|
|
|
> MSU News
MSU crew helps with 'Amazing Race' episodes
February 13, 2006 -- By Carol Schmidt
 |
| While the reality show "The Amazing Race" is set to resume soon, an all-MSU crew helped on an episode from the last 'Amazing Race' series. The episodes the all-MSU crew worked on were shot in Wyoming and produced by MSU grad Brian Tanke. Photo courtesy of Betty Ann Conard. |
|
MSU fans of the reality television show "The Amazing Race" might have enjoyed the familiar scenery near Yellowstone Park featured in the race season that ended in December. What they didn't see on camera was the all MSU-affiliated TV crew led by race producer Brian Tanke, an MSU graduate, and MSU film professor Dennis Aig.
"We had a terrific crew from Bozeman," said Tanke, who has worked on the Emmy Award-winning show for five of its eight seasons. "The students were absolutely wonderful. These guys, to a person, were really eager, heads-up and switched-on. They came in and totally shined for us."
The series that the MSU crew worked on aired last fall and the popular reality show resumes soon.
Tanke explained that usually "The Amazing Race" hires local production companies for their segments at locations throughout the world. However, they didn't find an area production company large enough while planning segments near Jackson, Wyo. and Yellowstone National Park. Because Tanke was familiar with the area, "I made a couple of calls," he said and hired Aig and Todd Miller, also an MSU grad.
Tanke said he wasn't surprised at the proficiency of the MSU crew that worked on parts of two race episodes that took place in Yellowstone Park and the surrounding area last August. Tanke knew the quality of MSU film students because he has been one - twice. He started at MSU in the late '80s and left for Hollywood just a few credits shy of graduation. He returned to complete his degree in '01 during a threatened writers and actors strike that slowed work in Hollywood. Tanke had taken classes from Aig as well as worked with him previously, and the two have become friends.
Tanke said once word got out, other MSU people "came out of the woodwork" to apply for jobs on the crew. Out of Tanke's 24 crew members, 20 had an MSU affiliation.
"We had Todd Miller, who ran the Montana portion of the Race episodes based in Billings. I grabbed Dennis for Jackson. Rob Story, who lives by Emigrant, did our locations. Mike Emmers, who has a small production company in Jackson, was one of our local cameramen."
Tanke started with the "Amazing Race" as the travel production manager during season four. He was a field producer during seasons five and six and both a field producer and producer during season seven, the season that featured "Survivor" participants "Robb and Amber." During season eight, which just ended, he was the producer of the Mississippi/New Orleans and Wyoming segments. He didn't work on the upcoming season nine series that will be aired this spring. Instead, he's finishing a screenplay and producing a couple of low-budget features. His goal is to direct a feature film next summer.
Tanke said none of his current projects are based in Montana, but he'd like to return soon.
"I'd love to bring more work up there," Tanke said. "For me, it's a pleasure to come back and I was really excited to be able to spend time there (last summer). The students were wonderful - just how I remember MSU students. They exceeded my expectations. They did the school and Dennis proud and just did a great job for the show."
Dennis Aig, 994-6216
Hi-Resolution Image or PDF Available:
| [View or Download] | 1. | While the reality show "The Amazing Race" is set to resume soon, an all-MSU crew helped on an episode from the last 'Amazing Race' series. The episodes the all-MSU crew worked on were shot in Wyoming and produced by MSU grad Brian Tanke. Photo courtesy of Betty Ann Conard. |
|
|
|
Email this article
