Certain times in your life stand out… some people refer to these as ‘Peak’ experiences. Well, I have just come back from Boulder where I worked on four new DVDs and had the great opportunity of working with our MVe Teacher Trainers. And I’m still basking in the glow!
The first week was dedicated to the DVD shoots. What a rush! Sonia, Clare, and I were all in for a big ride with 9 DVDs to shoot in total. Clare took the lead and kicked off our team shoot with her new MVe Hardcore Fitness Chair Workout and then the MVe Energize Reformer Workout… Sonia and I were scheduled later in the week, and really had the opportunity to learn watching her. Clare seemed so comfortable and calm – at least until she downed 3 Red Bulls! Sonia and I – well, we were a bundle of nerves.
It was fun to be in the control room and learn how to handle stops, nervousness, unexpected delays and problems. Sonia and I had a blast back there watching all of the high-tech wizardry while seeing all of the camera angles spring to life on screen.
So much goes into a DVD shoot that I didn’t know. Of course you set your class choreography, choose music, and rehearse, but once you are there it’s all systems go. First, rehearsal with our ‘talent’ started the week. Teri, Richard, Heather, and Damien – THANK YOU! I was sooooooo lucky to have you wonderful teachers surrounding me. You made the week special and I appreciated your support, energy and genuine passion for the project. I will forever smile at the memories and times shared.
I still have to laugh at the behind-the-scenes side: the makeup and hair, the set design, the costumes… the crew all around. This was sort of nerve racking for me, a low-maintenance sort of gal! My hair and makeup will never look as good as Catherine had it looking, but I sure learned a lot of tricks from her. Thank goodness for self tanning lotion! The ‘costumes,’ which I thought would be a simple issue of looking good, had to look good on not just me, but on the set and they also had to coordinate with everyone else’s!
Once you get all the behind-the-scenes work done, then you have your time in the light. Yes, they are as bright as you have heard, so if I am squinting, my apologies! We had a great director Garce, who is an Emmy winner and a big-time downhill ski racer, and I absolutely trusted him. The hardest part was remembering about the cameras, which camera was which… where to look and where not look.
I was so excited to have had an opportunity to shoot four DVDs with such a wonderful team around and the time in Boulder only got better as our Teacher Training team gathered from all over the U.S. for the MVe event.
What a group. I have to say I am THRILLED by this team, and I truly mean it. Everyone came with such an open mind, an eagerness to both learn and share and just bonded. I know that I loved being with this energetic group and in the three days we shared; they taught me more than I can express.
Those last three days were the highpoint of the entire trip, as our Master Training Team came together to guide the new team through the delivery of the MVe programs. It reinforced in me the truth that: “People will forget what you say, people will forget what you do, but people will never forget how you made them feel." This is a group that lives that! Can’t wait for the next ‘Peak’ experience!
- Zoey Trap, Peak Pilates Master Trainer