The Pizza Show
VICELAND
The Pizza Show explores the world of pizza. From New York to New Haven to Chicago, Frank Pinello, our host, meet the amazing characters behind the food that has transformed America.
Serving as the lead editor, I established the tone and format throughout this series. This project originally aired on the digital channel, MUNCHIES, before being picked up by VICELAND. Since it was a digital budget, I had to be flexible and take on multiple roles in the post process. This included a tandem of editor and story producer throughout the 10 episodes I worked on.
SERIES TEASER
HIGHLIGHTS
S1.E1 | Brooklyn is Pizza Heaven Lucali’s
We spend some time with Mark Iacono, owner of Lucali in Carroll Gardens, who built his restaurant by hand and is working tirelessly to preserve the tradition of his neighborhood through pizza.
This was the pilot episode for the first season, so establishing the series tone was important. We didn’t want the dull travelogue format that many shows follow. Rather than having a hokey host with canned one-liners, I emphasized certain moments the host shared with each guest. In this scene, our host took part in a neighborhood bocce tournament, which was a good way to highlight the host’s charisma with the locals.
S2.E9 | Naples, The Birthplace of Pizza Franco Pepe
Our host embarks on the ultimate Neapolitan pizza journey, visiting some of the most famous pizzerias in the world and hanging out with some of the best pizzaiolos in the business.
This episode was part of the 2nd season. It’s my favorite episode in the series due to the various characters. In this scene, the hired local guide, Luciano, had such a personality that he was eventually brought in front of the camera. His endearing enthusiasm about pizza compliments what would normally be a standard “pizzeria tour”. I emphasized his eccentric personality with music choices, crafted an erratic pacing for comedic effect, and finished the scene with a montage of pizza debauchery.
S1.E3 | From Deep Dish to Thin Crust
Freddy’s Pizza
From deep dish to tavern style thin, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to Chicago pizza. Our host is here to show us the ins and outs of Chicago pizza and introduce us to the people who help make it what it is today.
Rather than fulfilling the standard routine of documenting a pizza joint with process shots and interview bytes, the producer and I wanted to take advantage of following the owners to their weekly dance class, eliciting a Christopher Guest mockumentary with full effect.
S1.E5 | New York Slice
Totonno’s
New York is the birthplace of many things, but for today's purposes, we're sticking to pizza. We meet the granddaughters of the man that literally brought pizza over from Naples, and even see the ovens that he used.
Due to the chaotic production for this location, the crew had difficulty getting an interview with the busy owners. I had to find a workaround to structure this scene. I leaned into the chaos and highlighted how the owners were constantly popping in and out of the scene, while our host navigated the tumultuous waters of this bustling pizzeria.
S2.E13 | Sicily
Sfincione
In Sicily, it's all about the Sfincione, the regional style of focaccia that is traditionally topped with breadcrumbs, anchovies, and a hard sheep's milk cheese.
The production team spent a full day shooting with a local vendor. With hours of footage, I condensed the segment into a swift 3 minute mini-doc, before our host joins him on a tasting session. It was a nice change of pace to the back and forth format that the show normally does.
S2.E1 | Las Vegas
World Pizza Games
There’s no better way to kick off Season 2 of the Pizza Show than at the International Pizza Expo, the world’s largest pizza convention which takes place in Las Vegas. From epic pizza ovens to acrobatic dough-tossing, you will literally find everything related to pizza under one roof at this event.
In this scene, our host interviews Justin, a former World Pizza Champion competing in the dough-tossing event. Due to the nature of the competition, which featured performances tied to copyrighted music, I carefully crafted a quick montage that highlights the visual absurdity of dough-tossing, complimented with various interviews detailing the gravity of the event. The tone is fast paced and whimsical, and the audience receives a pay-off when our hero (Justin) wins the grand prize.
S2.E8 | NYC’s Other Boroughs
Dani’s House of Pizza
Frank Pinello has eaten his share of pizza in Manhattan and Brooklyn, but it's time for him to check out New York City's other boroughs—Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx—to discover some of the city's best slices and pies. We start off in Queens with our favorite Renaissance man Action Bronson for a slice tour of two of his favorite places.
It wouldn’t be an Action Bronson moment without a little chaos. From bouncing between three locations and encountering personalities in the interim, the pacing reflects the spontaneity of Action’s lifestyle. It’s a natural reflection of hanging out on a sunny day in Queens.