Lowcountry stage for PBS Kids science show

Sophia Rodriguez
The Post and Courier

'Fetch!' cast members (foreground) Talia Patapoutian, 12, and Isaac Bean, 13, are followed by (from left, in white shirts) Larissa Clarke, 17, and Sarah Peterman, 18, at the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry. Ed Bates of IVS Video shoots the scene for the educational science program on PBS.

Larissa Clarke and Sarah Peterman hesitantly walk up to Isaac Bean and Talia Patapoutian with nervous expressions on their faces.

"We're Earth Force, and we're here to help you out, but we don't know with what," Sarah says.

The words tumble out of her mouth at a speed that doesn't quite resemble how she naturally talks. Isaac responds in a more even tone, but he, too, sounds a little stiff for a 13-year-old.

"Cut!" yells a voice off to the side. Relaxation rushes in. The kids mill around the garden in the rear of the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, the set for this particular scene.

"OK, let's try it again," says Lisa Wolf, science editor and director of this episode of "Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman," a science-based game show on PBS Kids. She talks to the two-man film crew, describing what she wants from the scene. "It needs ... something. They did a good job, it just needs something more."

Wolf doesn't blame the lack of that "something" on the actors. None of them are professional actors, not even Isaac and 12-year-old Talia, the two cast members who tackled both the challenges of filming outside in the oppressive July heat of Charleston and of not knowing what tasks they are performing until the day of shooting.

Larissa, 17, and Sarah, 18, who volunteer their time at Lowcountry Earth Force, an organization that engages youths in environmental causes and sustainable practices, were picked to be "Green Ambassadors" for the first episode. They assumed they were going to help the show's actors brainstorm for ideas, perhaps educate them about "green" structures and activities. They had no idea they were going to be filmed, too. Although both were a little nervous about being on-camera, one fact helped put them at ease.

"They said they could stop filming if we didn't know what to say," Sarah said.

"Fetch!" is part game show, part reality TV, with Ruff as the animated canine host. The six children in the cast, ages 10-14, travel around the country to explore and teach their audience about topics such as the human body and Earth science through challenges and quiz-show questions. The museum's public relations director, Jennifer Lorenz, used to be a producer on the show in Boston. She said when she moved back here, her television colleagues were eager to shoot "Fetch!" episodes in the Charleston area.

"I think it's really cool because the kids do not always succeed," Lorenz said. "We're trying to teach them that failure can happen. It's the only part of reality TV that I think has a conscience."

Wolf said the show is unscripted and does not use child actors, so the on-camera reactions are more realistic. The cast does get some help from a drama coach who gives them pointers on technique. The format poses unusual, but not unwelcome, challenges for its cast.

Cast members don't know what challenges and situations they are going to face in any given episode because the episode details are kept a secret from them until right before they shoot. "They want to get our first reactions. ... That's to keep it real and to not fake out our audience," Isaac said.

"It makes it more exciting to be surprised," Talia added.

Two episodes of "Fetch!" were filmed in the area, one July 10 and the other July 11. They will be part of the show's fourth season and will feature lots of recognizable Lowcountry scenery, including shots from Half-Moon Outfitters of Charleston and Shem Creek.

The episodes are scheduled to air in 2009.

The shoot served as Talia's and Isaac's first visit to the area. Both are from the Boston area. Despite the heat, they said they liked what they saw during their carriage tour.

"It's cool. It's kind of like a break from the modern world," Talia said. "People seem to slow down a little here. It's a nice change from the fast pace."

"It's more like a community than a city," Isaac said.

Reach Sophia Rodriguez at 937-5538 or srodriguez@postandcourier.com.