- Oh my God.
This is so insane.
What'd I get myself into?
- Hi, my name is Tiffany.
I am an associate producer here at SoulPancake,
and right now, I am working
on Tell My Story season four, and I am here
to give you guys a behind-the-scenes look
at how we bring the show to life.
So, we have finally selected our final pairs
of people that are going to go together.
At the core of all of SoulPancake content
is human connection, so when we were
putting people together, we obviously wanted them
to be attracted to each other or have
some sort of common ground that they could talk about.
Everybody sent us a video introducing themselves,
giving us their name, their age, what they do
for a living, where they're from,
and then they also sent us a video telling us
about something difficult they've been through recently.
I then scheduled a Skype or FaceTime call with them
to get to know their dating preferences a little bit.
And that's how you cast Tell My Story.
Good Morning!
- [Woman Crew Member] Hello!
- So, today is our prep and lighting day
for Tell My Story season four.
We start rolling tomorrow, so our crew
got here at about 9 a.m. this morning.
We started by building this two-foot platform,
and then now our crew is lighting.
So, this is Stage One where the main part
of the date happens, and then we have
another stage where we'll shoot the interview portion.
We do have a set visit from our directors today.
This season, we've decided to hire
three different directors, each to direct
one day of shooting, and the reason
we've chose to do this is just to get
a lot of varieties of perspectives on dating.
Natasha was just kind of asking about
the logistical flow of the talent.
They will arrive.
They all have been instructed to call Fernando
from the car so that we know
for sure that their other person isn't lurking anywhere.
So, our talent A, first talent, arrives.
We get them set, we start rolling with them,
and fifteen minutes later is when the second talent arrives.
Talent Two arrives, they come in here
while we're shooting Talent One.
They get in makeup, wardrobe, and then,
this will be the big moment where we
close that door, Talent One comes in here,
close this door, Talent Two goes
onto the second stage to start shooting...
Their interview.
I'm going to show you the stage.
So, this is the stage where we will shoot
the blind date portion of the episode.
Where we have the clipboards, and they fill in the blanks,
and they say I would or would not date you.
That all happens in here on this stage.
This is our second stage.
This is where we'll shoot those solo interviews
with each of our participants
before they actually get to meet.
- We are going to be ready to roll
in less than five minutes.
- Okay, thanks.
He's right here? - He's here.
He's wearing blue, so I don't know
if we to select to select a different color.
- I guess let's go pink with them.
- Okay, add like a little rocks to them.
- No, we have a
- [Director] Well, that's concerning, though.
- [Male Crew Member] Two seconds.
- [Tiffany] Right this way.
- There?
- We're going to walk, actually, I think this way.
- [Director] So you just, be as comfortable as you want,
and we'll adjust accordingly.
- All right.
- One apple take one, D marker.
- [Interviewer] Tell us a little bit about your family
and how you were raised.
- Oh, my family is wonderful.
- I'm from Knoxville, Tennessee.
Both of my parents were radio disc jockeys.
That's how they met.
- Two want to tag on really quick.
I have a change since the last time you were on the show.
- So, a couple more questions.
How have you changed since the last time
you were on the show?
- I feel like we've covered a decent amount of the changes.
- [Director] Yeah, but just kind of...
- Oh, yeah, just an abridged...
- [Director] Yeah.
- Okay, the concise version.
Since the last time I was on the show,
there have been some changes.
I would say that I'm a lot pickier.
I wouldn't just go out with anymore.
We would really have to click.
I'm stronger when it comes to my likes and my dislikes.
And that goes into being picky,
but I think it also stands on its own.
- But now I would say I am definitely
best friends with my dad.
I was like a total tomboy.
- [Director] Very cute.
And how would you describe your cultural background?
- Just making sure that as our talent passes by
that this door doesn't happen to open
and they accidentally meet before they're supposed to.
Mission accomplished.
Now we just have talent that hasn't shown up.
We don't know where they are.
They haven't contacted us.
We try to call them, go straight to voicemail.
So, this is a all hands on deck,
call your friends and family situation.
- I called him probably fifteen times,
and it just goes straight to voicemail.
I left an email and text, and nothing yet.
