Filmmaking students learn from Big Bang Theory director
Monday 14 October 2024
Hollywood producer and director Gay Linvill, who worked on 272 episodes of The Big Bang Theory, spent two days at LIPA working with Filmmaking students.
During the visit Gay guided students as they shot a scene from The Big Bang Theory featuring Acting (Screen & Digital) students, chaired production meetings, ran a masterclass, presented a case study of The Big Bang Theory from inception to series, and took part in Q&As.
American sitcom The Big Bang Theory is one of the most successful TV shows of the last 20 years. First broadcast in 2007 it ran for 12 seasons, amassing 279 episodes. And despite finishing in 2019 it remains a staple of TV schedules across the world.
As well as her work on The Big Bang Theory Gay’s TV credits include Days of Our Lives, Sunset Beach, Jessie, and Mom. We caught up with Gay on day two of her visit to talk about her work with LIPA students and, of course, The Big Bang Theory.
Have you enjoyed working with the students?
I’ve had a lot of fun with them, I’ve really enjoyed it. The third years I’ve been working with today are particularly impressive. They’re smart, they’re really into it and they know what they want to do at this point. I’ve just had a production meeting with them, and they’d done the work, and they were smart about it. They were great. Yesterday we shot a scene from The Big Bang Theory with second years and that was challenging for some of them at this stage in their training. Some of the jobs we were asking them to do they’d not done before but they worked really hard, and they did really well.
What are your impressions of LIPA?
I’ve known about LIPA for a very long time, and I have been here once before, but this is the first time I’ve had a chance to have a proper look around and I’ve been really impressed by the facilities. I used to teach directing and producing for multi-camera television at a film school in LA, and we weren’t even close to the facilities you have here; the different rehearsal spaces, studios and equipment, and the opportunities the students get to try so many different things. I was impressed with everything I’ve seen.
Do you know why The Big Bang Theory was such a global phenomenon – why did it resonate with so many people?
I believe it’s because it was about a bunch of oddball outsiders trying to find their way in the world and finding similar outsider friends who became like family. I think everybody can relate to feeling they’re on the outside sometimes and also the importance of being part of a group - who despite the conflicts they may have - love each other. That’s what The Big Bang Theory was about.
Images: top, Gay with Filmmaking students; middle, in the gallery with second year filmmaking students; bottom, on set with Acting (Screen & Digital) students.
