May 1, 2020

Women Behind the Camera Weekend: Elsbeth McCall

Updated: May 8, 2020

A sit down with our Script Supervisor Elsbeth McCall to hear about her experience of working on the show and what she is excited for audiences to discover.

Why is the series titled Avocado Toast? (if you don’t know, take a guess!)

I love this question. Avocado Toast is basically the be-all-end-all trope of millennial indulgence. Millennials love their avocado toast. Millennials can be dirt broke but still put $15 worth of Avocado Toast on their credit card that they will never pay off. It’s a thing. Everyone knows it. And millennials will continue to get told by boomers that we are what’s wrong with the way the world has become. Because of…Avocado Toast.

So, to put it plainly, the series has its title because it is the pinnacle of “millennial lifestyle.”

What aspects of Avocado Toast the series are you excited for an audience to experience or discover?

I am really excited for the audience to experience and discover the characters. This story is very character driven, and even when there are very traumatic and devastating plot points, the characters really keep everything alive and moving.

I think the characters in the story all have a really unique arc; they each have such unique qualities. We learn who these people are out in the world vs. who they are in the privacy of their own home. And you have to admit, everyone on this earth is friggin WEIRD. We all have our WEIRD SHIT that we do. You really see into peoples’ worlds in this show and it is SO ENTERTAINING. Even being behind the monitor, there were so many times where I couldn’t breathe because I was laughing so hard at what a character was doing. Or just wanted to run away crying because of how tragic a moment was. Oh my goodness I can’t wait to watch it!

Also, the amazing cinematography. The show looks SO GOOD. There are so many things I am excited for the audience to discover. So, SO many things.

What makes baby boomers so awesome?

I used to think boomers were super cool. But now I just feel differently with a lot of the criticism I receive from some of them.

However, some awesome things are included in the bullet points below:

· Knowing the value of money and how far you can stretch it

· Knowing how to save money

· Knowing how to disassociate from the digital weird with more ease

· They are super good at talking on the phone

· (appear to) Take on less anxiety (because they don’t know what anxiety is most of the time)

· Know good music (for the most part)

· Hold onto old amazing clothing

· They appreciate hard work

There are probably more things…probably.

Do you find it hurtful or funny when baby boomers refer to millennials as ‘snowflakes’ or when millennials dismiss baby boomer advice with a “Ok, boomer.”

Honestly, I think it is funny, definitely not hurtful. But I am getting to the point where I am exhausted from hearing anything from either party. I think North Americans are really letting this get out of hand. We are all people, all with something to teach each other about how the world works because of our experiences. I feel like saying such things to each other just seems lazy. Why aren’t we having important conversations about HOW and WHY the world is changing?

I do, however, think it is everyone’s own responsibility to keep themselves educated on how the world works, regardless of when they were born, and to be true to yourself based on your own experience.

To quote Coach Taylor, “Clear eye, full hearts, can’t lose.”

Sex, sexuality, gender and different kinds of relationships are depicted in Avocado Toast the series. Why is it important to continue sharing these types of stories today?

The world is constantly changing. For decades and even centuries, we have been told what should or shouldn’t be seen on TV, or even who we should be out in the world. We have been told what a “normal” relationship or a “normal” gender looks like. The idea of “normal” isn’t real. Everyone, and everything is individual. We as Canadians are extremely fortunate that we can express ourselves as these individuals. We live in a country where same-sex marriage is legal, where you can re-claim your identity as whatever sex you want, among other freedoms, at least, we are on the road to complete freedom.

I love the themes in Avocado Toast and I loved WORKING on Avocado Toast because of its inclusivity of sex, gender, and sexualities. If we continue to share these types of stories with world, they would be the new normal. There would be more acceptance, there would be more love, there would be less fear and death. And wouldn’t that just be the best thing ever??

Tell us about your story in Avocado Toast. What were the main challenges and fears you had in your role?

I am going to come at this question with my role as SCRIPT SUPERVISOR! A “Script Supervisor” or “Continuity” is a one-person department who tracks and notes all of the script-day/character/action to help maintain the integrity of the story makes sense. They are also on-book for the actors in case lines are missed or need correction. A Script Supervisor is the eyes and ears of the editor on set, noting what the camera is seeing, the frame size, lens size and camera moves to help the editor in the post-production process.

I will tell you about my complete journey:

I am an actor, director, assistant director, and producer, but I have been wanting to refine my work as a script supervisor for awhile. It’s a role I’ve loved doing and up until AT I had only done continuity on short films.

I originally interviewed for a PA role, and in my interview (PS I LOVED THIS INTERVIEW, I LOVED THIS TEAM WITHIN THE FIRST TEN SECONDS OF TALKING TO THEM), I had mentioned that I had been in the industry for three years and that I think PAing would be a step back for me (I’m not a proud person, I’m just looking for ways to learn and expand!). They asked me if I could do anything what would it be, and I said to script supervise. They got back to me offering me that role and I really cherish their trust in asking me.

This being my first series as Continuity, I faced many challenges. One of the main ones was that on set, many departments were one-person departments. I learned in the first few days that I really had to keep track of all departments continuity because there weren’t enough bodies to be on the floor and behind monitor. I feared that I might screw up (and I did- many times – naturally!) the continuity or lose my place in the script which might throw off the actors. I started taking a lot (read A LOT) of pictures so that I wouldn’t miss anything. I still have them on my phone and do not have the heart to remove them yet, as I like to peruse them every now and again to remember how great that experience was.

Another challenge is knowing when to speak up. Sometimes in this role, since you are always looking at the scene or transitions from a broader perspective, and since you are looking at the script so much, there are suggestions you might want to make for the scene to make more sense, or to add detail. Everyone is under a lot of pressure on set, so I learned that sometimes it was helpful, and sometimes it wasn’t. I learned a lot about knowing when the right time is, but if the integrity of a scene is at stake, always speak up!

Thank you so much again for having me, I will cherish this experience forever!