauren to ask her some questions about YA and herself.

Super Professional Lauren Abramson

1) What was it like being in an on-screen couple?

There is always the fear that an-on screen couple scene would seem contrived or inauthentic, however in some respects I thought it was one of the easier scenes to shoot. Mike Morsey (Abe) and I established a good rapport in the little time we had to get to know each other behind-the-scenes. This was invaluable to the on-screen chemistry between our two characters. Moreover, I found it easier to employ method acting. I simply thought to myself, if Mike were my boyfriend, how would we touch, joke, look at each other, etc? It was easier for me to attach concrete emotions/actions to dating someone than say, “think of a time when you were happy/sad/insert emotion here.” … It also helped that we didn’t have to recreate Halle Berry-Billy Bob Thornton Monster’s Ball scene. We would at least had to have had coffee before that.

Vikki and Abe (Mike Morsey)

2) Did you feel a comradeship with the cast and crew?

Absolutely. I feel very fortunate to have met the YA people on both a professional and platonic level. They are all extremely talented. While some are in “the biz” and some are not, we share the common bond of love of performing and producing a product you would willingly show friends. This is a quality I respect tremendously. Not a single person on the cast or crew has failed to make me laugh. I look forward to (and am currently) working with several on new projects.

3) Do you have a favorite moment from the process to share?

By Take 13 of this particular scene we were shooting hearing the words, “oh no, I left the focus off. We have to do it again.”

Lauren enjoying craft services on her first production day

4) How much are you like the character you play?

Actually, when I first read Vikki’s character description I thought “hmmm this sounds strikingly similar to me.” (don’t let that statement diminish your opinion of my method acting). We are both very down to earth, dedicated girlfriends. I think we are both equally as fond of the moving-in process.

5) What’s one of the biggest ‘acting tips’ you learned while doing YA?

Short shorts are even shorter on screen.

The shorts Lauren changed into after the shorter shorts were deemed too short

I met Matt Melnicoff while filming my 2009 DC 48 Hour Film Project with Ishu.  He aptly helped as a writer and crew member.  As I was finalizing the character descriptions for Young Adult, I remembered Matt and really wanted him to play the part of Murphy.  It’s always scary to put a first-time actor into a lead role, but fortunately for me, Matt’s a rockstar.  He answered a few questions for me.

Promotional shot as 'Murphy'

1) What was your favorite part about acting on-camera for the first time?

It was a pretty bizarre feeling, but it was a lot of fun. At the start of each take there is a little moment of focus and adrenaline that I could really see how actors/actresses get addicted to. When you have a good take, it is an awesome feeling.

2) Was anything on set not what you expected?

I was actually surprised at how many people it takes behind the scenes to pull something like this off. It is a quite a planning and logistics feat. Also, I was happy with how well we ate!

Ishu, Matt, and Nick on Matt's first shoot day

3) Do you have a favorite moment to share?

I think the first day of shooting when we were in front of the National Zoo was pretty awesome. It was my first time ever acting and I got to do it guerrilla-style on a crowded public street…trial by fire! The last day in Clarendon was pretty fun too…everyone freezing their butts of while we ate Wendy’s burgers on the sidewalk. Also, this probably doesn’t qualify as a moment, but I had a great time getting to know an entirely new group of really great people.

Chowing down on some Wendy's

4) How much are you like the character you play?

I think Murphy and I would get along really well. We are both pretty laid back and have a similar sense of humor. Plus, we like hanging out with friends and enjoying some beers. If it came to politics, I think Murphy has much stronger convictions than I do.

5) What’s one of the biggest ‘acting tips’ you learned?

To try and understand the mindset of your character and become that person. Don’t fall into the trap of playing the character as you would act, play it as your character would. For me I got lucky because playing Murphy wasn’t too much of a stretch.

Matt, J. W., Lisa, and Ishu at the YA Party

While the pilot episode is in the first stages of post-production, I thought it’d be nice to interview a few more cast and crew members so everyone can learn a little more about them.

Ishu and I have had the pleasure of working with Lisa Denny on several projects, including at least one other television pilot.  She has a strong background in production as well as a ton of on-set professionalism.   I sat down with our Associate Producer to learn her take on TV.

What was one of your favorite TV shows growing up?

I definitely watched a lot of TV growing up and was a big fan of most of the family sitcoms that seemed to be so popular at the time.  I guess my favorites were Full House (I hate to admit it, but I definitely never missed an episode), Roseanne, and The Cosby Show.

Lisa on the first shoot day for YA

What’s one of your favorite TV shows now?

I love The Office and really the entire Thursday night lineup.  I also recently got into LOST and a show new this year called Flashforward.

Do you have any ‘guilty pleasure’ shows that you watch?

Oh definitely; way too many to list.  I get sucked into a lot of the reality TV shows around.  Shows like Amazing Race and Top Chef.  I know it’s not quality TV or anything but you have to appreciate it for what it is…which is extremely addictive.

Lisa on the final shoot day

What do you think makes a great TV show stand out from the others?

