02-21-2008, 07:57 AM
A totally revamped Main street and bi-level residences are just two of the changes viewers will see when GL airs its Feb. 29 episode.
"That soap opera stuff is gone for us," declares Executive Producer Ellen Wheeler. "we can make a change and still deliver the same story. We don't have to live in this old-fashioned world that was developed in the 1950's."
The biggest change is that instead of sets similar to those f stage plays, all of GL's sets now have four walls and a ceiling. "Everything is more real, and everything works," shares Wheeler. "The water runs, the refrigerators are plugged in, and when you open the closets, they are really closets."
When Wheeler began exploring revitalizing production, CBS and P&G requested she make set changes - request that didn't come with an offer of more space. Their ideas of more was a room of 8 by 10 feet," sighs Wheeler. "That really [didn't] help me."
Armed with a $30,000 budget, Wheeler worked with designer rick dennis to maximize their reources. "I thought, 'My office is quite large. We can shoot in it," laughs Wheeler. "I sat the producers down and said, 'Your offices are not off limits to me. I'm going to turn them into sets.' "
For instance, Wheeler's office is the church complete with pulpit and pews. When a scene is scheduled to shoot in one of the office-turned-sets. GL execs work from a designated holding office. "Everyone has been very supportive, because they know it's for the good of the show," insists Wheeler. "Before, I could only play six sets at a time. Now I can play 50 sets in one episode if I want to."
The sets aren't the only change. Scripts that were 90 pages have been shortened to 50, and as previously reported, all episodes are now filmed with 8-pound, handheld cameras.
"Everything is now wireless," reveals Wheeler. "the crew I shoot wth inside can walk outside and shoot, and othing is different. We have a much more intimate kind of shooting. Camera operators no longer have someone in their ear telling them what shots to get. They are now creating the shots as the moment happens."
As the actors creating moments. "It was daunting to go in and talk to the actors." admits Wheeler, " but they were incredibly embracing of it."
All in-house changes will complement GL's location shoots in their adopted town of Peapack, NJ, which will also begin airing Feb 29-along with a series a new openings for the show. "We shoot on location in Peapack twice a week," affirms Wheeler. "Before, we'd do location shoots twice a year if we were really ambitious."
Robert Bogue (Mallet) is all for the the new format. "When you're working in a real environment where the rain really is drizzling on your face and the park bench really is cold, you spend less time trying to convince yourself it's real so you can convince the audience that it's real," explains Bogue. "this way, you can just tell the story. I love it."
Here's hoping viewers will,too!
The Official PGP Message Board - GL
"That soap opera stuff is gone for us," declares Executive Producer Ellen Wheeler. "we can make a change and still deliver the same story. We don't have to live in this old-fashioned world that was developed in the 1950's."
The biggest change is that instead of sets similar to those f stage plays, all of GL's sets now have four walls and a ceiling. "Everything is more real, and everything works," shares Wheeler. "The water runs, the refrigerators are plugged in, and when you open the closets, they are really closets."
When Wheeler began exploring revitalizing production, CBS and P&G requested she make set changes - request that didn't come with an offer of more space. Their ideas of more was a room of 8 by 10 feet," sighs Wheeler. "That really [didn't] help me."
Armed with a $30,000 budget, Wheeler worked with designer rick dennis to maximize their reources. "I thought, 'My office is quite large. We can shoot in it," laughs Wheeler. "I sat the producers down and said, 'Your offices are not off limits to me. I'm going to turn them into sets.' "
For instance, Wheeler's office is the church complete with pulpit and pews. When a scene is scheduled to shoot in one of the office-turned-sets. GL execs work from a designated holding office. "Everyone has been very supportive, because they know it's for the good of the show," insists Wheeler. "Before, I could only play six sets at a time. Now I can play 50 sets in one episode if I want to."
The sets aren't the only change. Scripts that were 90 pages have been shortened to 50, and as previously reported, all episodes are now filmed with 8-pound, handheld cameras.
"Everything is now wireless," reveals Wheeler. "the crew I shoot wth inside can walk outside and shoot, and othing is different. We have a much more intimate kind of shooting. Camera operators no longer have someone in their ear telling them what shots to get. They are now creating the shots as the moment happens."
As the actors creating moments. "It was daunting to go in and talk to the actors." admits Wheeler, " but they were incredibly embracing of it."
All in-house changes will complement GL's location shoots in their adopted town of Peapack, NJ, which will also begin airing Feb 29-along with a series a new openings for the show. "We shoot on location in Peapack twice a week," affirms Wheeler. "Before, we'd do location shoots twice a year if we were really ambitious."
Robert Bogue (Mallet) is all for the the new format. "When you're working in a real environment where the rain really is drizzling on your face and the park bench really is cold, you spend less time trying to convince yourself it's real so you can convince the audience that it's real," explains Bogue. "this way, you can just tell the story. I love it."
Here's hoping viewers will,too!
The Official PGP Message Board - GL