Do a TV Cooking Show they said.......

It's 8.30pm on a Tuesday night and we are setting up a myriad of cameras, monitors, sound equipment, lighting and cables of all shapes and sizes at a well known and respected Hobart restaurant. All this and we haven't even hit the kitchen yet.

11.45 pm and we are ready to shoot.

We set up the ingredients in what can only be described as a military style operation.

Camera's strategically placed at various points. Lighting positioned to highlight key points and audio equipment hovering precariously above.

Now to position the 'Talent', sounds wanky, but great for the ego!

Let's pause here and back track to where this all began and the amount of work that goes into a TV show prior to the 'fun' stuff.

Basically months of research, logistics, sourcing great product, building partnerships and finding $$.

As a very good friend and creator/producer of the show once said to me, "If it was easy, it wouldn't be worth it!" No truer words have been spoken. It is SOOO worth it.

Back to the action.

My co host extraordinaire (John X), myself and head chef, Markella are positioned and ready to rock.

Now, you would think that this is pretty straight forward.......think again.

Stand here, hold, move to the left a little, hold - action! Too quick, go again, sorry out of position, back to the start. lighting wasn't quite right - start again.

You get the picture.

At the end of the day, this is a necessary evil as we HAVE to get it right. A shoot can take up to 12 hours to produce 25 minutes of quality film. I don't know about you, but I want to get it right the first time!

Fast forward through to 4am and we have completed the main recipe shoot, banter with the head chef at the dining table with the completed dish (and a glass of wine at 4am!! 10 years ago, maybe!?)

Now, back to the kitchen to introduce the dish to camera - my memory ain't to grand after 4am and a glass of wine (or two) in the tank. so after take #10, I nail it!

Finally, it's 'Macro' time. Shooting the whole recipe again, but this time with close ups and action shots.

By 6am we are done! The production team pack up all that gear, we clean the kitchen, shake hands and head home.

I must mention that the production team/company behind the camera are true professionals and a pleasure to work with.

Only 5 more episodes to go......... but we bloody love it!

PFx

Lights, Camera......Action!