The biggest takeaway I took from episode five of Mountaineer Playbook and my entire experience working as a producer is that the show must go on. I realized that no matter what happens, I need to keep moving forward. There were some challenges in the weeks and even minutes leading up to production, but with everyone coming together in the final moments, we were able to successfully record our last episode of the semester.

One of the first hiccups I faced was a power outage while I was working on the script. No power, no problem. Finishing the script in a dark apartment, lit only by a couple of candles and my laptop screen, is a core memory I will always remember when looking back on my time with Mountaineer Playbook. Random problems are bound to happen. It is important not to give up, but to keep going and find a way to make things work. That mindset turned out to be essential for this episode.

At the studio, emotions were running high since this would be the last time my class worked together on this project. We also had a few guests who came to observe our first take. That combination made everyone a bit tense, so I made it a point to check in with everyone beforehand to gauge the mood and help ground the team before we started taping. Looking back, I do not think I would have done that during our first episode. I feel like I have grown as a producer and now have a better sense of how the studio atmosphere can impact how smoothly a taping goes.

We ran into some technical issues during the first recording of the show, and during our second taping, the anchors were not quite at their best and made a few minor mistakes. I have become better at noticing mannerisms and hand movements that do not translate well on television, a skill I had no prior experience with before taking this class. Time was running out, and we needed to move forward with the final taping. The show had to go on. I met with the anchors to explain what adjustments were needed, then worked with my director to resolve the technical problems. Thanks to these efforts, we were able to record a very nice final episode.

Over the past few months as producer for Mountaineer Playbook, I feel that I have grown tremendously in both skill and knowledge. The time it takes me to write and edit the script has decreased significantly since episode one. I feel much more confident in the studio and in the control room. The relationships I have built with the entire cast and crew have strengthened throughout the semester. All of these things have played a key role in the success I experienced in this class. Wherever life takes me, I know that if I apply these skills, I will find success—because no matter what, the show must go on.