Coming to a television near you...

Although I haven't watched many shows on the Food Network, I have a lot of friends and family that are fans. This is one of the reasons I am so excited that my first bit part in a television show is for a program on this network.



The set was incredible, and I had a big part in helping design the final product for the show. So when you watch, not only am I in it, but I had a hand in creating the decor! My call time was at 8am, and with the studio being located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I was up and at 'em at 5am to make the commute. I arrived a little early, which is normal for me. I do not like being late. When I got there, I met one of the sound guys, Andy, who showed me in and got me some water. I had never been to Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The area the studio was located in was mainly all industrial. I had planned on eating and getting bottled water once I arrived before filming, but there was literally ONE convenient store within a 5 mile radius of the studio, and it wasn't open yet. That was poor planning on my part. Normally I eat breakfast every morning, but I was concentrated on getting there on time, so I skipped it regretfully. One thing I look forward to on shoots in the catering. They always have the BEST food on the sets. When I walked in, that wasn't the case and I immediately started to fear I would go all day without eating.

I filled out all my paperwork in order to get paid, and waited for the rest of the cast to arrive. Since it's a restaurant themed show, I was cast as the part of the "Host". There were servers and sous chefs cast as well. When everyone arrived, we all got mic-ed up and ready to film. I was so excited at this point. I had NO idea what to expect, but I was literally holding myself back from jumping up and down, busting out into a dance and acting a fool from the thought of being on television. It may sound silly to some, but my dream is to be in movies. I want to become different people, portray the intricate lives of others and make an impact on the world through the art of storytelling in film. And since this is just one step closer in the process, I am beyond excited!

We walked out onto the set to meet the rest of the crew and begin filming. It was so cool seeing all the cameras, lights and production people hustling about. It was an exhausting day, but so much fun! Everyone was super nice. They did feed us well for lunch, thank goodness! The audio guys were my favorite. They were super laid back and hilarious. Half the crew was from the Food Network, the other half was from CBS. All in all, it was one of the best experiences ever. And to think, that was just a bit part, just the beginning in a long career of filming to come. HOW COOL IS THAT?! When I am on stage in front of my peers, thanking everyone who helped me along the way and aided in me getting to the point where I attained award winning status, I will remember this first shoot and think, "I always knew it'd be like this". I am truly blessed, and truly grateful. I can't wait to see what's next - it's gonna be HUGE.