Philip Roos interview

Being a contestant on a popular game show seems like the most incredible thing ever! You have fun, win lots of rpizes, and be seen on TV. Sometimes we all wanna hear the parts of how a contestant ever got to be on the show. One person who was kind enough to share his story was Phil Roos, who back in 2000 him & his now ex-wife, and two kids got to be on Double Dare 2000. Please read on what he had to say about Nick Studios and all the awesomeness of the show.

1. How did you & your family get picked to be contestants on Double Dare 2000? My older son, Blake, had heard through his scout troop that there was a nationwide audition tour going on for the show.  It was their favorite.  The audition was on a Saturday in Providence, Rhode Island but we had plans to buy an RV that day, so we decided that, if we had time, we would head to the mall to participate.  We bought the RV and when we got to the mall (late) we ended up in a line of about 140 families.  The audition occurred in two stages: first, was what I like to call a congeniality cut.  The family is interviewed and asked to participate in a little challenge.  I'm assuming they wanted to see a bit more about the personality of the family and how well they worked together.  It was hilarious! The family in front of us was being instructed by the mom on what to say, how to say it, how to look, and how to do the challenge.  We just went in blind with the perspective that we would have fun no matter what.  They asked me what I did and I told them that I was a naval officer. They asked my wife what she did and she said she was a housewife. They asked my oldest son what he did and he just said "I'm what you call an indoor kid!”  My youngest son, Brenden, was too embarrassed to answer!  That answer from my oldest son brought the house down!  Of all of the families, they chose eight and we were one of those. We eight families participated in a single elimination contest in the mall with Jason Harris and news crews, etc to see who would win.  We won hands-down and it was so much fun.  The prize was an all expense paid trip to Orlando, Florida and Nickelodeon Studios to participate in the game show.  Over the course of that elimination round we also won caps and jackets and other Nickelodeon Studios paraphernalia.  

2. What was your first impression of the Nickelodeon Studios when you got there?   Nickelodeon put us up in a hotel near Universal Studios and on the day of the taping we drove to the back lot and actually, from the outside, it was pretty nondescript.  In fact, as we wandered around the lot, we came across the nose picker challenge from the game show on roller wheels outside.  You probably saw us posing next to that.  I don't actually recall how we got into the studio but I do remember that the crew was very friendly and we were very well taken care of as we were escorted to the changing rooms and Green room to await our taping session. 

3, What was a typical day like being there?  Apparently, the show tapes about four episodes in the morning and then for slobstacle course finales in the afternoon.  The reason for this was obviously to economize the use of the soundstage. In the afternoon for the slobstacle course, the crew would merely clean up and rearrange the challenges between takes. In fact, just before our taping, one of my family members overheard Jason Harris criticizing the crew’s arrangement of obstacle courses and the resulting difficulty for us to have any real shot at completing.  (we never really criticized that or felt the need to challenge that because in our view, that's just the luck of the draw!)

4. Were you a fan of the original Double Dare series prior to being on the new show?  My kids loved the show and watched it every single day! The reason I know this is because I was attending the US Naval War College and was working on a 75 page thesis at home that year.  The TV was to my back but effectively, I heard every show and occasionally watched it too.  It was admittedly pretty addicting!

5. What was host Jason Harris like off camera?  Jason Harris was great! He paid a visit to us in the green room and after the show we had a chance to say hi. We got a picture with him on his way out while he was eating a sandwich! Ha ha

6. Were there any specific areas or rooms at the studios that was cool to see? Nothing specific other than outside where they staged some of the obstacles.  I will say though that the soundstage was neat and that the audience for the show was actually very, very small. I would argue most of the audience comprised family members for the contestants. 

7. Describe the feeling of getting slimed.  Slime looks really bad on TV but as we were told, it's actually made of edible food stuff including applesauce and flour and other stuff. It was a ton of fun to get slimed, didn’t taste bad, was fun to dive through the gak vat, and basically, be a kid!

8. Did you ever get to go on any of the rides at Universal Studios Florida and if so what was your favorite?  As I recall we didn't get a sizable discount to go into the park after the show, but we still headed in!  There were two notable rides that we loved: first, dualing dragons and second, the incredible hulk.  My young daughter was super bummed that she couldn't ride on the roller coasters and after a few years, we had to go back so she could have a shot.  What a great park!