I think the general plot should have a unique angle to make it stand out.  Another key to success is good writing because that’s where a lot of the new shows I watch lose me.  I’m intrigued by the plot but once I hear a lot of bad dialogue I’ll turn it off pretty quickly.

Have you ever been compared to any actor or character on TV?

I can’t think of any character I’ve been compared to but I remember really wanting to be Angela on My So Called Life.  I tried dying my hair the same color she did…that didn’t work out so well for me though!

I can sorta-kinda see it!

If I remember correctly, I met Stacy Wilson at an after-party for a play in which a mutual friend performed.  After talking to her about YA and casting the part of ‘Maya’, I awoke to an email the next day from her asking more about the project.  Ishu and I met with her, loved her, and the rest is now currently in post-production.  I asked Ms. Wilson, who has years of acting/production experience to answer a few questions for the blog.

Actor Vinson Corbo brings a lot of talent to the set of YA, but what does he think about TV?  Find out in the below interview where I ask him all about his television preferences.

What was one of your favorite TV shows growing up?

One of my favorite TV shows when I was a kid was Tom and Jerry. I used to love cartoons and the crazy things Tom would do to try to catch his rival mouse, Jerry, who somehow outsmarts him at almost every trap set for him.

What’s one of your favorite TV shows now?

The show that I always catch myself watching all the time is HBO’s Entourage. The show is about a group of friends trying to make it in Hollywood, with style.

Do you have any ‘guilty pleasure’ shows that you watch?

Not really, I don’t watch as much TV as I used to, I find myself mostly working on set or hanging out with friends instead.

What do you think makes a great TV show stand out from the others?

There is a lot that goes into a great TV show. A good cast of actors can make a world of difference, but the writing is also equally important. I believe the plot of the show has to be able to reach a wide audience and is able to twist the story in practically any direction.

Have you ever been compared to any actor or character on TV?

My second name is practically ‘Zac Efron’ on every set I have worked on. I even get random people asking my autograph thinking I’m him.  I don’t have much of a singing voice and can’t dance for anything, but I would say we have a very similar hairstyle.

[Editor's Note: I can see it]

The blog post interviewing Nick was so popular, that I decided to quickly do some more to satisfy the hungry fan.  This week I talked to Sweta, our sharp AD, who told me a little about how television preferences.  Ishu and I both worked with Sweta previously on another spec TV pilot, and I can’t wait to see more of her in AD-action!

What was one of your favorite TV shows growing up?

Just one?  [thinks] I would have to pick Saved By the Bell, considering that I still catch myself   watching re-runs!  But as a kid since the one big liberty we had is to watch TV, I also loved Who’s the Boss and the TGIF line-up…which kid didnt?

What’s one of your favorite TV shows now?

I would have to go with The Office.  It’s a brilliant stylistic idea of a mockumentary and has excellent character profiles.  Also Entourage…who doesn’t want to know how it’s to live like a rockstar!

Do you have any ‘guilty pleasure’ shows that you watch?

My roommate got me sucked into the Gossip Girls!  Like totally!

What do you think makes a great TV show stand out from the others?

I think there have been hundreds of story-lines based on family, hospitals, friends, office, college, and other common situations, but it is important for the story to have a unique stylistic approach, strong theme, character description, and good script.  If either of these elements is missing, it will definitely weaken the essence of the show.

Have you ever been compared to any actor or character on TV?

I personally laugh when people tell me this, but this is the only TV personality I have been told I look like consistently:  Kim Kardashian.  I don’t have all her ‘assets’, but will take the compliment!

This is the first in a series of blog entries where we ask cast/crew members of the Young Adult team to answer some questions related to their own TV viewing habits.  First up, get to know a little bit more about the man behind Young Adult’s ‘Slate’, Mr. Nick Gay.

What was one of your favorite TV shows growing up?

Having an older brother around didn’t give me much opportunity to branch out and click through channels.  Most of the time I was exposed to watching Star Trek, Highway to Heaven, and Chips.  Then I had to hear the lines twice because my older brother felt the urge to recite each of the lines of dialogue.  I will say that Saturday morning cartoons is a definite pastime for me.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, X-Men, and Gargoyles anyone?  Couldn’t beat the early 90’s line ups.

What’s one of your favorite TV shows now?

I’ve recently become addicted to watching Hung and all things HBO, for that matter.  I love the story line so far; the momentum is growing, and I’m left on the edge of my couch thinking “what’s going to happen next?”.

Do you have any ‘guilty pleasure’ shows that you watch?

Does Top Chef count?  I’m not into reality shows, but I do enjoy watching Top Chef.  Growing up though, I found a guilty pleasure in watching Captain Planet and The Elephant Show.  A cartoon with well endowed moral values and a sneaky elephant frolicking during a sing along seemed so compelling to me.

What do you think makes a great TV show stand out from the others?

I think a solid story/plot line will keep the viewers attention.  If you as the viewer can get lost in the story, then that would be a good place to be, in my opinion.

Have you ever been compared to any actor or character on TV?

[laughs] From as long as I can remember, I’ve always been compared to Jim Carrey.