Off-Campus Press Conference
By Abigail P
From the exclusive press conference with °1824 and Universal Music Group
Today, I had the honor of speaking with the musical geniuses behind the mixtape of the new hit show, Off Campus. Actress Ella Bright also gave us some insight into her character's relationship and connection to music.
Off Campus is a college romance series set at Briar University, following a close group of friends and a team of hockey players as they navigate relationships, friendships, and growing up. The story focuses on Hannah and Garrett, whose fake dating deal quickly turns into something real, mixing drama, humor, and heartfelt moments along the way.
When choosing songs for this series, the music supervisor, Amanda Thomas, chose songs with intent. Hannah and Garrett's relationship is melded together by their love of retro music. Hannah is an eclectic character, whilst Garrett likes the classical, old music he grew up on. While learning their characters and filming the show, each character had their own playlist. Ella recalls how fun it was to build her character's playlist and listen to everyone else's.
During the finale episode, we see Hannah's original song "Girl That I Am" being performed for her school showcase. This scene was a key moment for the music team as they experimented with a loop track. After bingeing the show in one night, I can say that this is one of the most powerful moments in the show.
One thing about this show that I loved was Briar University's Block Party episode. The episode features a cameo from musical artist Remi Wolf. Remi gives an outstanding performance, and the music team said it was unlike anything they've done before. Remi was a joy to have on set and made it a really positive environment for everyone.
When asked about what songs make the cut, the team said that it was all experimentation. Placing different songs in different spots a million times. The music department worked closely with Island Records to produce the official mixtape for the show, which is out now on all streaming platforms!
I got the opportunity to ask the music team a question about how they were able to capture fan-favorite moments from the book that they felt obligated to "get right" musically. When thinking about how to represent the important moments in the book, their minds went immediately to Hannah's love for One Direction in the book. While they knew they had to include it, they also had to place it with intent, and where it made sense for the storyline.
It was such an honor getting to speak with the crew of this amazing show. Stream Off Campus now on Amazon Prime Video!