The Day We All Met
written by Sara Stritch and Carrie Tenney
I (Carrie) had known about the supposed "Dawson's Creek" spin-off series for some time. All I knew that it was going to be called "Young Americans" and that was it. I never really gave it much more thought, thinking the series would be filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina like "Dawson's Creek" was, until I learned from a friend in the business that the show was going to be filmed in the Baltimore area. I joked with my friend that they would probably film scenes in my hometown since it's by the water. Next day, the local paper runs a story on the front page about the WB choosing my hometown as a filming site for the "Young Americans" series. I was ecstatic because nothing Hollywood-like ever happens here. I knew the series would start filming in early May, but I didn't know exactly when or where. On May 3, a character named Will Krudski made his debut for three episodes on "Dawson's Creek" and Will was going to be the main character on "Young Americans." On May 4, I was working a normal day at the office when I got a call from a local restauant warning us to send our delivery guy to another street than usual cause the usual street was blocked off due to filming. I quickly realized it was "Young Americans" and I got directions. I got off from work and made the voyage to the set. I watched a scene being filmed with Rodney and Ed Quinn (Finn). I didn't stay long cause I really didn't know what was going on. I returned a week later and filming was in full swing. I saw Kate Bosworth and Mark (Scout) for the first time and also Matt. I met Rodney and I was actually nervous cause I had seen him the night before on "Dawson's Creek." The next week I returned and that's when the local five began to emerge together.
I (Sara) read in the paper that there was a spin-off of "Dawson's Creek" and I started traveling to the set location every few days. I also had friends in that area keeping me updated on the set production. The first day I discovered production, it was a rainy day and I wasn't prepared to meet anyone just yet. So, I went home, showered and brought my sister back with me later that night. That was the day that Rodney took off his shirt and showed off himself. I also found out what kind of car he drove too. The next time I arrived at filming is when we all came together.
Sara and I (Carrie) were the first ones to meet. We were standing, observing filming when I (Carrie) asked if Sara was a reporter from the local paper cause she looked like one and there had been some around the set. Anyway, Sara replied, "no" and told me (Carrie) that she was just prospectful fan. We wandered around the set together for a while, talking to security guards and crew people, not having the nerve to go up and meet the cast. While we festering up the nerve, Perry the security guard took two young girls over to meet Rodney. Sara yells from the street corner while Rodney was walking away, to Perry, "Hook a girl up!" and then we walked over to Perry. Perry asks (sarcastically), "What? You wanna meet Rodney?" We reply with an oustanding, "YES!" At this point, we don't want to look like total losers, but he informs us that it's too late. (He was joking.) Next, Perry calls Rodney over and introduces us. We get our autographs and pictures of him. After that, we went over to the two young girls, Mia and Dana and we chatted with them. Mia and Dana really wanted to meet Kate Bosworth but didn't have the guts to. So, I (Carrie) took Mia and Dana over to Kate B and she was thrilled to talk to us. After that, we had a 45 minute conversation with Rodney, Kate B, and Matt. Sara asked Matt for his autograph and he was very psyched to already have a "fan." Then, of course, everyone followed suit. After the cast left, we all got to know each other. Sara and I (Carrie) were relieved that we could be 21 years old and still be fanatics like young teenage girls. Mia and I (Carrie) discovered our love for Joshua Jackson. Later, Erin, after MANY phone calls, arrived to the set and met everyone as well. Within one night, we all banded together. For the rest of the night, we witnessed the filming of the episode, "Cinderbella" and made a pact to come back together again whenever they were filming on location. And the pact stuck and within the new two months, the crew and cast expected us to be there, no matter what. We were known by them as the "First Official Young Americans Groupies" but we dubbed ourselves later on as, "The Local Five."
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