#46: The Off Campus Storyline Louisa Levy Refused to Cut
5/14/202650 min
This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Louisa Levy, the creator and showrunner behind Off Campus. From adapting one of BookTok’s biggest romance series to casting Hannah and Garrett, Louisa breaks down the real process of bringing Off Campus to the screen. We talk chemistry reads, the pressure of adapting such a beloved fandom, why the “spice” was so important to keep in the show, and how the writers built a series designed to keep you clicking “next episode.” Plus, Louisa teases what fans can expect from Season 2.
CHAPTERS:
0:30 - Introduction
2:05 - Louisa’s Early Career
8:00 - Signing on to Off Campus
11:40 - Non-negotiables In The Adaptation
19:15 - What Louisa Changed From The Books
23:35 - Elle Kennedy’s Role
24:50 - SPOILERS!
30:05 - Importance of the First Scene
33:50 - Casting
38:53 - Louisa’s Role in Creating The Show
47:50 - The Future of Off Campus
48:10 - SPOILERS!
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Off Campus
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offcampusonprime/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offcampusonprime
Find Off Campus books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/search?q=off-campus&lgcykwrd=off-campus
Find Off Campus books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/series/off-campus-series/_/N-2xy6
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Hosted by: Morgann Book
Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston
Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston
Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi
Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsLouisa Levy· Guest0:00
Hannah is a character who, despite this darker, heavier backstory, is so light and bubbly and optimistic, and that's what I fell in love with about her. And I think without the darkness, the light and bubbliness would feel flat. She doesn't wanna be defined by this thing, and she wants to have a healthy sex life. And there are some really fun, spicy scenes [laughs] that you can write when this is the character's trajectory and journey.
Morgann Book· Host0:28
[upbeat music] Hi, everybody. Welcome back to Off the Shelf. If you are watching on YouTube, you will very clearly see that we are not in our normal Toronto studio. We are in the sunny city of Los Angeles for a very special episode with a very special guest. If you've been on BookTok in the last five years or even in the reading space over the last 10, chances are you know Elle Kennedy's Off-Campus series. And if you are anything like me, you have been dying to see Hannah and Garrett on the screen. The day is here, and today I get to sit down with the woman who made it happen. Louisa Levy is the creator and showrunner of Off-Campus, and today we are diving into everything from casting choices, to being on set, to the future of Off-Campus. Louisa, welcome to Off the Shelf.
Louisa Levy· Guest1:09
Thank you so much, Morgan. It's great to be here.
Morgann Book· Host1:11
Thank you for having me and giving this chance to chat about this, about a, about, about books I loved for so many years and still do.
Louisa Levy· Guest1:19
Yay.
Morgann Book· Host1:19
Um, before we get into that, in your Instagram bio it says guacamole enthusiast.
Louisa Levy· Guest1:23
Yeah.
Morgann Book· Host1:24
Where's the best place to get guacamole?
Louisa Levy· Guest1:26
Oh, that's such a great question. [laughs] Um, well honestly,