Diana Goes to Sunnydale

On May 6, 2001, David & I were invited to join Sarah Jane and several of her UC-Santa Cruz classmates at a special alumni event. Marti Noxon, another UCSC alum, and a writer/producer on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," was giving private tours of the Buffy sets.

At 2:00 on a warm, sunny day, we assembled in a parking lot outside the Fox Television "outpost" in Santa Monica. Our group signed up for the 2:45 tour, and proceeded to enjoy the yummy champagne and hors d'ouevres provided. When our turn came, Marti led us into the building, down a hall, out the back door, and into the converted warehouse/soundstage housing the first sets.

Unfortunately, the lights weren't on, which meant that several of the sets were rather dark. And since the show's on hiatus, many of the sets looked like they hadn't been used in a while; Spike's crypt was apparently being used as a storeroom. Although we were herded through more quickly than I would have liked, we had complete freedom to go wherever we wanted and touch anything we liked!

Although I should know better, I was still surprised to see how small the sets are in real life. And how shabby and fake it all looked up close! On the other hand, it was nice to see the level of detail and thought put into the set dressing, like all the pictures of Sarah Michelle Gellar and Michelle Trachtenberg in the Summers' house. We got to see everything: the magic shop, Buffy's house, the college, Sunnydale's main street and back alleyway, the Bronze, the crypt, the graveyard, Xander's apartment.

Marti told us some funny stories, like how they used to film UC-Sunnydale's exteriors at UCLA, but people kept running up and touching Sarah Michelle and running away, which got pretty annoying, so now they use an industrial park. She was very down-to-earth and personable. David, SJ and I all managed to talk to her during the course of the day. I told her I'd been a fan since second season, and that I loved all her Buffy/Angel episodes. She was nice.

Thanks to Anne Marie for letting me use her pictures! Here's a choice selection.

	Our tour begins in a nondescript hallway... But look! The glamorous sign for Buffy and Angel's production offices! We're in the right place.
	The leader of our tour, the great Marti Noxon, showing us some of the Magic Shop's wares. Here she reads a label: "Eye of Noxon."
	Here we have a helpful sign in the hallway of UC Sunnydale, where they teach Chumistry and All Sluts are directed to go to Room 60. Prozac can be found in room 47.
	The main stairway, strangely deserted, in UC Sunnydale.
	Here we have Buffy's bedroom! Buffy wasn't there.
	Here's me and Sarah Jane in the Bronze!
	Outside, on the Sunnydale street set, we find the facade of the magic shop! That's me, SJ and Melinda.
	Here we are heading into the Sunnydale movie theater. (It's not really a movie theater.)
	Melinda, Anne Marie and Sarah Jane pay a visit to Spike's crypt. As it was sunny, he didn't come out.