Lindsay Gray Aces Life

by Rashad Mulla

Lindsay Gray Aces Life

Cornerstone magazine caught up with multital- ented senior Lindsay Gray during the spring 2011 semester. Gray, an English major and communication minor, is in her fourth year on the Mason women’s tennis team, compiling a singles record of 46-51 and a doubles record of 42-30, playing at the first and second position on the team.

An aspiring producer, director, writer, and on-camera personality, Gray has interned the past two summers with Dick Clark Productions in Los Angeles. She dedicated time to learning the craft of video filming and editing, and now has her own program on the Mason Cable Network, The Lindsay Gray Show, which she created, cast, and now directs.

Last year, Gray was president of the Student Athletic Advisory Council. For her first-ever solo video, she inter- viewed Mason President Alan Merten about the NCAA certification process.

Gray spoke about her various goals and interests, including tennis, video, and career aspirations, and her busy schedule.

On Her Career Aspirations...
"I gave my class graduation speech in eighth grade, and after that, parents started coming up to me and telling me I should be a news anchor one day. They sort of put the idea in my head. Ever since then, that’s what I’ve wanted to do. I wanted to be in front of the camera."

On Majoring in English..
"I chose to concentrate in non- fiction writing because I wanted to develop my writing skills the best way possible, and Mason’s English Department is outstand- ing. I don’t want to just be on the news; I want to write the news, too. I just felt that having the English foundation for writing would work well."

On Having a Packed Schedule...
"I have always had a very busy schedule. I don’t know if it’s just the way I’m wired or if it’s just my personality, but I tend to not like too much downtime. If I can fit anything in, I try to squeeze it into my day. I have my phone calendar, and it’s filled with so many different things. I have a lot of to-do-lists. I make lists about making lists."

On Tennis...
"I’ve played tennis since I was seven. Tennis has been my one love. So naturally, I wanted to play in college. In high school, I met Coach [Stephen] Curtis and the team and I loved George Mason, so I decided to come here. Tennis isn’t really a question. It has just been a part of my life. Tennis isn’t very demanding to me, because it’s something I really enjoy. It’s the one time I feel like I can escape from anything stressful. Outside distractions seem to shut off as soon as I step on the tennis court."

On Interning with Dick Clark Productions...
"Dick Clark Productions produces So You Think You Can Dance on Fox and Shaq Vs. on ABC. I was lucky enough to get my name in the credits when I worked as a production assistant on an episode of Shaq Vs. It was the episode when Shaq challenged volleyball professionals Misty May and Kerri Walsh. My job was to transport the players to and from the court to makeup, get them mic’d up, and so on. It was really nerve-wracking, but it was right at the heart of the Hollywood experience. Those long days in production kept me honest. I realized that I need to do all of this really hard work to get anywhere."

On The Lindsay Gray show...
"Professor David Miller thought of the concept and suggested a format, and I got the writers, camera operators, video editors, actors, and production assistants together. They’re funny people, and all so talented. I knew after [Miller’s] class that I was not a Final Cut person, and to try and edit a 30-minute show and make it look cool was not a strong point of mine. So now Steven Hascher and Zack Clegg of the Film and Video Studies Program edit the show. A couple of students help as production assistants. The actors all love sketch comedy. But the time when it is truly a relief and fun is when we watch the show afterward. We did a lot of writing before the first episode, which aired on October 19, 2010, and it took about a month to get everything ironed out. And all this took place while I was taking 16 credits."

On Her Immediate Plans...
"I’m just trying to take it a little easier. I have 6 a.m. tennis practice, afternoon practices, and matches on weekends. I’m really trying to focus hard on school and tennis, and I might be doing some video hosting for the Athletic Department, too."

Women's Tennis Coach Stephen Curtis, on Gray's Drive and Worth Ethic...
"I have always been amazed by Lindsay, because she will only do things well. she has scheduled every second of her day to accomplish all of her goals. that’s who she is and why she’s so good at every- thing she does. whether it’s on the court or in the classroom, Lindsay always gives 110 percent."

Mason Communication Professor David Miller on Gray’s Effort to Learn Video...
"I found her to be very committed to her assign- ments. at the same time, she was always trying to push herself to do the best she could. even though she is a very busy person, she still made time for this class, which is very labor intensive."

"She doesn’t just talk about what she wants to do; she is actually using this experience as she begins to launch her professional career. each episode of The Lindsay Gray Show involves a tremendous amount of work, and it shows that she has the ability, work ethic, and determination to get the job done."