ABC Begins Shooting Documentary
An ABC documentary crew is filming at BWH and MGH through the end of May to produce seven hours of prime time television that focuses on the care delivered at the top two Boston hospitals.
“Medicine is ubiquitous,” said ABC producer Erica Baumgart from ABC’s temporary office on the lower Pike. “Everyone one day will be in a hospital, whether they are receiving care or someone in their family is.”
Thirty-five million viewers tuned in to the same documentary team’s “Hopkins” series last summer. This documentary will be similar to “Hopkins” in that it is shot cinema-verite style, meaning that cameramen use handheld cameras and follow stories as they happen. The documentarians have been granted access to travel freely throughout the hospitals as they record stories.
Executive producer Terence Wrong’s previous documentaries, including “Hopkins” and 2002’s “Boston 24/7,” have received critical acclaim.
The producers will select staff whom they feel have compelling stories and “pop” on camera. Much of the footage will be shot in the hospitals, but producers may follow several subjects outside of work.
Patients often are the most receptive to being filmed, according to producers. “For patients, it’s a silver lining to a bad event that they are going through,” Wrong said. “They find comfort in sharing their stories, especially in the hope that it will help someone else going through the same thing.”
Only patients who sign written consent will be portrayed in the series, and the producers have received HIPAA training to ensure privacy is protected. Staff participation also is voluntary. The team will film at MGH and BWH through the end of May. After that, they may return to follow up on individual stories.
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