So, I called one of my really good friends
to see if he wants to be on camera.
He said yes.
But it's going to take him forty minutes to get here.
- [Male Crew Member] Did they tell you any stuff?
- [Female Crew Member] No.
- [Alex] Not really, no.
- Well, let me tell you a little something.
- Oh, please.
- We're about to do it, but basically, it's a dating show.
Do you know that much?
Yeah, not gonna do it.
Nah, just kidding, yeah.
- [Woman] Guys, we're gonna start rolling here in about
- I'm a little nervous.
- [Woman] One single minute.
- [Male Crew Member] You nervous?
- I am.
- [Male Crew Member] Why are you nervous?
- I mean, it's kind of a first date,
kind of like meeting each other for the first time.
- I'm a little nervous.
- Why are you nervous?
- I don't know.
- Oh my gosh.
It's fine, though, right?
It's fine.
- All right, I'll be there.
- Okay.
I'm going to give you the logistics of this.
Are you ready?
- I am ready.
- Okay.
When you walk in, you're going to be silent.
- Yes.
- Do not speak one word.
We are going to refer to you
as Person Number Two until names are revealed.
As you sat down, you will close your eyes,
remove your hand, and lift your chin up.
- [Tiffany] She's going to give you a very clear
one, two, three, open your eyes,
and you will open your eyes, but you will not speak.
- We'll guide you through everything.
The most important thing at the beginning is to...
- Be quiet and not look.
Okay.
That's simple enough.
- Okay, here we go.
- [Director] Three, two, one, open your eyes.
You're doing a great job of not speaking.
Person Two, yep, we're going to have you read.
You're going to be the first one reading.
You're gonna open with "Your name is Person One"
and this is your story.
- And this is your story.
You are 27 years old.
For work, you are a trainer.
- This is how the pattern's going to go, okay?
You are going to say, "When I first saw you."
- When I first saw you, I thought
that I would date you.
- Now that I've talked to you and gotten
to know you more, I've decided
that I would still...
- Hey.
- Date you.
- That's exciting.
Dun, dun, I was terrified of this part.
- All right.
Go ahead.
Let's get out of those chairs.
Woo!
All right!
Minda, this is good.
Good, so...
- [Sir'Twon] Hey!
Alex.
Such a pleasure to meet you.
- [Alex] That went good.
- Thank you, we have to exchange information.
- [Tiffany] Yeah, you guys are going on a date.
- [Alex] Yeah. - [Sir'Twon] Absolutely.
- And we'll throw you some bills.
Get you guys something to eat.
We'll contribute to the cause.
- I'm gonna be honest with you.
I am so, like...
No dating app, it just doesn't work for me.
Meeting people, I'm like, oh, stupid.
- Maybe this is what you needed.
- But it's opened me up to it.
- [Director] And, cut.
How many times does this happen, guys?
How many times do people say no?
- [Director] What would you guys like to do?
Do you go to dinner?
Would you go to a show?
What would be, like...
- There's the traditional thing, you know.
Dinner and drinks, but then you can always
jazz it up a little bit.
- Exactly, so I mean I'm open. - Put a little twist on it.
- I'm open.
- [Director] Okay.
Awesome.
Cool!
Well, thank you guys so much for being open
and available and so on it. - Thank you.
- You're welcome.
That was cool.
- [Man] Stage left? - Do we go the same way?
Or what do we do?
- [Female Crew Member] Go out the other way.
- I'm gonna go this way.
- [Tiffany] Come in next.
- Do our email.
- I'll send you guys that.
- Awesome, thank you.
- Or, if you guys want to talk to each other
about where you want to go, that's you.
- Fernando.
- Yeah.
- Crew, Tell My Story crew, that is a wrap on season four.
And that is also a wrap on Natasha,
our director for today.
Thank you, Natasha.
So, we've just wrapped.
And we wrapped ahead of schedule, which is great.
I hope you enjoyed this look into Tell My Story,
and I hope if we've accomplished nothing else,
I hope we've convinced you that it's real, because it is.
It takes a lot of hard work to pull this off.
If you're interested in being on the show,
you can always send us an email.
casting@soulpancake.com
♪ SoulPancake ♪