Something to Be Desired: Behind the Scenes

Age and Acting

2007-12-11T10:58:00.000-08:00

Hans Rosemond (aka Lloyd on STBD) turned 30 this weekend, which -- as is expected around "major birthdays" -- led to a bit of soul-searching on his part. Having recently turned 30 myself, I know the drill: 1) Realize Orson Welles directed Citizen Kane when he was 25. 2) Realize you haven't, and you're 30. 3) Drink a lot. Old Is the New Young Traditionally, actors tend to be a few years older

Jack Boyd Cameo?

2007-12-07T23:12:00.000-08:00

The good news: on my way home from business in Connecticut, I'm staying overnight at the home of Dan Stripp (aka Jack Boyd on early seasons of Something to Be Desired). The bad news (for STBD fans): There will be no Jack Boyd holiday cameo filmed here. Sorry. Unless you're REALLY good. But even then, probably not. Maybe.

Ken Levine and POV

2007-12-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

I stumbled across a blog by Ken Levine, a veteran TV writer (MASH, Cheers, etc.). In his most recent post, he discusses the making of his favorite MASH episode, "POV." The story was told entirely from the first-person POV of a wounded soldier, who encounters all the show's regulars as they work to heal him. In the preceding post, Levine includes an excerpt from that episode's script, as well as

Yahoo Loves STBD!

2007-11-28T11:58:00.000-08:00

Erik Schark (aka Rich on STBD) and Rick Hertzig (aka Glenn) each noticed this bit of news today: Something to Be Desired is featured on Yahoo video's homepage, in both the "Channels" AND "Featured Videos" section -- which we think is very cool. Interestingly, it just so happens that the main video being featured today on Yahoo is iJustine's new "MAC Workout" video. That means STBD and iJustine -

STBD 5-10: Revealed!

2007-11-21T13:05:00.000-08:00

The "Light-Up Night" episode was a great opportunity for us to showcase Downtown Pittsburgh in all its festive holiday glory... and to wrap up a loose end or two. The Making of "Light-Up Night" involved: - 7 scripted pages - 5 improvised scenes - 60 minutes of raw footage - 2 shoots over 24 hours - 2 voiceovers - 12+ hours of editing Fun Facts, Scene by Scene: * Caroline (aka Ann Turiano

STBD Season Five: Episode 10 "Light-Up Night"

2007-11-20T05:04:00.001-08:00

Click to Play Tim challenges Leo to find the true meaning of Christmas... in November. (9:30)Music by Geoff Smith, Wednesday Week and Candy Butchers

STBD 5-10, Delayed by Travel

2007-11-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

Today is a travel day for me, even as I edit STBD 5-10. Oddly enough, I'm about 3 hours away from having it done, but I have to leave for the airport in an hour (hello, Thanksgiving week travel delays)... which means the episode will be completed somewhere between Pittsburgh and Fairfield, CT, and uploaded as wifi allows. For all intents and purposes, I expect to post the episode around 9 PM,

STBD Shoot at Light-Up Night This Friday

2007-11-14T10:28:00.001-08:00

Several of the STBD cast members will be on-hand for a live, semi-improvised shoot during Light-Up Night this Friday in downtown Pittsburgh. Rumor has it that veteran podcaster C.C. Chapman might be in town from Boston that night and making an STBD cameo appearance as well. If you'll be downtown for light-up night, keep your eyes open for Caroline, Tabitha and the rest of the STBD cast! Say

STBD 5-9: Revealed!

2007-11-13T08:01:00.000-08:00

The "Car Trouble" episode is a classic example of the STBD cast being able to create a solid episode even everything else goes wrong... The Making of "Car Trouble" involved: - 9 scripted pages - 2 largely improvised scenes - 48 minutes of raw footage - 3 shoots over 24 hours - 12+ hours of editing Fun Facts, Scene by Scene: * This episode wasn't even supposed to happen. The original plan

STBD 5-9: Car Trouble

2007-11-12T12:50:00.001-08:00

Click to Play When Dierdre's car trouble ruins Caroline and Pryce's party plans, tensions run high as the temperature drops. (8:00)

Two Episodes Left...

2007-11-09T08:44:00.001-08:00

... until our next hiatus. (Time flies when you're creating a weekly web series.) In the interim between 10-episode arcs, we'll still be posting a new video every Monday. But instead of actual episodes, these will be interviews, behind-the-scenes stuff, and the occasional ultra-brief (one minute or less) "microsodes." In that spirit: what would YOU like to see during our "break"? Which cast

Rich Mathis's Non-Concession Speech!

2007-11-07T09:49:00.000-08:00

Now that Luke Ravenstahl has been re-elected to finish out the remainder of the late Bob O'Connor's mayoral term, write-in candidate Rich Mathis has released his official statement -- and it's not the concession you might expect!