9. Of course the set of the show was huge and the obstacle course is iconic. Any type of prop you would've loved to own from the set?  Nose-picker - hands down.  With that little experience we had in the back lot seeing it all by itself yet knowing that it was so famous, that's the one I would want.  Besides, I have a picture with my family (especially my kids) next to it!

10. Did you ever get to hang out around Orlando and do some fun stuff or was it a short vacation?  What we did, was arrange to have Nickelodeon fly us to Orlando from LA.  So, we drove from Rhode Island to LA visiting family. We then were flown to Orlando and spent about five days with other family that came with us and it was wonderful.  We didn't spend too much time doing other events other than soaking up the game show experience.  We then flew back to LA, picked up our car, and with our winnings, took an extended trip all the way back to Rhode Island, blowing every penny along the way!

11. When you first saw yourself on TV how did you react and looking back how was the experience?  It was somewhat surreal seeing ourselves on TV, how the camera crews captured our reactions, and how we interacted.  What was neat was that the family that we competed against in the showing was also the family that we went to the finals with at the mall in Rhode Island.  We almost felt bad that we beat them twice!  After the show, the dad told us that he inquired about auditioning for the show in Orlando even though it was not all expense paid.  So, Jason Harris called it the battle of the Northeast during the show!

12. Do you still have some of the prizes your family won? I'm not sure if we have any of the prizes anymore. My wife at the time and I divorced unfortunately in 2008 and at that time we still had the air hockey table.  We had a year's supply of movie tickets – all used!  We won a small see thru green Zenith television – well used but not sure where that went!  We also won a Nintendo 64 game console that has probably since been sold or sent to Goodwill.  Although we probably don't have anymore of those prizes, they gave us immense satisfaction and joy for those years after our experience. Actually, I still have my Nickelodeon Studios double dare 2000 jacket in my closet here. Nice!

13. The live studio audience was a great factor and guests taking a tour could see you all filming. From your perspective what were the audience like?  As I mentioned above, I believe the majority of the audience were family of the days’ contestants.  If I recall correctly, some audience members were Universal Studios theme park guests.  They were pretty well coached on clapping and yelling and having fun, but they were fun in their own right.  One person that was truly amazing was Tiffany, the girl who was Jason Harris' announcer.  Do you remember her?  She was so wonderful to my family and absolutely adored my daughter! At least I think her name was Tiffany… Something with the “T" at least! :-)

14. What do you think made Nick Studios so great and special?  I loved the fact that Nickelodeon Studios revolved around slime and fun and wholesome family entertainment!  The game show relied upon equal participation from the kids and the parents and that is what made the show so special.  Nick studios truly represented family fun during those days and the memories are vivid and warm!

15. Would you like to see it be reopened?  I would love to see a new Double Dare show on Nick!

16. We see it on TV and think "oh i can do that in no problem". You must've felt that way too when watching but until you physically complete the obstacle course is it much harder than it looks from TV?  I would say that the obstacles are definitely harder than they seem on TV.  Before the show, I did plenty of research to try to figure out how to maximize the win!  For example, I learned that the true way to succeed with the gak vat challenge was to launch your self as far over the balls as possible and past the slime stream to keep from getting slowed down.  With some obstacles of course, there are obviously no secrets or tricks, you just have to push through them.  With others however, there is definitely technique involved.  The hamster wheel went faster in real life than I thought it would watching the show.  Oh, and after finding out that we were going to be on the TV show, I watched every single episode I could! :)

Thanks Bilaal for the opportunity to relive that great time.  Both of those small boys are now Petty Officers 2nd Class in the US Navy.  I’m a Captain.  My youngest, my girl in some of those pictures, is a Sophomore at GCU in Phoenix.  Time goes fast and experiences such as this are so fleeting.  I was so blessed to have this experience.  Just this past Christmas, my kids, my wife and I rendezvoused in Orlando for the first time since that great summer in 2000.  Magical and so much fun.  

Rich West interview

You never know how much work art directors and prop masters put into when filming a tv show is like but believe me what they do is fascinating. Rich West is certainly one of those artists who worked during the early years of Nickelodeon Studios and saw firsthand the continued success of it. In our interview below find out how much his job influenced how much he loves becoming set designer at theme parks and why the Nick Studios was a groundbreaking move in history. All for the documentary!

