Gossip Girl Goes to College

Morningside Heights on the Upper West side of Manhattan is known as "Academia Acropolis" and now I know why. It's teaming with colleges and institutions like Columbia, Barnard, Teachers College, the Manhattan School of Music, Bank Street College of Education and many more a short block away, like City College.

Today was a fun assignment bolstered by a lack of not having to wear an awkward Glidecam. With a small HDV camera and tripod in tow I shot some of the colleges mentioned above including the campus of one of the oldest universities in the nation, Columbia University. This Ivy league campus dates back to 1754 and it shows in their architecture and Latin subtext.

Then I rounded a corner and noticed an all too familiar sight; a large camera crew calling out directives like: "Quiet on the set!" - "Audio ready?" - "Roll cameras!"
But rather than producing a pilot for PBS, these DGA, SAG and high-paid union members were in the midst of shooting an episode of the highly successful "Gossip Girl."



I'm no fan of the show but dozens of freshmen girls cut class to appear as extras and feed on quick glimpses of the lead actors. Rather, I gawked at the giant pool of expensive equipment and team of professional lighting techs. But, surprise, surprise... no Glide or Steadycam operator. Wonder if they need a PilotGirl?