Getting Used To The Silver Screen

Hanging With The Crew Over Lunch (yes, they feed us!)

Now that Gregg and I are pros at this whole television business, another two days of shooting with the crew flew by naturally. To sum up the last two days of filming, the process is absolutely fun/educational/hilarious but at the same time completely exhausting.

Having TV Viewers Fall For Us

During the first two days of shooting, no work was done on the attic but instead we had scenes together where we told the world our story (our design styles, why we're renovating the attic and what we fight about), 'reviewed' design ideas with three design firms and contractors, and showed our host Jeff Devlin, aka our Construction Sherpa, the space and talked through potential issues. Basically the first days were design to build our story and help all of you tv show watchers at home fall in love with us and our drama.

A blurry action shot from shooting day #2

Shoot Day #2: Insider Secrets
Before each day of filming, I regularly text and call the associate producer Dave frantically asking what the wardrobe requirements are for the following day of shooting. This may seem silly but here's why I do it.

1. Some shoot days require up to 3 wardrobe changes - that's a lot of planning!
2. 'Work clothes' have to be able to be ruined by construction but I don't want to wear my real work clothes on national tv. (think stains, rips, and not flattering fits)



Bart and Dave review the upcoming scene with Gregg (in his 'Day 1' outfit)

3. Outfits are re-worn day-to-day so we look like multiple days of shooting happened on the same day. That means one shirt you wore and got all stinky/sweaty (don't judge me, those film lights get hot!!) the day before has to be worn the next day and therefore needs to be washed.

Shoot Day #3: My First Solo Scene!

As soon as our third day of filming rolled around, Gregg and I were split into individual scenes where we just interact with the host, Jeff. On Thursday morning, the shooting started with a scene where Jeff and I react to contractors using a boom truck to lift 60-something drywall boards, 400lbs of plywood for the subfloor and then lastly... wait for it... A QUEEN MATTRESS!

Drywall getting lifted to our roof

 Jeff asking me if I'm scared of drywall crashing through my windows

So in reality, we knew we'd have to approach the drywall and plywood using this approach but through the magic of television, this approach was determined as a list minute time saving fix.

Dave and Jill (producers) discuss technicalities and camera angles