Behind the Photo-Extreme Edition
On Sunday I was sent to Slaughterville, Okla., to photograph the taping of the television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Sunday was the final day, so I was supposed to get a picture of their reaction to the famous reveal, when the bus pulls away and the family sees their new home.
McKenzie Elliott, age 10, of Lexington (left) waits with hundreds of other people during a taping of the television show Extreme Makeover Home Edition outside the new home of Brian and and Audra Skaggs in Slaughterville, Okla., Feb. 7, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
As chaotic as I thought the scene would be, it was worse. There were barricades and corrals set up for fans, extended family members and media. Cameras crews, sound guys, volunteers, Thunder Girls, PR representatives and the stars of the show, like Ty Pennington and Xzibit, were cheered by the fans as they walked by. I stood up against the fence in the media pin, watching the scene unfold. For three hours.
Human blockers get into position during a taping of the television show Extreme Makeover Home Edition outside the new home of Brian and and Audra Skaggs in Slaughterville, Okla., Feb. 7, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
My favorite part was right before the reveal. There was a group of people stationed to the right of the media, extended family, the home builders, and people with all access passes. They would have the best seats in the house, after the bus pulled away. The Public Relations representatives were worried that before the bus pulled away, the crowd would get excited and press into the media’s view, so they brought in human blockers. Volunteers from CVS pharmacy were seated in front of us. The idea was that the excited crowd wouldn’t step on volunteers just to get a good view. It worked. Despite the chaos for three straight hours, once the bus pulled away, we had a decent view of the family’s reaction. More pictures from the reveal will be published on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, in The Oklahoman’s real estate magazine.
-John Clanton
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