OVERVIEW
Very Local, a subsidiary of Hearst Media, is a streaming network that offers a vast library of on-demand local, city-centric content.
True to their commitment to celebrating all things local, Very Local works with local production companies to highlight the people and stories that matter to each city.
The Very Local team reached out to Oxenfree to develop and produce an original series in their newest market, Orlando.
The result was "Blind Kitchen Orlando," an 8-episode food competition series celebrating local chefs as they go head-to-head to recreate each other’s signature dishes without ever seeing them.
PROBLEM
Very Local wanted to bring a new season of one of their original food competition series to the Orlando market, and needed a partner to execute the 8-episode series holistically—covering everything from creative development, scripting, production design, casting, and location management to the final export.
Very Local had already premiered several food competition shows in their New Orleans and Boston markets, but needed a knowledgeable team to bring a concept to the Orlando market and establish its own unique local flavor.
SOLUTION
We pitched Blind Kitchen as the ideal Very Local original series for Orlando.
The opportunity to tell the stories behind some of Orlando’s iconic chefs throughout the competition really drew us to the Blind Kitchen concept. We saw this series as an opportunity to elevate and celebrate the stories of the chefs that make up Orlando’s thriving food scene.
We set our sights on demonstrating the wide variety of diverse cuisines and food communities that make up Orlando’s dynamic culinary landscape; from Michelin-recognized restaurateurs to chefs of family-run neighborhood favorites–proving why Blind Kitchen was the right fit for the Orlando market.
Leaning on our 8+ years in the City of Orlando, we presented Very Local with multiple options for episode themes, potential hosts for the series, as well as per-episode guest judges and competing chefs that could star in the show.
CREDITS
NETWORK
Very Local
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Oxenfree Film & Motion
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
VERY LOCAL
Michael Callahan
Andrew Fitzgerald
Laura Ling
OXENFREE
Arthur Goodman
Ben Gill
SUPERVISING PRODUCER
Joe Harkenrider
DIRECTOR
Ben Gill
PRODUCER
Hannah Shewbart
PRODUCTION COORDINATORS
VERY LOCAL
Olivia Weinshank
OXENFREE
Stephanie Roberts
WRITERS
Ben Gill
James Burns
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Miguel Corteo
CASTING DIRECTOR
Hannah Shewbart
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Dani Gill
SUPERVISING
EDITOR
Katie Harris
EDITORS
Anthony Cubba
Katie Harris
Once Blind Kitchen Orlando was greenlit, we collaborated with Very Local to execute all the details of the series including motion graphics, locations, scripts, cast, and set design to achieve a uniquely “Orlando” look and feel.
We reworked and built upon the processes from other cities’ Blind Kitchen seasons, elevating the cinematography, production design, storytelling, and production practices.
In just 15 production days, we captured 8 competition days, 16 chef interviews, B-Roll of the 16 featured restaurants, and several marketing assets for the series.
Utilizing Frame.io’s Camera to Cloud technology, our post-production process ran parallel to filming, and we were able to turn around all (8) 21-minute episode edits, 4 promotional trailers, UGC content featuring the series host, and key art stills all within less than 2 months after filming.
RESULT
Blind Kitchen Orlando premiered in October of 2023, establishing itself as a breakout season for the series, showcasing Orlando’s vibrant food scene and elevating the Blind Kitchen concept.
Blind Kitchen Orlando received top ratings on the Very Local app, ranking as the 2nd most-watched new series during its premiere window, and 5th overall in minutes watched among all 34 of Very Local's original series.
The series was also recognized with 7 local ADDY awards, including the Best of Show award for Film, Video and Sound at the 2024 Orlando American Advertising Awards.
The show was not only met with incredible reception from viewers and the local community, but from the Very Local and Hearst teams as well.
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With the show’s emphasis on local culture, we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the premiere of the series than by hosting a Premiere Party event. We brought together everyone involved in the show, including the chefs, host, guest judges, crew, network, and featured nonprofits, as well as industry peers, community leaders, and local thought leaders to build engagement and awareness for the series.
We hosted the 140-person event at Vū Orlando, the industry’s leading virtual production studio, where we displayed exclusive behind-the-scenes photos, videos, and series trailers on the large scale 26' by 155' LED Volume to immerse attendees in the show and how it was brought to life.
We were honored to have the opportunity to call attention to something we're really passionate about, the culinary scene in Orlando, and shine a spotlight on the city’s top chefs and culinary artists who embody the local culture.
