The Real Truth About Guest Starring on a Home Renovation Reality Show
Back in September, I was featured on A&E’s newest home renovation show, Move or Improve (Episode 11) as a guest interior designer! Yes, somehow I found myself on a reality TV show. And the experience was truly unlike anything in my career.
I randomly got a call from the network as they sought out interior designers in Cincinnati for one of the episodes for their first season. They provided a title for the episode, but little else. I was told the show would operate similarly to Love It or List It, but this show would only present the plans for their dream space (and how much it would cost). At the end of the episode, it’s their choice to either renovate the home they’re in or move altogether.
The behind-the-scenes process of working on a set was so different from anything I’d ever done before. Here’s a look at that experience:
The Reality of Reality TV
When I got the call about Move or Improve, I was told that I would only contribute some ideas to the original plan produced by the series. Basically, I was there to give my two cents to original designs and act as a placeholder for a designer on the show.
I had one phone call with the producer about the actual home design plan I was to pitch to the homeowners starring in our episode. And that was it. Really. Until it was time for production, of course. Things moved fast after that.
While filming my shots, I was surprised to hear the homeowners say things to me like, “It’s good to see you again!” The reality? I’d never met those people. Regardless, it was surprisingly funny to be in that reality TV show headspace, where the irony is abundant. So much of it is just so not reality.
Eventually, I talked the homeowners through the design plans, giving them some of the details (but not everything, to maintain the surprise of it all). We went over costs as well, which is a crucial part of the show. When they make their final decision–to improve their home or move to a new one–they have to weigh the costs of both options as well.
The wildest part of this experience for me was how many takes it took to capture “real” reactions. There’s a part in the episode where I get out of a car and go into the homeowner’s house. That quick shot alone took probably eight takes.
Afterwards, I was interviewed in the driveway for about an hour, but none of it was used in the final cut. In fact, I was on set for about four or five hours, but only in the show itself for about one minute!
Watch Move or Improve on Hulu
About a month or so after wrapping, I received an email from the homeowner. They told me our episode was out, so my husband and I took to the couch and streamed it as soon as we could. There was lots of laughter at the strangeness of it all. But mostly, I was so surprised to see how different the final product turned out compared to the process of making the episode.
People may think this sort of thing is glamorous, that it reflects real life. But it really doesn’t. As much as I’m peeling back the curtain on this sort of production, I was still very happy to have had the opportunity to be on TV and contribute to a project like this. In the end, it was a really fun opportunity to learn more about this side of the industry and stretch my skills out into unfamiliar territory!
Now, did the homeowners choose to move or improve? You’ll have to find out for yourself! Stream Move or Improve on Hulu now (Season 1, Episode 11).
