My HGTV - "That's Clever" Experience Details

Applying to be a "guest"...

As I said, it began with an email on a group forum inviting artists to send in photos of "crafts" to be considered for the show because they were going to be in the Houston area to shoot those that they chose.

I sent an email and they sent an application Feb.16, 2007, which I filled out and sent back. For those of you that are really curious about all the details...Click for the Application. They asked for pictures of projects I thought they might like and a picture of me. (I guess they want to make sure their guests don't have three heads or something else that might break the camera! LOL).

Next, they thought they might want to use one of my submissions so they gave me a call for a phone interview. I guess this was to make sure I could talk. All kidding aside, the producer I worked with was sooo very nice and easy to talk to... for that matter, the producers and members of the crew that came to shoot the segment were all very nice too!

Then they let me know they were considering me and my project for the show.

March 22, 2007 - They sent

Materials Form
a Checklist - very interesting. You may want to read this one even if you don't read the others.
and a Final Pitch

March 28, 2007

They sent all the release agreements to sign. In my case, we don't own our home so we had to get permission
from the owner as well and the owner had to sign a form agreeing to let them come shoot the segment. I also had to sign a personal release and...

I signed an agreement stating "All designs, ideas and materials for my "Ghost Filled Pumpkin" were mine
and that I agreed I would not be paid
and that they had the right to take pictures, video etc.
I also agreed I could not have any say in how they used the material.
It also says I can't blame them if I am embarrassed by what they do with the material.
So, in short, they can make a guest look silly and the guest can't do anything about it! LOL

MATERIALS/STEPS (DELIVERABLES) FOR HGTV WEB SITE
in other words the instructions for my project to be posted online
were emailed back to them along with all the signed release forms.

Shooting Time Approaches

April 20, 2007 I received an email from Christine, one of the field producers,
letting me know her phone number in case I needed to get in touch with her.

They came to my home the day before the actual shooting. This visit was to meet me, see and approve what I planned to wear and see what my studio looked like. They needed to see if the lights and cameras were going to fit and that it would be easy to shoot the segment. They liked what I was going to wear but I had to set up a card table and cover it with a table cloth to do the actual "claying" on so in the segment, my back is to what used to be my work table. (I have since moved it to a different room in the house.)

The next day, they came early in the afternoon. They covered the windows to my studio so the light from outside wouldn't interfere with their cameras and they set up their lights inside. While the crew was doing that, one of the producers shot the intro while the daylight was good. They wanted me to dress up in a costume and run around with my pumpkin but I declined so one of the producers wore a sheet over her head and you see her as the ghost running back and forth behind me. She is also the ghost that pops up during the segment every now and then.

Next we went inside and while the other producer put blue tape on every bottle, box, tool etc. to cover up any company names we added a few Halloween/Fall themed items around the room, remember this is April, and I sat down to begin shooting.

The process was very calm and casual and they made it very easy. They look over your instructions and then together, we decided what to say, one line at a time. I would say the line and pretend to do the step. We would decide if that sounded and looked right, then they would turn on the camera and I would say the line again and actually do the step. Then we would go on and repeat the process for the next step in the project. When needed, I would bring out the next step-out (see a Checklist above). They were very open to my suggestions and after the initial stage fright, it was very easy to do.

When the project was completed, they took a few more shots of other things I had made, shots of the pumpkin in baking in the oven and I sat down and talked about how I got started working with polymer clay and what inspired the project. I noticed they didn't use that in the segment. Probably because I wasn't prepared and I stuttered through that! LOL

Then they took down the lights, gathered the original signed copies of everything I had given them earlier and they drove away, almost never to be heard from again... at least if felt that way! LOL

A few days after that I got the email telling me what my episode number was and was told to check the website periodically to see when it was scheduled. I was very disappointed when I found out it would not be on in October of that year. Then even more disappointed in 2008 when it wasn't on and they didn't answer any emails about it. Here is a part of an email I received from the original production company that handled my segment.

About Future "That's Clever" shows... Information given to me about a year ago although as with everything to do with this experience... you don't believe it until it is so...

That's Clever is no longer "in production" meaning there are no new shows being produced. As far as if it's "over" airing on HGTV, that I cannot tell you, because I truly do not know. Basically, the network hires the production company to create these shows. They are delivered to HGTV. Producers assume that the shows booked will, in fact, air! They want them too! No one wants to go through all that time and trouble and never see the fruits of their labor! And, because the network spends so much time and money creating the shows, it is extremely rare that they will shoot shows and never air them. They can do so if they choose, but it is a big waste of money.

Final Thoughts about my experience "on" HGTV's - "That's Clever"

I enjoyed the experience. It was a once in a lifetime thing and I looked forward to seeing the results of a fun day. The producers from the beginning (phone and email) to the on the road producers and the crew were all fun people and made the day fun and easy and they are great at their job of making me, the "guest" on the show, relaxed and at ease. I am disappointed in HGTV and the powers that be there. They are not helpful and never responded to my emails. That was very discouraging. I figured the least they could do would answer questions since they do not even send a copy of the segment to the "guest". Oh well, I am still glad I did it and am happy to share the experience with you.

Trish Hodgens