I haven't done any interviews in awhile and I decided it was time to get that started up again. I asked my friend, Rebecca, if she wouldn't mind answering a few questions . If I haven't said this before (though I'm sure I have at least several times), One Tree Hill seriously changed my life in just a few short months of watching. I've been able to meet so many wonderful people on the show and who watch the show, that I probably wouldn't have come in contact with otherwise. Rebecca and I technically met through Twitter, because a lot of us One Tree Hill fans follow one another. It turned out that we were both going to the rehearsal of Sophia Bush's new show, Partners at WB back in March. We talked for quite awhile after in the parking garage and kept in contact after that. We were able to hang out again just about a month later, when Carrie Underwood came to LA to tape Jimmy Kimmel, and the rest is history. Even though we haven't known each other for very long, it feels like we've known each other forever. Rebecca just finished up her internship in LA, so I thought I'd ask her a few questions about that, her love for One Tree Hill and some of her favorite experiences with the show. Read on :)
First off,
tell us a little bit about yourself(hometown, family, school, major, etc) What
are some of your hobbies or anything else you'd like to share?
Hello! To start off, my name is Rebecca Michelson
and I’m originally from a small suburb just outside of Philadelphia, PA called
Maple Glen. However, I like to call myself a jet-setter because I am all over
the place! I go to school in Boston, MA at Northeastern University and I am
entering my fourth year when I go back in the fall. I am studying Communication
Studies with a focus in media and a Media Production minor. Outside of school,
I love watching television (which I should, because I’m studying it after all)
and I also love playing my guitar. I’m not very good yet, but I love playing
and singing when no one’s home ;) It’s such a great stress reliever!
You came out
to LA for an internship in the entertainment business. What was that experience
like for you and what did you learn from working behind the scenes? Were you
able to narrow down what you'd like to do if you continued a career in the
entertainment field?
I absolutely loved my entire experience out in Los
Angeles! I actually did my very first internship in the entertainment business
last spring (2011) at The Dr. Oz Show in New York City. It really taught me so
much about myself and the industry, so I felt much more prepared moving out to
LA by myself and pursuing not one, but two different internships in the
business. For those who don’t know, I worked part time at both Dick Clark
Productions and at ABC for the daytime soap opera General Hospital while I was
living in Marina del Rey from January to June of 2012. Also, for those who
don’t know, these internships were part of my school’s co-op program, to which
I am very grateful because I would not be where I am today without it. The
co-op program allows every student, if we wish, to take classes for 6 months
and then work for 6 months in the field of our choice, anywhere in the world. I
have an advisor at school who is very helpful in finding me jobs for which I
then apply and interview for, like a regular job.
These jobs taught me so much about working behind
the scenes and so much about myself and what I want to do in the future.
Through Dr. Oz and GH, I’ve learned about working directly on hit (and
emmy-winning) TV shows and what goes on behind the scenes. From working at Dick
Clark, I learned what goes into making those hit television shows from scratch
and also what goes into putting on live television events such as The Golden
Globes and The Academy of Country Music Awards. However, after my three
internships, I feel no closer to deciding what I want to do in my future. There
are so many different roads to go down, but I’m leaning toward production. I
love the mix of creativity and organization that it requires, and I think it
would be a good fit for me.
What were some
of the highlights of your trip?
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What were some
of your favorite places to hang out while you were out here?
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You're a huge
fan of One Tree Hill, since that's how we met (thank you Mark Schwahn). Who was
your favorite character and how did you relate to him/her most?
