Journey Behind the Notes: TCATS #443 - On Set With The Piano Guys

Members of the Tabernacle Choir had the opportunity to sign up for and participate in a music video with The Piano Guys this past Saturday. For awhile, I was a bit on the fence as to whether or not I wanted to participate. But in the end, I thought I'd give it a shot. After all, it WAS a pretty cool opportunity.

The morning of the video shoot for me started at the unearthly hour of 3:45AM.

Yikes.

I showered, put on the designated Choir suit (which I picked up from the Conference Center after rehearsal on Thursday), and drove down to the home of my friend Wes. We then got in his car and traveled down to BYU's stadium parking lot (listening to some pretty awesome 80s tunes on the way), where we then caught a shuttle that took us to the LDS Motion Picture Studios. While en route, we consumed a boxed breakfast and talked about the experience we were about to have along with a few emails that had been sent to us around 10pm just the night before. The emails explained how each of us were in certain groups and included instructions on where we were to stand, walk in from, etc. They also told us who are group leaders were and a few other details.

Once we arrived at the studios, we all congregated in back of the mock Newell K. Whitney store in camping chairs while waiting for more instructions. As we waited--and indeed throughout most of the morning--we tried not to freeze as the temps were in the 40s. But with some amount of anticipation for the experience ahead, and with the socializing we were all doing, we tried not to think too much about the cool temperatures. Soon enough, several members of the production team explained how things would go and told us to get in our groups and go and find where we were to enter the set from. Since it was still dark (6:45), team leaders got out their flashlights looking at various pieces of instructions and maps and then began leading us to our locations. I was in Group C (there were groups A thru F)--one of the smaller groups--and we found our spot on the left side, diagonal from the piano which was in front of a log cabin.

Just so you get a visual.... think of a traditional, smaller log cabin, with candles in the windows and smoke coming out of the chimney. All around this cabin are trees, with old fence railings and leaves scattered on the ground. Then picture a mist permeating the area, creating an atmosphere of wonder and awe. Right in front of the cabin was the piano John would play and in front of him was a stool where Steve Nelson would be playing his cello. And around the entire scene are choir members, strategically placed and ready to film all of the scenes required to make the video.(see pics below)

Once we were all gathered on the actual set, there were some words from the director, the producer, from Mack, and from Elder Clayton. They all thanked us for being there and for being part of this grand project that was sure to bless the lives of many. After that, the morning was a mixture of waiting, being on set, following instructions on when to sing, where to stand, how to walk in, what facial expressions to have, and where to look. There were camera people, fog people, light people, refreshments people, fans blowing leaves people, calling out instructions people, and a bunch of other people. It was rather amazing how many people were there working on this.

As the morning progressed, some groups had been more involved with the video than others, while a select few were on set almost the whole time. But to everyone's credit, I didn't hear any complaints. It just seemed like everyone was content to play their part and if their part involved a lot of waiting with only minutes of set time, that was OK. Every part was important to make the video what it needed to be.

Besides, all of the wait time gave us a chance to socialize--which we rarely have time for week to week. So that was nice.

As I watched everything unfold, I have to say how was amazed I was at how David Warner, who was the creative director of the project, was so intimately involved in every scene. He had sketched out story boards of how the entire video should play out and was continually talking with the video directors trying to infuse his vision in to each scene filmed. So much work. So much attention to detail.

When it was all done, we gathered around the set and The Piano Guys gave us a special performance of "I Can't Help Falling In Love with You"--just to say thank you for our participation. (I know the song is an Elvis Presley song, but I always think of the last scene of one of my favorite 80s movie Some Kind of Wonderful) Then, it was over. We filed back to the buses and shuttles, grabbing a boxed lunch on the way, and went our separate ways.

When will the video be out you ask? Hmmm. We're all asking that same question. And all we know right now is "sometime next year". Sigh. Good things come to those who wait I suppose.

Until next time, God be with you.

[Some pics from the day. Click to enlarge]