By Danica Wood
In June, the University of Washington hosted filming for the HBO Max series, The Sex Lives of College Girls, created by Mindy Kaling. Filming for this series will continue July 22 through August 4, with the production upgrading accessibility and communication following feedback from the earlier filming.
The UW is standing in for the series’ fictional Essex College, meaning the University’s name will not be used. The series focuses on the lives of four college students and their experiences at Essex College in Vermont. The show features a diverse cast and utilizes satire and humor to explore issues of identity as well as the struggles many college students face.
Filming will take place this summer on the Seattle campus, primarily in the Quad, showcasing the UW’s beautiful campus while providing educational experiences for students and a boost to the region’s economy.
Approximately 250 cast and crew members are involved in the filming of the show and, during the earlier filming, around 100 UW students were hired as extras. The crew includes many locally-based artists, vendors and freelancers and the production provides income for area businesses.
Additionally, productions such as this generate revenue which is dispersed into a pool to aid in the support of smaller, new and upcoming filmmakers and photographers.
This production uses an open set, allowing staff, students and faculty to watch and engage with crew members. An open set like this is a rare occurrence, so community members with an interest in TV and film production are invited to observe the filming and see what a career in the arts could look like.
For every production, the UW Film Office works closely with the Disability Services Office and unit representatives to mitigate disruptions and ensure accessibility of campus facilities during productions. Productions such as this also include submission of a University Use of Facilities request, coordination with UW Facilities and building coordinators, arranging parking via Transportation Services, and consulting with Environmental Health & Safety and the UW Police Department.
Based on feedback during the previous filming, the UW Film Office is making changes to policies and practices for this and future productions. This includes not allowing filming to occur during certain times of the academic year, including the last two weeks of each quarter, and improving signage and wayfinding during the production.
While this production is the largest to take place at the UW in the last 10 years, filming occurs on all UW campuses and properties throughout the year. The University hosts student filmmakers, independent productions, local and national advertisements, product launch videos, episodic series for streaming, movies and more.
If you have any questions about filming on campus, contact the Director of Brand Management, Alanya Cannon, at alcan@uw.edu, or visit the Campus Use for Film & Photography website for more information.