Double Dutch

By No Reservations Crew on October 8, 2009 2:47 PM | Permalink | 7 Comments

By Julie Lei, Series Producer

Walking into the Bourdain office as a newcomer, was like being faced with a well-rehearsed double dutch jump rope act and told to join in. When I first started series producing this show in January of this year, the landscape was not totally foreign. I had been an editor on A Cook's Tour many years ago, so I was familiar with the original storytelling format, and I had met Tony once before. But this time, I was entering the production at a different capacity, I was to help oversee the series which was well into its fifth season. Every show runner position is different, and my job in this instance was to retrofit myself to the rhythm of what was already in place and hope that eventually, I could make a difference.

Continue Reading Double Dutch.

A Not So Normal Day in Chile

By No Reservations Crew on September 25, 2009 9:13 AM | Permalink | 8 Comments

Rennik Soholt, Producer

The helicopter was small...very small...and shaking. No bouncing, really.  It was bouncing up and down, up and down. My teeth were rattling. Todd and Zach were sitting next to me, filming Tony in the front seat. With one large coastal updraft, Todd flew up in the air, slow-motion, "Todd-ass" blurring my vision...he landed on my lap. I bit my tongue. Todd farted. I puked in my mouth. It was 6am. 

It was pouring rain and windy...our first bad weather day our whole shoot in Chile and here is Tony, Zach, Todd and myself trying to helicopter to our shooting location in this shit weather. Was this a good idea?

"Oh, no problem!" says Mr. Helicopter man.  "If it's bad, we just come down."

Continue Reading A Not So Normal Day in Chile.

You Just Can't Rent These Moments

By No Reservations Crew on September 14, 2009 3:54 PM | Permalink | 4 Comments

By Emily Mraz, Segment Producer

As a segment producer my job is full of logistics. From beginning to end it is an enormous checklist of details that all need to fall into place at the exact time and date that our unforgiving schedule requires. One of these details is transportation. Our mode of transport can be anything from a 15-passenger van, minibus, boat, or helicopter to a horse-drawn cart. You name it we've used it and without it we wouldn't have a show.

Weeks before our Sardinia shoot I hunted for the best rates, the most reputable company, etc when it finally sunk in just how remote this island really was and how limited our choices were becoming.

Continue Reading You Just Can't Rent These Moments.

Behind-the-scenes with the ABNR PA: Burning Questions edition

By No Reservations Crew on September 1, 2009 2:41 PM | Permalink | 10 Comments

by Helen Cho, Production Assistant

Zero Point Zero Production. We are a tight knit crew, a beautifully functioning dysfunctional family even, and I am among the lucky few to have slipped through the cracks and found this home. As a newcomer to the ZPZ crew, I've quickly learned that when shit needs to get done around here, you just do it. When two cameras went down in Panama the other week, Unit Manager Dan flew out with two working cameras only to fly back to NY the next day. When your show gets nominated for Emmys and your boss asks you to order 12 bottles of bubbly, you don't ask questions, you just do it.

Continue Reading Behind-the-scenes with the ABNR PA: Burning Questions edition.

Is Dat an Island?

By No Reservations Crew on August 28, 2009 2:13 PM | Permalink | 7 Comments

by A.P. Wickersty, Production Coordinator

I'm a production coordinator for No Reservations. I spend most of my time in the office either kneeling on the floor in front of half-packed pelican cases surrounded by batteries, rolled up gels and scattered chunks of foam or sitting at a desk typing up logs and transcripts. I love this job, because I get to touch professional equipment all the time. I have the honor of helping talented, creative people make shows I am proud of, and because if Chris and Lydia had not decided to give me a chance, I might very well be working at Shop Rite right now. Or worse, on some really crappy show.

But there's something else about me that you need to know. Something ... unusual. Some have made fun of me for it. Some have pitied me, and some have simply recoiled in horror at the very mention of my condition. You see I am ... a Staten Islander.

Continue Reading Is Dat an Island?.