On the Set with Growing a Greener World Television

 

If you’re not watching Growing a Greener World on PBS, then you’re missing out. Not only is it a terrific show that goes beyond “before and after” makeover theatrics to tell stories about real gardeners from all over the country, but this weekend marked my debut as a guest! Co-author Rebecca Sweet (whose beautiful garden served as our backdrop) and I were part of the most recent episode Small Space Gardening, which is nowavailable for viewing right here.

This was only my second time to be on television, and the first time was in a studio. It quickly became clear that shooting outdoors is a completely different experience, as every little sound is picked up by the microphones. You may not realize how noisy the typical residential neighborhood is until you try to film in one. Then suddenly, lawn mowers, motorcycles, delivery trucks and airplanes are everywhere. Although I only spoke for a total of about fifteen minutes during my interview, it took close to two hours. I managed ok, but Rebecca was getting pretty impatient inside the house waiting for her turn to speak. Rumor has it I have GGWTV’s social media maven Christa Hanson to thank for discouraging Rebecca from turning on the sprinklers to speed me up.

I took this picture from inside the house, where I was waiting respectfully for Rebecca's interview to conclude.

Good friend Theresa Loe produced this episode, which means she not only wrote the show, but seemed to be everywhere, overseeing all the details at our shoot. You know the cliché of a producer or director wearing a beret? Forget about that. Since it’s her job to be on top of everything, staying organized is a top priority, so her “uniform” consists of a miniature apron. Band-aids, tissues, comb, breath mints – basically anything a guest needs to feel comfortable on camera is magically produced from one of her pockets. Theresa gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “dress for success.”

Theresa shows Rebecca what all the best dressed producers are wearing these days.

Hosts Joe Lamp'l and Nathan Lyon are both amazing, able to stay upbeat and focused despite the long days. Joe is the co-executive producer as well as the star of Growing a Greener World, so even when he was off camera, he was busy working (although work didn’t stop him from listening to Theresa interview me, where he cracked up over several of my embarrassing flubs. Thank goodness GGWTV doesn’t produce a blooper reel.) You can read Joe’s post about our episode here.

Joe hard at work - I think he's suggesting cutting some of his own lines to make more room for Rebecca and me.

Chef Nathan is a veteran of many television shows, including Food Network Star where he made it to the final four in Season 1. He gave me lots of advice when it was my turn to be interviewed, mostly focused on how to avoid being nervous – which of course just made me more nervous!

Chef Nathan demonstrates how to plant in a Woolly Pocket on this episode. Basically, the only time Nathan didn't have a latte in his hand was when he was on camera. He's the first person I've met who actually drinks more lattes than Rebecca.

But truthfully, the whole crew made the day so much fun, there wasn’t much of an opportunity to get nervous. By the end of the day, my throat was a little sore – not from being interviewed but from laughing so hard all day long.

 Almost every picture of me, including this one that Joe Lamp'l took, shows me cackling away like a maniac.

Thanks everyone at Growing a Greener World for a wonderful experience!

Theresa Loe, Director of Photography Carl Pennington, Social Media Marketer Christa Hanson and Rebecca

 

Comments

[Tinkhanson.wordpress.com]

One correction: GGWTV "doesn't produce a blooper reel... YET." This day was SO much fun, I can speak for the whole crew when I say we'd be eager to come back and just do the hanging-out and laughing part any time. And the part with the wine. Did I mention... oh yes I already mentioned laughing. The part with the laughing. Let's do it again.

Uh oh, my goal was NOT to put the idea of a blooper roll into your head! Oh well. I'm sure I've got some incriminating crew pictures around here SOMEWHERE to bribe my way off...

[Debra Lee Baldwin]

Maniacal cackling? How about maniacal crowing? That's what I noticed (for the first time) at the out-in-the-country locale I chose for a video shoot. At 11:00 a.m., those roosters were just getting started. As were a backhoe, biplane and footsteps on gravel. You do look like you had fun. Can't wait to watch the episode!

It was an absolute blast, Debra! But noisy. In addition to the usual neighborhood sounds, there was some kind of road work going on out front. At least it gave us plenty of time to drink Rebecca's latte machine dry.

[Theresa Loe/LivingHomegrown]

You forgot the part about the toothbrushes! I always carry toothbrushes for Joe and Nathan. LOL

Thanks for this great write up. You make me sound so "together". We simply MUST do it again sometime soon.

Seriously, Theresa, it's like your pockets had pockets, you had so many emergency supplies stashed. And given all the coffee we drank, I'm surprised no one asked for one of your toothbrushes! I almost feel like Rebecca's espresso machine should be listed in the credits.

[Jenny Nybro Peterson]

There you go again, making me jealous that some of my favorite people in the world are all crammed into one part of California, with perfect weather, film crews and lattes! Looks like you all had a blast--can't wait to see the episode!

Well you know my strategy for including absent friends - if they feel too left out I just photoshop them in! We missed you too, Jenny and especially so at this year's GWA. I hope you're coming out our way for SFGS this year!

[Theresa Loe/LivingHomegrown]

I second that Jenny. We NEED you out here for the garden show. Please...please...

and Susan, I SO wish we had the forethought to include the latte machine in the credits. THAT would be funny.

[Joe Lamp'l]

Well this post was almost as funny as our day together, way back when. Lots of good memories here. And as for Tloe's apron, that thing really does have everything in it, including a lifetime supply of those little toothbrush thingys. Gotta love that. Thanks Susan for the fun read, and for being a part of this special episode. We loved hanging with you guys, and in the process, somehow, we even managed to get our work done. You guys were awesome!

No Joe, thank YOU! Rebecca and I could never have spent so much time together without you and the rest of the crew acting as referee. As you now know, we're very competitive. Along those lines, don't be surprised if an angry email from Rebecca arrives in your inbox at some point. She's threatening to calculate how much screen time each of us got. God forbid if her word count is short...

[rebecca sweet]

Yeah - what's up with you guys and your love affair with Susan, anyway? She's got some serious hang-time going on with the blog (giant header anyone?) Let's not forget who's the one who fed you all day people…..

It's just cause I look so hip flashing that peace sign. That's what all the kids are doing these days, right?

[Tinkhanson.wordpress.com]

Hm, that's a good question, Rebecca. What IS up with our love affair with Susan? Unrelated: I was just looking through more pics of Susan to change out the rest of our site for Susan Week...

heehee

[Pam/Digging]

You guys are so cute, maniacal cackling and all. Hope to see the show online, if possible.