Executive producer on 'The Show' finds fascination with filming

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Brianna Gardner knew she had set a high bar when it came to her career ambitions as a child.

“I wanted to be a tomb raider in Egypt and be a marine biologist,” Gardner said.

“But I figured the only person that could be all that is Barbie, and that’s not too realistic. So I just decided that film was the next best thing.”

Gardner, who is a senior double majoring in both finance and telecommunication, information studies and media, spent the summer working in the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Internship Program in Los Angeles, California.

“I had two weeks notice to pack up and fly to LA,” said Gardner. “I found a house on Craigslist.”

After initially working on scripts in an office, Gardner expressed to her internship coordinator that she wanted to be on a set.

“They had me sit in on meetings for ‘Community,’ which, at the time, was a brand new show,” said Gardner. “I got to go to the first table read with Joel McHale and Chevy Chase — it was so cool.”

Gardner’s Hollywood experience didn’t stop there. She then worked on the set of “The Office,” learning the processes of sitcom production and eating lunch with Steve Carell.

“It was so cool just knowing that I was walking onto a set where people would stand outside for hours in 90 degree weather waiting to catch a glimpse of (‘Office’ star) John Krasinski,” she said.

Recently, Gardner teamed up with MSU alumnus Andrew Vallentine in developing a music video for Lady Gaga’s “Monster.”

The video was filmed primarily in the Communication Arts and Sciences’ Building’s Digital Media Art and Technology lab, used for video production and editing.

Gardner and Vallentine spent two 18-hour days filming and editing the project.

Vallentine, now studying at Chapman University in California, directed the “Monster” video and worked closely with Gardner throughout the process.

“Brianna is extremely professional,” Vallentine said. “She’s always thinking ahead and planning from the top down.”

Vallentine attributed Gardner’s success in part to her abilities to connect with people.

“She’s the queen of networking,” Vallentine said. “She knew someone for makeup, someone for photography, people to dance, everyone. She knew a lot of creative people that could contribute.”

Danielle Lauhoff, an advertising senior, danced in the music video and has worked in video production with Gardner for more than two years. She said she couldn’t wait to jump on board with Vallentine and Gardner’s project.

“I knew it was going to be something big hearing her talk about it,” Lauhoff said. “I knew it was an awesome opportunity and something I shouldn’t pass up.”

Lauhoff said that as driven and passionate as Gardner is, working with her is always fun and light-hearted.

“It was funny working in the church during the wedding scene with her,” Lauhoff said. “People were coming in to see if the church was where they wanted to get married while we were shooting.”

While she’s not dining with A-list celebrities or acting the part of Lady Gaga, Gardner can be found producing “The Show,” which is a sitcom developed through MSU Telecasters.

Gardner said she is proud of the vast improvements made by MSU Telecasters, for which she also is an executive producer, and finds it the most rewarding aspect of what she does at MSU.

“When I first started here on ‘The Show,’ we had this crappy old set and our cafe set was basically three walls and a curtain for a door,” Gardner said.

“If you look at how it was when I first started here in 2006, and how it is now, I’m just so proud to see how far it’s come in the few years that I’ve worked here.”

Although film production isn’t necessarily on par with conquering the world as Barbie, Gardner said she’ll be happy as long as she’s doing what she loves.

“I was a little worried to tell (my parents) that I wanted to be a film student. But my dad said, ‘Do what you love, or you’ll never be happy,’” Gardner said.

“I would rather be a penniless director knowing that I’m doing something that I love, than sitting in some office hating life.”

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