Taskmaster University is a live, multi-camera panel game show event where contestants present a series of pre-recorded and live tasks to seek the approval of the elusive Taskmaster. Based on the hit UK television show Taskmaster.
Taskmaster, created by Alex Horne is one of my favourite shows of all time. I’m not a comedian, nor am I working in television in the UK, so the chances of me being a part of this crazy show are slim to none (unless they make a Canadian version, if so, I hope they hit me up). Creating a Taskmaster University (TMU) version as a proof of concept was the best thing I could do and it served as my final project in my advanced multicamera course.
TMU presented many unique challenges as a game show with both prerecorded and live segments in addition to the live event aspect. The course itself also required us to not use the studios available to us, we had to make or adapt our own.
As executive producer and technical producer, it was my job to bring the idea to life. Working alongside my co-producer and creative producer Ayla Goodrow and a very talented crew, we developed each task, coordinated contestants, and gathered supplies. My job involved scouting locations, creating technical plans and equipment orders for both the pre-shoots and the live event. When it was production day, we turned a large classroom into a functional multi-camera studio, complete with its own control room. I also technical-directed the production, which we recorded live-to-tape with a small studio audience.
Taskmaster University
Produced by Ayla Goodrow and Brooke McCarthy
Associate Produced by Ellie Zapata
Technical Directed by Brooke McCarthy
Directed by Bianca Stojanovic
Edited by Julia Fasan
Audio by Shirley Huo
Audio assisted by Stefan Paul
Written by Bianca Lefebvre
Graphics by Bella Bracaglia
Animation by Veronika Kulin
Camera operation by Maria Hogan, Sofia Shevchuk, Keertan Somasundaram, & Rachel Tekabo
Starring Emen Trussart, Alex Dashwood, Trinity Huff, & Rosa Mutheardy
Special thanks to Brian Withers, Ryan Sykes, Karen Sebesta, Jaclyn Mika, & the EDC Staff