From creating chemistry to making a show safely, here’s how Connecting came together during a pandemic.
NBC is bringing you a new comedy made during a pandemic without masks, shields, or nasal swabs.
It became really clear that it felt relevant, Gero says about the talks he was having with friends.
Credit: NBC
Everyone is going through this, and it’s not on TV right now.
No one leaves their house, Gero explains.
Even the simplest app that we use has an enormous amount of prefs, Gero shares.
NBC
All of the software we’re using is not meant to be used this way.
No one has built software for COVID.
MakingConnectingis only possible through an incredible amount of patience, communication, and preparation.
NBC
OnConnecting, each change needs to be handled individually.
The amount of over-communication that has to happen when there’s a problem is a challenge.
We’re on the bleeding edge of technology, Gero explains.
NBC
I love the teamwork of making television, and feeling like I’m more a part of the team.
Crew members from each department lighting, sound, etc.
sent equipment to the actors in preparation for the things that could go wrong.
NBC
On day one, prep for the first shot took six hours, but that time has steadily decreased.
A machine that the actors say they’re grateful to have a better understanding of.
New skills aside, the cast, of course, still had another job to do: act.
Even that presented its own challenges considering actors typically get to share a physical space and bond on set.
To accomplish that here, they also utilized technology to their advantage, starting a group text chat.
But here, that’s all [we have].
Fortunately, their efforts seem to be working.
One of the things people are shocked at is how much chemistry our group has, Gero shares.
While they shoot scenes from home, theConnectingteam works to maintain an authentic relationship between the friends.
According to Nayfack, it’s all about empathy and having a shared experience.
I think we hit such a juicy place in our camaraderie, she explains.
It is the most joyous, wonderful, rhythmic cacophony of laughs, and it’s so alive."
Connectingdebuts Oct. 8 on NBC, and will be available to stream on Peacock.