STBD 5-8: Revealed!

2007-11-07T06:07:00.000-08:00

It's not every day that a local politician has the self-confidence AND self-deprecation to lampoon himself on a weekly web sitcom, but that's exactly what Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto did in this week's episode of Something to Be Desired. The Making of "The Mathis / Peduto Debate" involved: - 4 (loosely) scripted pages - 90% improvisation - 45 minutes of raw footage - 1 three-hour

STBD: Your Cure for the Writer's Strike?

2007-11-07T01:07:00.000-08:00

We'd never presume to serve as the salve for those craving one more finely crafted episode of "According to Jim," but apparently a few people think Something to Be Desired is a show that just might satisfy those who find their TV is even more barren a wasteland than normal during the Hollywood writer's strike. And when one of those people happens to write the official Yahoo Video blog, we kind

The Polls Are Still Open!

2007-11-06T13:15:00.001-08:00

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } IMAGE_233, originally uploaded by Locobone. Locobone would like to remind everyone that you can vote for Rich Mathis in ANY race across the country -- just write him in, like Locobone did in the Erie, PA, poll above!

STBD Fan Video: Coalition of Ethical Voters!

2007-11-05T06:49:00.000-08:00

In case you were wondering, the Coalition of Ethical Voters (who sponsor this week's Mathis / Peduto debate) is a fictional organization created by STBD fans in this "smear campaign" video intended to warn the public about the ills of Rich Mathis... (Note: The above link leads to a large AVI file - may not be compatible with all browsers.)

STBD 5-8: The Mathis / Peduto Debate

2007-11-05T05:58:00.001-08:00

Click to Play Rich Mathis squares off against City Councilman Bill Peduto in a debate that reshapes the future of Pittsburgh politics. Sort of. (9:00)

STBD Season Five: Halloween Special Revealed!

2007-11-02T07:55:00.000-07:00

For the second year in a row, we've rallied the troops to create a rocking Halloween Special just in the nick of time! Despite the epic-length shoots, bad directions and several buckets of blood later, we think the finished episode turned out quite well! The Making of the Season Five Halloween Special involved: - 17 scripted pages - 1 significantly improvised scene - 2 hours of raw footage -

STBD Season Five: Halloween Special

2007-10-30T05:38:00.001-07:00

Click to Play Dierdre brings home a nasty virus -- one that comes with fangs and a strange appetite... (8:00)Filmed at AffogatoMusic by Paralyzed Circuitry and High Noon Records.

STBD Season Five: Episode 7 "Leo vs. Culture"

2007-10-23T03:00:00.001-07:00

Click to Play Leo enlists Liz's help to buy some art, but she has other worries. Meanwhile, Pryce makes Caroline an offer she's too bored to refuse... (4:50)Theme by ZOX / Music by Paul ZazadzeFilmed at the Pittsburgh Gallery Crawl and Affogato

STBD Shoot Tonight: Extras Welcome!

2007-10-19T10:01:00.000-07:00

If any STBD fans are interested, we'll be shooting a few scenes at the Gallery Crawl in downtown Pittsburgh tonight. Interested in stopping down? Email me (jkownacki at somethingtobedesired dawt com), or just look for the guy with the camera. Yes, I'm sure there will only be one...

STBD Season Five: Episode 6 "Lame Expectations"

2007-10-15T06:48:00.001-07:00

Click to Play Dierdre learns that always expecting the worst from people might backfire -- even though it works for everyone else... (6:00)Filmed at AffogatoTheme by ZOX

STBD 5-5: Revealed!

2007-10-09T13:41:00.001-07:00

This week's episode of STBD was a drastic departure from the norm. How so? Read on... The Making of "Pittsburgh Politics" involved: - 3 scripted "PSAs" - 9 improvised sequences (of which, 5 made the final cut) - 30 minutes of raw footage - 1 shoot in 1 day - 6+ hours of editing Fun Facts, Scene by Scene: * This entire episode was filmed in one day -- the Sunday before the epsiode went

STBD Season Five: Episode 5 "Pittsburgh Politics"

2007-10-08T13:20:00.001-07:00

Click to Play Tabitha helps Rich film a few Mathis 4 Mayor PSAs, but it's clear Rich doesn't have a good grasp of Pittsburgh politics... or basic humanity. (5:00)

STBD's "How to Make a Web Series" Session from PodCamp

2007-10-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

At PodCamp Pittsburgh 2, STBD creator Justin Kownacki hosted a session on how to create a sustainable web series. Alterna-tv's Tony Letizia was in attendance, and he wrote up a lengthy recap of that session here. �??All social media, whether it�??s journalism, whether it is a family blog, whatever it is, everything that�??s been successful has been successful because you�??re telling a story,�?? [