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CNN Live At Daybreak

Things a Bit Shaky on Soap Set of "Guiding Light"

Aired August 07, 2001 - 08:47   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
VINCE CELINNI, CNN ANCHOR: Nothing can rattle nerves more than an earthquake, even it is isn't real.

Jodi Ross has more from the set of "Guiding Light" in New York.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROSS (voice-over): Things are a bit shaky on the soap set of "Guiding Light." An earthquake hits the San Cristobel Palace, rattling the nerves of at least a half a dozen cast members.

LAURA BELL BUNDY, ACTRESS: This is exciting stuff. I mean, there's not a show that I can remember that had an earthquake.

KIM ZIMMER, ACTRESS: This is where it's at now. You know, everybody's competing with everybody in daytime, trying to compete with each other and compete with things that happen in nighttime, where they have eight days to do something like this. We are fortunate with this that we have two days.

ROSS: Two days to shatter windows, tumble pilasters and basically bring the castle crashing to the ground.

BRUCE BARRY, SENIOR DIRECTOR: The mechanics of this kind of thing are just incredible. There are in some scenes, could be up to 15 physical cues that have to happen specifically at a certain time.

DREW JIRITANO, SPECIAL EFFECTS COORDINATOR: There you go. Pretty fun, huh? Like using -- like using a little joystick.

We had a pneumatic system that knocked over these statues in this particular area.

ROSS: Drew Jiritano is the special effects coordinator.

JIRITANO: The whole set is built on this airbag system, and you can see the airbag popping up right now. So what happens is it creates a lot of bounce for anyone who's up on the set. And it's going up right now.

ROSS (on camera): OK. I've been in a real earthquake, and this is a little too real.

JIRITANO: Right. There you go. ROSS: Wow!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Five, four, three...

ZIMMER: It's so real up there. It really is so real. And it helps. It obviously helps. We don't have to do the old "Star Trek," you know, thing, because it's moving. They're moving it for us.

BELL: It's very, very difficult for me to be where I needed to be emotionally. In the mix of everything, I had to remember where to step, where I couldn't step, that things were going to be falling on me.

ROSS (voice-over): There are stunt doubles for some of the trickier moves, but this cast seems willing to shake, rumble and roll for the sake of the small screen.

Hold it! That's all we can show you, but there's still one secret to be shared. The debris and dust from the ceiling is actually oatmeal.

BELL: I'm afraid to turn on the hot water. I might -- you might be able to eat out of my hair.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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