Sports
Behind the Scenes of the Bears’ Bob Ross-Themed Schedule Reveal With Rome Odunze
The month of May brings with it many joys: May flowers, a chance to celebrate mothers and Memorial Day’s unofficial kickoff to summer.
But for die-hard football fanatics, the big highlight of May is the NFL’s annual schedule release. On Thursday night, the Chicago Bears dropped their schedule reveal video featuring Rome Odunze showing off some artistic flair. WTTW News was there for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the video.
The shoot began with the crew setting up a small studio inside Bears HQ at Halas Hall in north suburban Lake Forest. It had everything a certain beloved painter might need: a palette of vibrant colors, a series of canvases that may have been just slightly jump-started by an in-house artist, an easel, brushes — and, of course, a squirrel.
Alright, any guesses who that beloved painter might be?
If you guessed public TV’s legendary teacher Bob Ross, you’re right. On a recent Wednesday, Odunze traded his usual football gear and high-intensity play for Ross’ more laid-back duds and serene attitude.
Arriving for the shoot, Odunze quickly changed from casual gym clothes into the Bob Ross look and headed into the studio. But just because the shoot had a fun theme didn’t mean Odunze was any less detail-oriented than he is on the field, making sure to consult images of Ross to see how high to roll up his shirtsleeves.
And of course, if you’re going for the Bob Ross look, you have got to get the hair right — a feat Odunze easily nailed.
Even though Odunze is more accustomed to running routes than reading a teleprompter, he delivered his lines like a pro. (Should I be worried about my job?)
As the shoot progressed, the crew swapped out increasingly completed canvases that Odunze painted (with the help of some editing magic). But of course he got a chance to show off his skills on the Bob Ross be-all and end-all: world-famous fluffy clouds.
Doing take after take in a fast-paced shoot, Odunze kept spirits high, even under hot studio lights. And since it was the Bears, they added in some equipment Ross wasn’t known to use: a cheese grater. (Take that, Pack.)
After the shoot, WTTW News asked Odunze how it felt getting into character.
“It feels good,” Odunze said. “I think most of the work goes into the fro, you know, the fro is the kind of the Bob Ross icon. But it’s his charm and the rolled-up sleeves and all that and his happy-go-lucky sort of attitude, so I just try to embody that a little bit … the happy little trees, little clouds and all that, so I’m a fan for sure.”
Fans of the Bears are excited about the upcoming season. After a playoff run last year, we asked Odunze what he was looking to do this season, the second with coach Ben Johnson.
“Obviously go further into the playoffs, win a Super Bowl is the main goal,” Odunze said. “We definitely have some chemistry that we’ve picked back up on, relationships that obviously have been building, those have all continued to grow under this offense and under his leadership. I think we’re all on the right path and we have a culture that I think is set and we’re just continuing to build that.”
With the Bob Ross shoot behind him, we also asked Odunze whether he had any ideas for next year’s schedule reveal video.
“I got no clue,” he said with a laugh. “I think I’ve done my service though when it comes to the team schedule release, so hopefully I’ll just have maybe a little minor role.”
Whoever ends up with the starring role, we’ve got some ideas for the theme. “Sesame Street,” anyone?
Contact Nick Blumberg: [email protected] | (773) 509-5434 | @ndblumberg
