Apple TV+

I worked as a COVID Set Monitor on Season One of High Desert, streaming on Apple TV. My job was to help ensure COVID testing requirements were met in all relevant production settings. Our job was also to provide comfortable PPE solutions to the cast and crew that ensured minimal resistance in doing their job. Admittedly, it’s the most flattering position on set, but it was an amazing way to learn about every stage of physical production for television production.

I would wake up as early as 4 a.m. to drive out to Lancaster, Long Beach, Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, Los Angeles, Santa Clarita, and many other locations I have probably forgotten. Some days, I was fortunate enough to be on set. I could enjoy a hot meal, chat with crew to learn about their positions and unions, and watch them set up and turnaround shots as I stood by with a box of masks in case theirs got unpleasant to wear. We had defogging wipes for glasses, several types of masks, hand sanitizer and microfiber wipes, and more. These ended up being especially useful when filming inside on rainy days; the extra humidity causes lots of PPE issues. Nobody likes PPE, but if you can be friendly and learn their names, you can garner a lot of sympathy and make people’s lives easier.

I was very fortunate to witness several decades of collective experience at work as they created television. Though, sometimes things happen and there’s not much to learn from. For example, if you hear Matt Dillon playing the bongos in his trailer, all you learn is that Matt Dillon is not particularly gifted at the bongos. Perhaps the Budweiser Clydesdales walk by you while you’re filming at a racetrack; all you learn is that famous horses sometimes go to famous racetracks. Famous or not, they poop the same as any other horse I’ve ever seen.

Some of the best assignments were prep or strike locations far away from the active filming. Working at these sites meant I got to meet set decorators, teamsters, construction foremen and crew, props, greensmen, stunt riggers, and animal wranglers. I love learning about other people’s jobs, it helps me understand a) how film gets made and b) how to help filmmakers be successful based on their position and responsibilities.

Anyways, go watch Season 1 of High Desert and enjoy a few pictures of me on this project!