Maverick’s TV pilot both thesis project, real-world work
Attendees had a chance to watch a TV pilot, then hear details about the behind-the-screens production during a showing of Maverick’s in March 31 in the Franklin Hall commons.
Grad students Shawn Keller and Tyler Andrews, who produced Maverick’s as their thesis project, and some of the 20 or so undergrads who worked on the production as independent study talked about the project.
Keller lauded the undergrads who helped bring his and Andrews’ idea to life.
“These guys did it for an independent study, and there was a certain number of hours they needed to hit. I would say they all exceeded that,” said the director. “They were all committed to it, too.”
The drama is set in a college bar and follows the bar’s staff and owners. It focuses on the owner’s son, Derek, brought home by tragedy, and new hire Cal. Actors included students from other IU departments, while Media School students filled roles such as producers, assistant directors, camera and audio operators, and post production assistants.
“The reason all of us were so dedicated and wanted to work on it beyond just the three credit hours we were getting was because we all cared about this project. Shawn and Tyler made it so easy to care about,” said Jordyn Alexander, who was involved in the casting of the show.
“The cast and crew were able to keep up morale up and keep going and push though,” said Brittany Berg, an undergraduate who was involved in location scouting and casting.
The team also had to deal with real-world issues, such as cutting Keller’s original 60-page script to 24 pages. Every minute of the final show reflects an hour of footage during the filming. Characters and the plot changed during the filming of the show, and elements had to be cut to make room for a better show.
The short pilot leaves questions waiting to be answered in the next episodes, which is common in half hour shows. But that also meant the script has to wrap up some of the plot but leave some lines open to address in future shows.
“The tough thing about doing a TV show is you don’t wrap everything up in one episode,” Keller said. “You have these long arcs for seasons or even series long. It’s challenging because you also have to make each episode independent.”
For guidance during production, the team relied on lecturers Norbert Herber, Susan Kelly and Jim Krause, who advised. Few graduate students attempt a big production as a thesis project, but faculty are supportive.
“If you have an interest in this, and if you are a leader, come talk to me, come talk to others on faculty, and we will make this happen again,” Kelly told the audience. “We would love to help, but we need to inspire passion in you, and you need to inspire it in us.”
Co-executive producer Tyler Andrews said The Media School is the perfect place to take on a big project like this. Not only do experienced faculty advise and facilitate, but you “have a lot of fun people to do it with.”
The team submitted the pilot to the student Emmy Award competition. It wasn’t accepted for nomination, but Keller said just submitting it was meaningful.
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