1. How did you become involved with Nickelodeon?

 In 1991 I was trying to break into the "Production" industry as a Designer. I was waiting tables at night, while interviewing during the day. I had somehow gathered up enough courage and "cold called" the Nick Art Dept. To my surprise, they set up a meeting for me. I put on a Suit and Tie (A quality not often associated with me) and brought in my portfolio of Art Work for review. The interview went well I thought, but ironically it was NOT my illustration and design work that got me the Job. At the last minute I had included a few photos of Model kits I had built thinking it might help show an additional talent (I recall including a model of the Spindrift from 'Land of the Giants' and an Eagle Transporter from 'Space: 1999'). As it turned out, the Studio had recently shot a pilot episode for a new series called 'Clairissa Explains it All'. In it, the character of the Father was supposed to be a somewhat eccentric Architect who would render his buildings in "Googie" style. It was also formatted that the character would build models of his crazy concepts at home. Although the models in my portfolio were store bought kits, this particular skill was immediately recognized as important for the production of the series which had just been green-lit for 6 new episodes. "Dad" would often be building a new model in episodes and I was given the job of chief Model maker. I also shared in the week to week general prop fabrication with another prop builder. After the first six episodes I went onto other Nick shows over the summer and was brought back for another 6 episodes of 'Clairrisa' before leaving for Disney's 'Adventures in Wonderland'.

2. What was your first impression of the Nickelodeon Studios when you got there?

BIG. I was also amazed at how extremely well set up the entire operation was. No detail, no equipment, no anything was left out. They had everything there you could possibly need to do your job. You would seldom have to leave the property to go get anything and If they didn't have it, they would get it for you. The Art Department was stocked full with reference books, material samples, art supplies, everything necessary for your job.  Each Sound stage had their own Tool Cabinet, but there was an even a larger 'Tool Crib' you could go to to sign out any additional tool or power equipment imaginable to do your job. The Studio had its own Mail Room for shipping, Kitchen for making slime, Sewing room. etc. etc. If a bomb were to ever go off, or the Zombie apocalypse happened, you could successfully live and survive at Nickelodeon Studios. 

3. What was a typical day like being there?

It was a standard 10 1/2 hour day as I recall. The first part of the week we read the scripts and broke down the fabricated props required for the new episode. It was then identified who would be responsible and fabrication would start. The last part of the week we filmed the episode. The Prop and Carpentry Departments were also located on the same Sound Stage as filming, just off to the side, which made it difficult. When camera's began rolling for a scene a loud bell would go off signaling silence on the stage and you had to remain absolutely still until they got the take. This went on all day. Not too easy when you're fabricating and using power tools. 

4. One of your earliest roles there was an illustrator for the game show Get the Picture. Is it an easy task at first to be on a game show where everything is fast-paced?

Actually quite easy. As an illustrator my work was produced weeks before they shot the episodes. Approved art work was then brought up stairs into Post Production on the second floor where they would edit it into the episodes. I was never on set.

5. Is there a bit of a difference between working on a game show and then a scripted series?

Absolutely. While both a Game Show and a Scripted Series have a standing set, the scripted series will usually require a "Limbo set" area. Scripts are usually written creatively with new scenes that take place off of the main standing set. This open area of a sound stage is used for additional set work, which means it has to be designed, constructed, dressed and lit in a very short turn around time. The scene is filmed and then struck for the next temporary set per the next script's requirements. I recall 'Clarissa' having a lot of new sets every week as there were a lot of creative cutaways . One that comes to mind is a dream sequence of Ferguson (Clarissa'a brother) in a Russian Gulag peeling Potatoes. It required a lot of additional work for what was probable a 20 second clip.

6.Orlando back then was shaped up to be Hollywood East but never lived up to it. How great was it to have all the film production going on in the area and why it has since decreased?

I actually moved to Orlando because of "Hollywood East". Then, after several years of working in TV production, I left and went into the Theme Park industry. I did this for two reasons. The first was my early perception that TV and Movie Production in Florida was drying up. Tax incentives for outside Productions to come to "Hollywood East" were being bungled by the State of Florida. The second and main reason is I found prop making and model building to be a rather bohemian lifestyle with sporadic freelance employment. I enjoyed making props for these shows and it was very second nature to me, but I preferred the challenge and more formal structure of being a Show Set Designer for the Theme parks. I made the switch in the late 90's and am still in this industry.

