What does a popular situation comedy, a former Hollywood studio executive and TCI聮s National Digital Television Center in Denver have in common with a handful of University of Colorado at Boulder film, journalism and theater students? A date with Susan -- as in "Suddenly Susan," the hit ABC-TV sitcom starring Brooke Shields.
For two days, Feb. 25-26, this ensemble of characters will be taping a "Suddenly Susan" segment based on an original script and shot in NDTC聮s fully equipped, state-of-the-art studio. Both the script and the studio were donated and will enable students to experience the production process.
Although the show is not for broadcast, it聮s real in every other aspect.
The students have been rehearsing every Friday and Saturday afternoon for the past three weeks: learning their lines, staging the shots and scoping out camera angles. This week they face the ultimate test, but unlike other exams, this is one they聮re all looking forward to taking.
"Most classes are not like this," said junior Jess Kelly, a broadcast news major. "I聮m very excited for our class, for our product and what we聮re going to have when we聮re done with it."
The use of the studio and script is a tale of three people: Steve Jones, assistant dean in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication; Tom Edwards, director of production services at NDTC and former adjunct professor in journalism and mass communication; and Arthur Annecharico, an adjunct professor in the film studies department. Annecharico also happens to be CEO, president and founder of the Arthur Co., one of the largest independent television production companies in Hollywood.
Now retired, the Emmy-award-winning Annecharico thought it would be an invaluable learning experience for students if they could produce, from beginning to end, a real sitcom, "聟 so that when these kids get out of school they can go to L.A. and say, 'I know the whole process 聳 from table reading to editing,' " he said.
Annecharico secured a "Suddenly Susan" script through his contacts in Hollywood while Jones used his connections at TCI. "I was telling Tom about the situation comedy class we were working on and he suggested that we might be able to shoot in one of the National Digital Television Center's studios," according to Jones.
"The television industry is always looking for bright and talented young people," said Edwards. "It聮s in TCI聮s best interest to build a close working relationship with the university. This way everyone wins."
"It聮s just an amazing opportunity and I聮m really excited about it," said senior Brendon Kelly. "I know all of the other actors are as well."