Behind the scenes of MTV's DEATH VALLEY

Recently, I was presented with an opportunity to be a set photographer for a new MTV show called 'DEATH VALLEY' . When they explained that the show would be a dark comedy about a police task force fighting off gangs of Zombie’s and Werewolf’s in the San Fernando Valley, I said sign me up! You never know how a show is going to turn out, but this one just sounded so fun, I had to get down with it.

On my first day on the job, after the usual paperwork grind and while the transportation van took me out to the set, which was on a beautiful hillside in the Valley I did the usual paperwork I got to thinking about how I was about to do something new with my life. I found it exciting knowing that I was going to be working with a whole different crew outside of the Dickhouse umbrella. It was a chance for me to spread my wings and explore a different avenue.

When I finally got to set, the first thing I noticed was how massive and expensive the production was. It almost felt like a movie set. The giant lighting rigs, all the makeup trailers, and the large crew running around screamed dollar signs. This was definitely a pretty big deal. Tim Healy, one of the executive producers of the show walked over and greeted me. He took me on kind of a tour and introduced me to the entire cast and crew. It was a very welcoming experience that was very much appreciated.

The coolest part about working for this production is that they pretty much gave me free reign to shoot whatever I liked, and that’s pretty much what I did. So my first night on the job was spent getting used to everything, learning the right times to shoot, and trying to make everyone comfortable when I would point my camera at them, which is something I’ve always been pretty good at. As time went on, I ended up getting some great images that would last a lifetime.

After few days working on the show, I really started taking a liking too the whole thing, and I really thought they did a good job casting all the actors for the show. Everyone had good chemistry, and some of them where really funny together like Bryce Johnson and Charlie Sanders, who were a very good match. Bryan Callen who was in the Hangover movies ended up being a real treat for the crew while shooting scene. He would just fly off the handle and start adlibbing his lines and would say the funniest shit of the top of his head. Caity Lotz and Tania Raymonde, two new up and coming actresses brought their sex appeal to the show, and did all their own stunts! Texas Battle was also a strong asset to the Death Valley cast. When they where shooting scenes, I noticed I would get pulled right in, listening to their lines as if I was watching them on TV.

I really benefited a lot from working on this TV show because it really gave me a good insight as to how different productions operate. Sure, I was just shooting photos, but it felt like I was kind of back in school. I really started paying attention to what was going on around me, and learning how things are done differently. A Dickhouse production is always gladiator school. You’re in it to win it, you battle your way through and when you come out the other side, you have the scars to show for it. So working for another company is a great way to see and learn new things and also to remind me that there is never a single way to anything on any type of shoot.

When I was on set, in between scenes, I would walk around shooting photos and chatting with cast and crewmembers. Sometimes I would go into the makeup trailers and watch them put on the Zombie makeup which is a really long process. I really liked how everyone was working together as a team on this show. Being able to witness the Director going over lines with the actors during rehearsals, and seeing how the Director Of Photography and the Director worked together setting up all the shots for the scene they where about too film, was awesome. Even the stunt coordinator would come in and make his suggestions for making the stunts look and work even better with the camera. Total teamwork. What seemed crazy to me is that they had five different directors for this show. I asked why, and it was because they wanted to make all of the episodes have a different feel because each director had a special style. Some brought the humor, while others brought the horror in their direction. Another surprise for me was that even the writer would chime in, almost as if he was the director, suggesting the actors say different lines at different times. So working on this show was a whole lot different from how I’m used to seeing things done.

I’m really happy to see MTV starting to think outside of the box, and taking on a show like Death Valley. It’s going to be a nice change for everyone and it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch. I have a feeling this show going to introduce some new stars to the masses. So be sure to check this show out on Monday nights at 10:30, and I think you’ll like it, because I sure did.