Movie-Making in Central New York

After hours of staging 20 blue locker props, lighting fixtures, bounce cards, actor makeup, Glidecam retakes and audio delays, the Syracuse gig finally wrapped Saturday. Whew! What an ordeal. Making a national television pilot for junior-high age kids is no easy task, especially when so much is riding on the success of this first episode.

Between 2 cameras, we shot enough tape footage to stretch to the moon and back so the true challenge comes down to editing. With multiple camera angles and b-roll to pick from, the editor truly has his work cut out for him. Then, there's the music bed, sound sweetening, a laugh track, special effects, credits and the open montage to work through; easily, a 6-month effort for 28 minutes of show time on PBS.

If the critics like what they see then "Eureka!" (a line from the script) the show hits the road for another 13 to 21 follow-up episodes. When that happens, hopefully, fingers-crossed, I too will be called on again for my Glidecam camera prowess.

In the meantime, I've got 24 hours to mend an aching back, message my sore feet and Bandaid a few cuts to my hips caused by my suit of armor. Then, it's back to the Big Apple on Monday, followed by Jersey on Tuesday and Wednesday and finally Philly by Friday. No worries though - Patti Smith, Dylan and Deathcab will keep the wheels in motion.