http://blogs.insidelacrosse.com/2008/09/03/qa-90210-lacrosse-consultant-scott-hochstadt/#more-2957
The question of the day here at the IL offices is whether or not you watched the debut of the CW’s 90210 remake last night.
Not only because we were interested in seeing Brenda and Kelly again (Shannon Doherty and Jennie Garth reprise their characters as adults), but also because lacrosse is prominently featured at West Beverly Hills High.
From the casual mention of lacrosse practice to a solid on-field sequence, it seems that lax has replaced water polo as the IT sport for west-coast high schoolers.
Each week the show airs a new episode, we’ll come up with some analysis of the lacrosse scenes for you.
This week, we’ll start things off by introducing you to the man behind the lacrosse on 90210, Scott Hochstadt. Later in the day, we’ll get you our analysis on the first episodes.
Hochstadt, a three-time All-American attackman at Maryland (’99), currently wears a lot of hats in the L.A. area. He started Starz Lacrosse Club in 2004 and consults with films and TV producers on lacrosse scenes through Happy Madison, a production company founded by Adam Sandler.
He started working on the show when the producers contacted him about consulting for the remake.
Inside Lacrosse: What was your production background like? Have you done anything like this before?
Scott Hochstadt: Actually, I worked on an episode of House where lacrosse was the main theme. Basically this star player has a panic attack or something on the field in the beginning and then comes back and scores the game winner. I was actually in it – I played the guy who scored the game winner. So I’m out here getting involved in various things. I actually had a speaking part in that episode, but they cut it. Though I still get some money every time it comes on the air.
IL: I know that airs on USA network in reruns, so that must be pretty cool.
SH: Yeah and it actually airs internationally as well.
IL: So what have you been doing for 90210?
SH: Basically I’ve been working on a series of lacrosse scenes in the episodes that you see now and ones that are coming up. I’m trying to spread the game and get it out into the public this way. You’ll see it more and more in the show and it’s cool. They use lacrosse terminology throughout, like, “I have go to lacrosse practice” or “ I checked him at the dinner table.”
IL: How did you prepare the actors for the scenes?
SH: We did some training twice a week for a month or so and then spent a bunch of time together off the field.
IL: Did you take them to any pro games, like the Riptide?
SH: No, we basically kind of watched a lot of game films at the house and our weekends were kind of limited, so it would have been hard.
IL: Did any of the actors ever play the game before?
SH: No, but one of the guys, Dustin Milligan (who plays team captain Ethan on the show) is Canadian, so he knew about it. But he never played. Tristan Wilds (who plays newcomer phenom Dixon), well, he’s from NY originally, so he got his first taste here.
IL: Tristan Wilds spent some time in Baltimore shooting seasons four and five of HBO’s The Wire, but he didn’t pick up lacrosse there at all?
SH: No, I don’t think so.
IL: So how did Warrior get involved? It looks like they’re sponsoring a bunch of the equipment.
SH: I connected Warrior with the show, but the show doesn’t own the equipment. It’s actually owned by Happy Madison Productions, Adam Sandler’s company. They bought a sports wardrobe company, SportsRobe, which houses all the sports memorabilia. They basically provide the equipment for every big sports movie you’ve seen. Rudy, Miracle, any big sports movie, you name it, they’ve probably done it.
So they created an aisle for all the lacrosse gear we have and now when anything needs to be shot using lacrosse equipment, they come there.
IL: In last night’s episode, there were a couple of practice scenes. What else will we see?
SH: Right now it’s just the guys on the field practicing but we’re going to get into some games. There will be someone who scores goals and becomes a star.
IL: How involved in the scenes are you?
SH: I direct the scenes and the action on the field. We use some stunt doubles for the more advanced moves. Xander Ritz, Jimmy Borell of the L.A. Riptide and Jason Leneau were in it. Leneau was the stunt double for Tristan Wilds, they have the same frame.
Then, after each scene, I’d go in the tent and break down the angles with the director and re-shoot if we need to.
IL: The action scenes are much more interesting than in any previous lacrosse sequence I’ve seen. Why did you decide to go with the roll-dodges and swim moves?
SH: I wanted to spice it up and make it look like it’s legit. We didn’t want it to look like American Pie where he’s running down the field and he’s got the chinstrap covering his nose.
IL: So what does the future hold for lacrosse in this show? When’s the next big lax episode?
SH: We’re just done filming some more of the show, but I don’t know when it will be in it. It will probably be in five of the ten coming up, but I’m not sure. I’ve got to meet with them this week.
laxbuzz