7. Have you been slimed yourself?

Happily not.

8. Favorite ride at Universal Orlando? Past and present.

I absolutely love the wonderful whimsey of 'Seuss Landing' at Islands of Adventure and In particular, the 'One Fish Two Fish' Ride. It's just so doggone happy and sweet. Universal is very good at thrill rides and dropping people from 80 feet in the air, but we don't often do sweet, simple and happy. Certainly not in todays market. Seuss Landing is filled with sweetness. The 'High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride' is just too marvelous for words!

9. Do you still own any of the props there?

I have many photographs I took of my model work and props at Nickelodeon before turning them over to the Studio. I also keep copies of all hand drawn design work.

10. How great was all the staff who worked there? I always hear positive stories.

I think we cut our teeth at Nickelodeon. Many of the people I worked with originally are still in the industry.

11. For Clarissa Explains it All was the pet alligator considered to be a prop and did it ever cause any chaos ?

The Pet Alligator was rubber. Close-ups of a real Alligator were pre-shot (only once) and then edited in to the particular episodes as needed.

12. What do you recall the most about the green slime geyser that was outside the front of the studio?

It was part of a whole different world. I was usually isolated on the Sound Stages and seldom saw the light of day, except for coming into work in the morning.

13. What would you say was responsible for the studio's downfall?

I had moved on by this time and was in the Theme Park Industry by then, so I don't really know. I had heard on the street that the Studio wanted to do more cost effective animation (Sponge Bob) and that this type of work was better suited to New York and L.A. 

Let me know if you find out why.

14. You may not be aware but how do you feel knowing that the studios and all the great 90s Nickelodeon shows made such a positive impact on fans and is still loved today?

 Happily amused. I grew up on shows like 'Lost In Space', 'The Munsters' and 'Space: 1999' and thought they were just the most magical things ever in my kid life. It never occurred to me that my work at Nickelodeon Studios would contribute to a similar impact on kids of that generation. In fact, this is the first I'm hearing of this notion. Wow.

15.  Do you mind explaining what you have been up to these days?

I work for Universal Studios as a Show Set Designer and Art Director. I have often been a designer for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights. Currently though, I'm an Art Director for the new Harry Potter/Diagon Alley experience that we're opening up this summer. (Hint; It's going to be HUGE!)

16. Favorite behind the scenes memory.

I was the Field Scenic Art Director for Universal's 'The Mummy's Revenge' and was given the task of designing the figural hieroglyphs throughout the Attraction's Queue walls. The small drawings I did on 11 x 17 paper had to be transferred full size onto the walls and the process to do this was causing the Egyptian figures to look terribly wobbly, like they were drunk. I had to come back in with a red pencil and re-draw on top of the full scale figures so they would be correctly painted by the Scenic Artists. There I was, very early morning, in the dark, the walls illuminated only by the spot light on my hard hat. The queue was so well designed that It actually felt like you were in an egyptian tomb and it was creepy in there. The next day I happened to be flipping through an Egyptian art book when I noticed something in one of the photographs. Red Lines. Very similar red lines to the ones I was making on my figures. As it turns out, Egyptian Priest would often take a red pencil and do final refinement on the hieroglyphs before the slaves painted them. I had been doing the same exact thing... 3,500 years later.   I should also mention, I placed an egyptian version of The Robot from 'Lost in Space' into the Hieroglyphs as a tribute to something that had inspired me to become artist. (I'll never tell where)

17. Do you think your experience being there was a learning process in terms of the work you do now in a beneficial way?

Absolutely. It was all part of an evolutionary process. It's interesting to note that the physical models I was building, I now do in a 3D program called SketchUp. The future is Fantastic!

18. What do you think made Nick Studios so great and special?

I think it was one of the first venues in Florida that offered many artists a larger than life opportunity to express themselves and cultivate a career from it.   

 

19. Would you like to see it be re-opened?

I love any opportunity that could potential inspire a new generation to know what they want to do in life.

Rich thanks so much for allowing me to interview you and being a part of this project. Be sure to let you when it is released and hope to keep in touch!

Thanks for the opportunity Bilaal!