What its *really* like to be on the news
You know that feeling when someone tells you, “We’d love to come film you at home!” and you smile and say yes, of course! while your internal monologue screams "AT MY HOUSE?!"
Yeah that feeling. You probably know by now that at White Pine Bath + Brew, I make soap out of rescued beer that is destined for the drain. Every once in a while, I get the opportunity to share the story of my small business on the news! But have you ever wondered what it's actually like to have a news team show up on your doorstep? Yep. It's terrifying. Well...it used to be. I have gotten a bit better about not losing sleep over it.
These opportunities always start with a hook...the business itself is often enough to pique interest. Other times, a new brewery collaboration or a unique soap recipe starts a back-and-forth over email with a journalist from a local television station. If the story is a good fit, they ask to come over for an interview and a soapmaking demo. That's when my brain goes...
Score! This is so exciting!
Which is quickly followed by...
When was the last time I ran the vacuum?!
Setting the Stage (AKA My Spare Bedroom)
My soap “studio” is my spare bedroom. We spend most of the filming time there, but that doesn't mean I don't obsessively clean my whole house for the two days leading up to filming. I operate on folding tables, store inventory in cardboard boxes (plastic makes the soap sweat), and overall make quite a go out of my DIY setup. I always wonder what the journalists are expecting...There's no commercial kitchen. No pristine white lab coats. Just me, sporting crocs and probably a weird new hairstyle.
The prep, however, is REAL.
Because of the time and complexity behind making beer soap (boil the beer, chill it, measure the oils, cook the soap for over an hour, cure it for a day, etc...) there’s no way to show it all in real time. That means I start prepping days before a news segment. I have multiple batches ready for filming - all paused at various stages of production. Remember the old 30 minute cooking shows on the Food Network when the chef puts their recipe in the fridge to chill. They always have another batch magically ready to use right away. Prepping batches for filming is just like that. Except you can't eat the soap. After the interview is over and everyone goes home, I am usually finishing up any half-started batches.
The News Crew
Here’s something I didn’t expect: the journalist really sets the tone. I can be shaking in my boots (well, crocs) as I rehearse my answers and scrub my stovetop in preparation. But when it comes to the interview itself, the journalist makes a HUGE difference. When they’re kind and curious (luckily, they usually are!) I find myself totally at ease! We chat, we laugh, and by the end of it, I feel like I've known them for years. One interviewer was so nice I grabbed a beer with her a few months later!
The other surprise? The crew is small! For some reason, I always thought a news crew entailed lots of people and big, windowless vans bedecked in satellites and antennas.
Wrong.
The teams are one or two people - max. They often show up with their gear packed into a single, small car, pulling a tripod and camera out of the trunk in a way that resembles Tetris. Suddenly I'm reminded of the years I have spent cramming a tent and totes of soap into my little Honda coupe and schlepping off to markets.
The Filming
When it comes to the interview shot itself, if the journalist can attend in person, they’re often in the shot with me. This is my favorite format. It feels like a natural conversation, and I can almost forget the camera is there. Usually I can request the questions in advance to help me feel more prepared. When the journalist can’t be there, the camera operator reads the questions to me from off-camera, only airing my answers and commentary. Suddenly, that big fish eye of a lens seems to be staring directly into my soul, and I start tripping over my words. Luckily the crew is always wicked patient and lets me redo anything I need.
The rest is process shots of me making soap - the B roll. These are the artsy close-ups of the soap being poured, sliced, and stirred. They're the footage that makes the process look smooth and simple, allowing us to convey a sense of continuity to the viewers.
That's a Wrap!
So if you’ve ever seen me on the local news talking about soap, just know it came with:
- An immaculate house (that will last for exactly one day)
- Crocs I definitely considered changing out of (but didn’t)
- A whole lot of prep work behind the scenes
- And a new appreciation for the people behind the camera
It’s wild to think that I own a business that is newsworthy. But here we are. And I’m so grateful every time someone sees it’s worth sharing! You can check out all the news features for White Pine Bath + Brew over on the PRESS page!
Cheers,
Elaine
