New Trier TV show in production
Film students working to air original TV pilot
The crew of Amber shoots in a Wilmette alleyway
Imagine a TV show that embodies a realistic story of an adolescent who disappears and its impact on their community. You don’t have to imagine any more. This TV pilot is being produced and created by students of the Film/TV 2 and Film/TV 3 classes.
With a history of taking film students to festivals and competitions, Film/TV teacher James Syrek is taking on what seems like the class’ biggest project yet– producing a 30-minute pilot.
This isn’t just a mock pilot. There are countless people, details and roles that go into producing a show of this magnitude.
One might think that a project of this level would need a massive budget. Luckily, big expenses like equipment are some of the resources the school offers free of charge for the film department.
“[The film program] has great resources, so in terms of the money this is a no-budget production,” Syrek said.
While Syrek is the main supervisor, students are taking over every other role to create the student-produced episode.
First year TV/Film student Juliette Rechtin is a writer, boom operator, and props manager.
“Other [students’] jobs range all the way from music creator to director,” Rechtin said.
Senior Claire Downey said the class has two executive producers. They both direct and produce and can give a “final say” in production decisions that don’t need to be decided by Syrek.
“One is in charge of scheduling and one is in charge of the script. We have location scouts, directors of photography, props team, wardrobe. Three of us rewrote the script [after contribution from the whole class],” Downey explained.
Another important role includes the actors. While many people from around school have auditioned, classmates of the class have also been included in acting.
The plot is about a missing student and suspects are introduced.
“The story is about a group of childhood friends trying to solve the mystery of their missing friend. As the story progresses we learn more about the missing girl and her strange life through the eyes of our three main protagonists, Maeve, Thomas and Leo,” said Rechtin.
The title “Amber’’ embodies the sense of mystery within the story. Lots of time and editing have gone into the production aside from filming which started in November. Editing began in December, Syrek said.
For those wondering how to watch the upcoming project, Syrek said the premier will take place at the Wilmette theatre. The date and time is to be determined, so stay tuned.
“Our class is filming some supplemental program content such as commercials and school promotional videos, to be included during the night of television alongside the pilot episode, ” Syrek said.
CORRECTION: In previous versions of this Juliette Rechtin was misidentified as a camera operator instead of a boom operator.