Copyright © 2009 Kate HarperLast Tuesday I had the opportunity to watch the filming of the Big Bang Theory TV comedy at the Warner Brothers studio in Burbank, California.
Being about 20 feet from a stage set with about a hundred people swarming around 5 actors was something I'd never experienced before, and found quite fascinating.
Everywhere I looked I saw art. The colors and angles of the set, the choice of clothing, placement of items on a desk, and people running on stage for 4 seconds just to adjust an angle of a scarf. When a new scene started in a different section of the stage, the entire crew ran to that section like a ballet troupe, in perfect alignment as if they'd practiced jumping over cables and rolling heavy cameras in unison for their entire lives.
I also was quite moved to see actors I've admired, in front of me, performing their art. What made me so respectful of their skills were not just their words, but their facial expressions, body motions and pausing between words. It looked like a very challenging and yet rewarding skill.
But what really surprised me is their reshooting of several scenes with different lines, to see what line got the biggest laughs. When something didn't work, the scene was cut; people ran on the stage, rewrote a line and tried something new. I do the same with cards. I offer several versions of the same text, and often have customers choose which version they like best before committing to a design. Writing is a true art, and you just never know what single word will turn a smile into a laugh.
I was humbled when attending this filming, knowing that most of these actors came out of nowhere and got their parts by attending a "cattle call" of auditions. One thing that drew me to this comedy in the first place, is that one lead actor, playing the role of an astrophysicist, is from India. You rarely see Indian actors playing lead roles on U.S. Television. This brought a fresh flavor to what could have been a formulaic comedy. How was he chosen for this role? I don't know. But I believe he did what we all need to do, even in the card business: Use all your skills to create a good product, and then you will stand out, even among the stars.
So, give it your best, do your homework and enjoy the process - eventually you will succeed. That's the big bang of cards too, and it's not just a theory.
-Kate
(photo credit CBS ign.com)
