Nowadays, you don't have to go far to watch your favorite TV show - you just open your laptop and stream whatever you're in the mood for. This technological development has provided the perfect venue for Tufts University Television's (TUTV) productions. The most popular of these, the long?running college drama "In Motion," is set to return for its seventh and final season in the coming weeks, making it the perfect time to turn on the Mac and tune in to see just how talented Tufts' student body truly is.
"In Motion" came into being just over three years ago. After attending a general interest meeting for TUTV, show creator and senior Thomas Martinez set out to develop a web series centered on college life, complete with "the good, the bad and the unmentionable." Drawing inspiration from shows such as "Skins" and TUTV's own "Mouthwash" (2008), Martinez moved forward with his plans, ready to do whatever he could to get his show off the ground.
Looking back, he admits that this was far from easy. "It took my being really committed to the project to make it go because we ran into so many drawbacks throughout the beginning of it," he said. "I learned that because it was my idea ... I really had to step up."
For Martinez, this involved writing the scripts, directing, filming, editing and even starring in the series, all of which he still does today. As the cast and crew have attested, "In Motion" was and always will be Martinez's project, and for them, his commitment is truly an impressive feat.
Martinez's diligence eventually paid off and, by late 2008, the show had moved into production. Seven successful semesters later, "In Motion" continues, having evolved and grown into something that barely resembles what it was all those years ago. As the show and those working on it learned and progressed, episodes became neater, more thought out and far better acted. Martinez even began to mix students' music into the episodes to promote their work. Much of this progression is thanks to TUTV, which over time allowed them to improve their cameras, begin utilizing lighting and boom poles and move to filming some of their material in studio space. Despite this growth, Martinez notes that, even today, the basic theme hasn't changed.
"We try to capture what it's like to be in college, the ebb and flow of friendships and relationships and how convoluted it can get at times," he said.
And convoluted it certainly gets. Actress J.T. Vancollie, a senior who plays the caring, overly religious Hannah Marx, illustrated this point.
"There's a lot of drama that probably wouldn't happen to the average person, but we're going to have every possible situation happen," she said.
Whether it's breakups or death threats, drug use or relationship abuse, "In Motion" isn't afraid to cover heavy topics. It's this realism that makes the show relatable for college students. With the upcoming season, Martinez promises to push boundaries further with plot lines involving a character's journey through the process of coming out, a pregnancy/STI affair and plenty of "good, old?fashioned relationships."
To craft such stories, Martinez and his writers get to work months in advance, honing the big?picture ideas into feasible plots and eventually transforming these into actual scripts. Serving as one of the main writers for seasons six and seven, sophomore Sydney Post commented on how the show's plot has grown, creating greater difficulties and joys in the production process.
"I think it's gotten so much bigger, which is great because it gives us an opportunity to stretch what we can do ... It also tends to present the problem of 'when have you gone too far, when has it gotten a little too ridiculous,' but I think toeing that line is still pretty fun," she said.
One of the characters responsible for grounding those who toe the line is the spunky, stylish Sadie Harding, played by series faithful Shaun Engstrom, a senior. Along with Martinez, who plays protagonist Nick Anderson, Engstrom is one of only two actors to have appeared in every season. Like much of the original cast, she was drafted in 2008 by Martinez - her fellow Tilton Hall?mate then - and has stayed beside him ever since. For Engstrom, an international relations major with almost no interest in theater, this decision comes more out of a sense of homage than anything else.
"I made a commitment to him and I'm honestly so proud of him ... He stuck to this, and I stuck to him," Engstrom said.
Of course, Engstrom admitted there have been perks to sticking with the show, such as acting out dramatic moments from time to time. Her favorite of these moments?
"The moment that I got to break up with Thomas," she laughed. "I rarely get to have dramatic scenes, and it was dramatic ... I got to storm out, so that was a lot of fun."
Engstrom mentioned that actors shoot for between 15 and 18 hours a semester on valuable Saturdays and Sundays, about four hours each day. This process and the complications accompanying it differ depending on the actor. For example, Engstrom noted that for her, not much effort is required to get into character.
"My character involves very little preparation because I've been playing her for so long, and I know the rhythm," she said.
Conversely, for Vancollie, shaping her role has involved a bit more effort at times. From developing a character originally played by another actress to having her on?screen boyfriend recast between seasons, she has certainly had her share of challenges.
"That kind of changed how my character dealt with [the relationship]," she explained. "There was a very different chemistry there."
Yet Vancollie has accepted these challenges and even enjoyed them in a sense. These difficulties have served as experience and preparation for the acting career she seeks to pursue.
"It's nice to see how you've progressed as an actress," she added.
Unfortunately, though, after seven seasons and countless memorable moments, such as cameos from University Presidents Larry Bacow and Anthony Monaco, "In Motion" will come to an end. While this holds different meanings for everyone on the show, there is a universal sadness in seeing it leave along with its cast members, many of whom are in their senior year.
"It's time to be done," Engstrom admitted, "and Thomas feels the same way."
Originally, Martinez and some of the crew had tossed around the idea of continuing the show after he graduated, but Post, who would have assumed most of the responsibilities, confessed that she didn't feel right taking on Martinez's project.
"I didn't think that I could do the show justice without Thomas; he's just so invested in it. It's his baby, and I wouldn't trust anyone else to run it as he does," Post said.
She explained that Martinez plans to leave the show "on an uplifting note" and that the audience should expect "a happy ending ... ish."
As for details to this ending, Martinez wouldn't reveal too much, but teased fans just a bit. He hinted at a "flash?forward" sort of ending that many shows, films and novels employ - take "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" (2011), for example.
"We're going to mock that form in an interesting way. It will also service the characters in a refreshing, new way," he said.
For Martinez, leaving behind a completed project like "In Motion" is an accomplishment, one that he is quite proud of. More than anything else, though, he hopes that by watching the show, "people will be inspired to do their own thing."
With the services available at TUTV, including equipment and space for those interested in shooting their own web series, such a feat isn't all that difficult. Simply email TUTV@tufts.edu to get involved and start working on your own show.
"Really, all you need is an idea and we can get you started," said Martinez, who is also the president of TUTV.
A variety of other students have followed that route, evidenced by the number of shows now in production at TUTV. From a sketch comedy known as "The Institute" to a new sitcom coming out from junior Stephanie Fischer, TUTV is far from limited in what it can produce.
With the help of TUTV advisor Howard Woolf and a team of his fellow students, freshman Jacob Lipson has developed his own show, "3E News," a sort of entertaining yet informative web newscast. Much like "In Motion," hours of work go into producing the show, from developing stories to cover, to writing and filming them, to finally editing the stories to form a cohesive piece. With a sense of commitment resembling Martinez's, Lipson hopes "to create an environment for the rest of the team where everyone can grow, feel comfortable regardless of experience or time commitment and, most importantly, have fun."
This program might be just what TUTV needs to keep the student body entertained now that "In Motion" is coming to a halt.
For those involved with "In Motion," this is an emotional fact, for the show was a vital part of their college experience. When it's all said and done, the legacy Martinez imagines his show will leave behind is simple, yet sincere.
"I tried to present what I see as the true side of college," he said.
He hopes that longtime fans have seen and will continue to see that in the show.
"In Motion" returns for its final season on Tuesday, March 27, at 7 p.m. on YouTube. Whether or not you're new to the show, catch up and tune in, because, despite lacking a big network name, "In Motion" is very worth watching.
