Behind-the-Scenes of The Families that Fed America Pilot Episode!

I’ve been working on a documentary project since summer of 2020 that I’m delighted to share with you today! Like many people last year, we limited who we welcomed into our home. We’d committed to doing our kitchen renovation, so for about four months, a handful of construction people came into our home. We socially distanced and wore masks. However, when Eryana Hundhausen and Andrew Cannizzaro approached me about a new History Channel project, I felt very excited yet quite weary. 

Their project, The Families that Fed America, aimed to document the diverse journeys and stories of American families through their recipes. Eryana and Andrew had researched the food landscape and zeroed in on a number of potential subjects. I was a possibility, after Eryana read my Washington Post story about a Vegas road trip with my mom. What did I have to say about my mom, cooking, and how may I tell my family’s Vietnamese-American story through one recipe? 

I’m all about tasting history through food, but was I into filming for a whole day in my home? Prepping for a regular video shoot is challenging, but with the pandemic, my concerns elevated.

After several phone conversations and assurances from the filming crew that everyone would be tested and wearing PPE, I agreed. Last November, a film crew of two, director and cinematographer Roy Wanguhu and his assistant, arrived and we spent eight hours filming and cooking. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at how we filmed The Families that Fed America. 

Virtual Filming 

A video call was how they did a preliminary scouting of our home. That’s how as soon as Roy arrived, he was already familiar with the space. He quickly scooted around to move furniture and establish appropriate lighting. His aim was to get the best angle, assemble a set for filming, and create a mood. We really hadn’t moved back into the dining room after the kitchen renovation and things were sparse. He made the space incredibly inviting. 

When you watch the episode, know that I’m talking and narrating from my dining room! I was unmasked but everyone else wore a mask and socially distanced. 

When I’ve filmed before on set, there could be six or more people involved -- director, camera people, plus stylists. Eryana, Andrew and others from History Channel and others from the Arts and Entertainment network, beamed through via video and audio. They prompted me as if we were together at my home or on a set. 

It was totally cool how they did it all by remote. They’re all based in the New York and New Jersey area!

Filming the Cooking

I’d commissioned the new kitchen island for work purposes for shooting video and doing cooking demonstrations. The mobile island is handsome, large, and easy to move around. You never know about lighting and angles. Roy loved it and I felt great satisfaction knowing that the island possessed both form and function. And, the island got a starring role in the documentary.

Roy has plenty of food related projects in his portfolio, and his wife, Kananu Wanguhu, has a African cooking website and YouTube channel. He knew what to do in my home kitchen.

You’ll notice an overhead camera. There is a second camera. Roy operated it all with Eryana and Andrew monitoring from back east. 

I’d prepped all the ingredients and styled my own set. Usually, there are prop and food stylists who do that. During the pandemic, I flew solo! It was fine since Eryana and Andrew wanted a natural, home cooking look. After all, you’re in my actual kitchen! 

Things got heated by the stove and I nearly burnt the stew getting extra good searing for Roy. You won’t see that in the end result. 

Watch Families that Fed America

Turns out my segment is the pilot episode for The Families that Fed America. It premiered on March 14, 2021 on History.com (the website as well as its app not the cable channel). Here's a short preview and you may also watch the full episode too!

I hope you find the show interesting and support the project. Food wouldn’t taste so good without good stories.