Wilmington, North Carolina will always have a special place in my heart. I convinced my mom to take me on a road trip to down to NC in August of 2011. She had barely ever watched the show before, but knew it was important to me, so she agreed. I made her watch all 8 seasons in 6 weeks, and then she was officially hooked! We drove 10 hours down to Wilmington and set up in the Hilton hotel on the river. We had the most amazing five days that I could have asked for. We spent an entire day visiting all the sets and locations from the show, including the Rivercourt, Tric, Clothes Over Bros/Karen’s Cafe, Nathan and Haley’s first date bench, the bridge, all the character’s houses (which are actually real people’s houses!) and various stores used on the show. We also spent a morning doing the set tour at Screen Gems, in which they take you to three different sets from the show. At our tour, we got to see Red Bedroom Records, Brooke and Julian’s house and Haley and Nathan’s house. The entire experience was so, completely surreal. Seeing these sets in real life that I watch on TV every week and getting to sit on Naley’s couch and browse the pictures on Brulian’s fridge. How many fans of the show from all over the world never get that chance? I am so lucky. After my trip, it made watching the show so much more sentimental. OTH came back for Season 9 just a few short months after I had been to Wilmington and suddenly, everything seemed more real. I knew exactly where the cast was walking outside and what restaurants they were eating at. While I’ve always loved One Tree Hill, I finally felt a part of it after my trip.
And I had a great interaction with the cast while I
was in Wilmington! Long story short, there were only two on location filming
days while I was there: Thursday night at the airport and Friday during the day
at Tree Hill Cafe (which is really the Port City Java on the corner of Front
and Grace). I was lucky enough to extra at Tree Hill Cafe as a cafe patron! The
scene was with Joy, Lee, Antwon and my favorite, Sophia. It was a dream come
true to be able to act in a scene on my favorite show, let alone with my
absolute favorite actress. I also was fortunate enough to start multiple takes
behind the gorgeous women and the babies that played Jude and Davis. It was
such a wonderful, magnificent day!
This is such a tough question, and I’m sitting here
going back and forth about my answer. I know I should say something cliche like
my mom or my grandmother. And they have influenced me a lot in how I’ve grown
up and the career that I’ve chosen. They’ve both been loving and supportive in
everything I do; my whole family has. I definitely would not be where I am in
life without my friends and family. However, I have to answer this question
honestly and say, once again, Sophia Bush. I could write you a ten page answer
to why she has been my biggest influence in life, but I won’t bore you. If you
really want to hear, contact me and I’d always be happy to talk about it! But I
discovered One Tree Hill in 2005 and realized Sophia was special not long
after. My first time meeting her was in 2006 at the FYE in Times Square and I
barely knew who she was and barely said a word, but as soon as I got in front
of her, I knew she was going to be important to my life, and that she is. Eight
years later and I still look up to her. Eight years ago, I decided I loved
Sophia because she’s gorgeous and talented, but how was I to know that she’s
philanthropic, intelligent and generous too? And one of the sweetest people I
have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I could not ask for a better role model
and I cannot think of any other person that has influenced me like her. Over
the past 8 years, I have been thankful to have met/been in Sophia’s presence
eight times. I guess eight is our lucky number then? And I’m a pure believer that
our relationship (if you can call it that at all) is based on fate. But that’s
a whole other story! I feel so lucky and so incredibly blessed for each and
every time that I’ve met this wonderfully amazing woman. Each and every day she
inspires me to give back to my community that has given me so much. I’m not
spoiled by any means, but I’ve been given a lot in life. And Sophia has taught
me to share what I’ve been given to those less fortunate. Not that my mom
doesn’t believe in giving back, but she has never encouraged me to donate to
causes. And if she knew how much I’ve donated this year with Sophia’s
influence, she might not be happy! But that’s how Sophia influences me: she’s
taught me to give up plastic bottles and use a water bobble, to support causes
like Global Green, I Am That Girl, To Write Love on Her Arms, and Fuck Cancer,
and that my one little voice can help save the world. We’re all important and
we can all make a difference. So thank you Sophia, for helping me learn and
grow. You seriously don’t know how much you mean to me.
Leave us with
5 random facts about yourself.
I’m horrible at these questions but I’ll give it a shot!
1. I
have four cats who I love with all my life: Ginger and Nutmeg (twins), Bonjovi
(the only boy), and Lexi (our special cross-eyed and crooked tail friend)
2. My
middle name is Joelle and I used to be ashamed of it. Now I love it!
3. I’ve
already picked out baby names and my first daughter will be named Johanna.
4. I’d
secretly love to try out for one of those singing reality shows because I think
it would be so much fun! And I’d also love to be on Broadway ;)
5. I
love to travel! I’ve been to London twice, France threes times, Alaska, Canada
and soon Greece and Italy! Not to mention my two cross-country road trips
within 6 months!
