Coordinated logistics for a remote BBC Studios proof of concept shoot in Sitka, Alaska.
Chef Eric was a BBC Studios proof of concept built around a remote shoot in Sitka, Alaska. As Assistant Production Coordinator, I filed contracts, releases, and film permits, and managed travel and lodging for cast and crew heading to a remote location. I coordinated camp logistics, fishing licenses, safety planning, and vendor needs, and created charts to track inventory, schedules, and budgets for the shoot.
Behind the Scenes
Where were you?
Sitka Alaska
What’s the moment things went sideways?
This was during the vaccine part of the pandemic where traveling was a bit easier, but the waiting period between vaccines made the timeline a bit hard. Sitka, Alaska, is a small island and this is my first time working with Alaska so I didn’t realize how small it really was. You really have to plan ahead and make sure you have everything, sometimes that means calling the local stores there to make sure that they either had it or were able to order it for you.
A crew or cast story that still gets told
First day of shooting and we had a great day! The talent caught a fresh fish so we were able to really catch the concept of the show which was catching and foraging for the items in a recipe and cook it over a camp fire. Day one of filming can set the mood for the rest of the shooting schedule, and having a day like that, great weather, a great catch, a crew already having fun, felt like a good sign for the rest of the shoot.
What would a viewer never guess?
Traveling with gear is a lot more complicated than one would think. Not only did we have to think about the right labels and stickers to stay in FAA regulations, but because we always flew in smaller planes, weight played a factor in how many rounds the pilot needed to make. So when traveling and preparing we have to know what we will need and what we can do without.
What were you actually running day to day?
With the crew being in the field and me staying behind, communication was not consistent so it was important to be in touch with the crew in the morning to go over what will happen that day, and to talk with them at the end of the day to understand what happened that day.
What are you proudest of on this one?
Being part of a small crew pulling off a proof of concept shoot in such a remote location was a great experience, and I am proud of how well we adapted to working with limited resources and staying in constant communication despite being so far from home base.