From Phelps to Platteville, Ashland to Racine and everything in between, the "Discover Wisconsin" TV crew has covered a whole lot of ground in the Dairy State, and with their travels come great stories. You've seen their work and now you'll get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it's like to be part of the #DWcrew; get to know a few of the crew members who help make the "Discover Wisconsin" magic happen. Here are producer Olivia Gilbert, cinematographer Teddy Maier and host and brand manager, Mariah Haberman:
How long does it typically take to film an episode?
Gilbert: Typically we shoot each episode in eight or nine days. A majority of the content is shot during the summer.
What do you do in your downtime when at a destination?
Meier: Try to find the best restaurant in town. Eat some great food and drink a cold beer. After that, I like to review the footage that we shot and discuss how the day went with the crew.
Gilbert: If we have time after a shoot, it's always fun checking out local restaurants and exploring the town a bit. Every place we visit has its own flavor.
Be honest, do you have a favorite Wisconsin destination?
Haberman: Can I pick an entire region? If so, I'd say the driftless area. I've always felt that southwestern Wisconsin is so underrated.
What Wisconsin destinations have you not gone to but would like to?
Meier: Apostle Islands. Just seeing some of the things that we filmed there makes me want to have my own adventure there.
Haberman: I'd like to discover more of our state parks. (There are 66 in the state.) I'd also like to experience more of downtown Milwaukee. And I've always wanted to visit Little Bohemia in Manitowish Waters to see the holes and artifacts from the 1934 John Dillinger shoot-out.
What's the biggest challenge you've encountered at a shoot?
Haberman: Since we do a lot of filming outdoors, we are at Mother Nature's beck and call. Audio is always a challenge too. Case in point: I shot an interview at a "quiet" park in a small town last week and we had to delay the interview due to traffic whizzing by, children playing in the park and the construction going on nearby ... there's always something.
Who on the crew is the funniest and why?
Meier: (Cinematographer) Anh Vo. That guy can say one line and you'll be laughing. He is awesome.
Gilbert: Definitely Mariah. Her comments behind the scenes are hilarious. We always have a good time.
Haberman: Thanks O. Everyone is hilarious in their own way, honestly. I always say, this job is great but it wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable if I didn't genuinely enjoy the company of my fellow crew members. We spend so much time on the road together.
What's a typical "day in the life" at a shoot?
Meier: It usually requires a lot of driving. When we arrive at the shoot, we spend time strategizing what and how we're going to film ... then the TV magic happens.
What's the best food you've tried on a shoot?
Gilbert: I'm obsessed with the Rhino Crunch served at Lola's Lunchbox in Phillips. It's amazing.
Haberman: Oh my gosh ... that stuff was so addicting. I also loved the cherry stuffed French toast at the White Gull Inn in Door County, the cheese curds at Stone Cellar Brewpub in Appleton and pear and gorgonzola pizzette I tried recently while filming at Villa Dolce Cafe in Middleton. I could go on about food for days.
Meier: The brats at Sly's Midtown Saloon in Sheboygan. I don't know what they do to the brats there, but they are delicious. (Make sure you eat it the traditional way.)
What's the most bizarre thing you've had to do at a shoot?
Meier: Cows getting manicures. Never knew that this sort of thing existed ...
- Mariah Haberman, Olivia Gilbert and Teddy Maier are crew members of the nation's longest-running tourism TV show, "Discover Wisconsin." The column is published Tuesday on the Life page in the Times.
How long does it typically take to film an episode?
Gilbert: Typically we shoot each episode in eight or nine days. A majority of the content is shot during the summer.
What do you do in your downtime when at a destination?
Meier: Try to find the best restaurant in town. Eat some great food and drink a cold beer. After that, I like to review the footage that we shot and discuss how the day went with the crew.
Gilbert: If we have time after a shoot, it's always fun checking out local restaurants and exploring the town a bit. Every place we visit has its own flavor.
Be honest, do you have a favorite Wisconsin destination?
Haberman: Can I pick an entire region? If so, I'd say the driftless area. I've always felt that southwestern Wisconsin is so underrated.
What Wisconsin destinations have you not gone to but would like to?
Meier: Apostle Islands. Just seeing some of the things that we filmed there makes me want to have my own adventure there.
Haberman: I'd like to discover more of our state parks. (There are 66 in the state.) I'd also like to experience more of downtown Milwaukee. And I've always wanted to visit Little Bohemia in Manitowish Waters to see the holes and artifacts from the 1934 John Dillinger shoot-out.
What's the biggest challenge you've encountered at a shoot?
Haberman: Since we do a lot of filming outdoors, we are at Mother Nature's beck and call. Audio is always a challenge too. Case in point: I shot an interview at a "quiet" park in a small town last week and we had to delay the interview due to traffic whizzing by, children playing in the park and the construction going on nearby ... there's always something.
Who on the crew is the funniest and why?
Meier: (Cinematographer) Anh Vo. That guy can say one line and you'll be laughing. He is awesome.
Gilbert: Definitely Mariah. Her comments behind the scenes are hilarious. We always have a good time.
Haberman: Thanks O. Everyone is hilarious in their own way, honestly. I always say, this job is great but it wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable if I didn't genuinely enjoy the company of my fellow crew members. We spend so much time on the road together.
What's a typical "day in the life" at a shoot?
Meier: It usually requires a lot of driving. When we arrive at the shoot, we spend time strategizing what and how we're going to film ... then the TV magic happens.
What's the best food you've tried on a shoot?
Gilbert: I'm obsessed with the Rhino Crunch served at Lola's Lunchbox in Phillips. It's amazing.
Haberman: Oh my gosh ... that stuff was so addicting. I also loved the cherry stuffed French toast at the White Gull Inn in Door County, the cheese curds at Stone Cellar Brewpub in Appleton and pear and gorgonzola pizzette I tried recently while filming at Villa Dolce Cafe in Middleton. I could go on about food for days.
Meier: The brats at Sly's Midtown Saloon in Sheboygan. I don't know what they do to the brats there, but they are delicious. (Make sure you eat it the traditional way.)
What's the most bizarre thing you've had to do at a shoot?
Meier: Cows getting manicures. Never knew that this sort of thing existed ...
- Mariah Haberman, Olivia Gilbert and Teddy Maier are crew members of the nation's longest-running tourism TV show, "Discover Wisconsin." The column is published Tuesday on the Life page in the Times.