That time AKL almost got a TV show
Set this up for us: how did AKL grab the attention of producers?
This whole process was completely and utterly out of the blue! I was connected with our production team through another local designer here in Portland. They really liked the idea of me being a female general contractor. After a few video conferencing sessions, they brought up their interest in creating a concept around my business, my family, and the relationship I have with my dad. The first step was putting together a small highlight reel of our online interviews to try and get the networks interested in us from a talent point of view.
Our producers planned to pitch it to two home and lifestyle networks to gauge interest in creating a show together. One of them passed on us and the other said yes! I remember exactly the day and moment when I got the call that a major network in home renovation and lifestyle was interested in our concept. Talk about surreal. I was in California Closets designing a garage space for a client. I seriously almost passed out when I got the news. Although we had a long way to go it felt like a huge win!
So what happened next?
Our production team now had the investment money they needed to put a crew together, get a show runner, and fly out to Portland for four days of filming a mini-episode. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t beyond nervous. AKL was not even three years old yet. We had completed maybe three remodel projects so far. But, I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and couldn't say no. We had to swing for the hills.
By the time the team arrived in Portland to film, we’d already built a strong, collaborative, and supportive relationship. That really helped me relax a bit. Although, I will say, getting mic'd up, and being in front of two cameras, a sound guy, a producer, a show runner, and five other people isn't the most comfortable setup for someone who has never done this before. It took some time to get the hang of it, but I had THE BEST crew in the world. I’m forever grateful for all the work they put in to make me appear as authentically “me” as possible.
The four days of filming was a whirlwind and filled with all the feels: Adrenalin, self-consciousness, tears of joy, and moments of discouragement. By the end of filming, the crew truly felt like family. We even hosted them at our house for a home-cooked meal. It was such an amazing way to close out their time in Portland and everyone's hard work.
Once we finished filming it was a long, long, long wait while the team got to work on editing all of that footage into a 10-minute mini-episode! There were multiple rounds of revisions and tweaks from the network before presenting it in its final state.
Spoiler alert: AKL didn’t get the green light…this time.
I like that mindset! Ultimately, the network did decide to pass on the show concept. My heart sank when I got the call. We were so hopeful and it wasn’t the news we wanted. But, I wouldn’t change the experience of it for the world. We all worked so hard and I felt for the entire production team. I almost wanted it more for them than myself, honestly.
At the end of the day it wasn’t meant to be. But you never know what can happen. We’ve already been approached by two production companies since. If it’s meant to be then it will be! We’ll just keep doing what we’re doing: Giving our clients and our community the best AKL experience possible. Keep taking chances and saying yes to big opportunities.
I’ll hold these memories forever and am so incredibly grateful to have had this experience. My dad, too! We’ll always have the highlight reels and videos to look back on and say, “Wow! What a ride.”
You wanted to give some shoutouts to your team, right?
YES! I'm so, so, so incredibly grateful that our team believed in me enough to put their time and investment into telling my story.
Steve: Thank you for being my partner in crime from nearly day one of this project. I felt very comfortable with you almost instantly. You have the kindest heart and I am so grateful for your guidance and encouragement. So many phone calls, meetings, brainstorming sessions, and everything in between. Thank you for capturing my authentic self on camera. Your patience on take 42 of not getting the right freaking line, and dreaming up this amazing concept to showcase what my company and team get to do day after day here in Portland. Thank you for fighting for me and for this. I'll never ever forget it.
Zach: Thank you for being the first to interview me! You were my first point of contact at Cool Fire and ultimately helped me pass the first round. For all the tiring camera work during filming week. You really had to stare at my face a lot. LOL. And, for all the editing hours, time, creativity, and heart you put into this project from start to finish. I cannot imagine how much work that was and the end result was just amazing!
AJ: Thank you for being a warm welcome from the moment we met. For laughing at all my jokes on and off camera. Encouraging me and telling me that I was doing really well (even though I probably wasn’t). For the camera work and dedicating yourself to getting the best shot angle, even if it meant standing in a shower for multiple takes. You're just the best.
Alex: Thank you for making sure my audio and mic were on point all week long. Thank you for listening to my voice for nine hours a day for four whole days! And, thanks for reminding me to turn off my mic before going to the bathroom. That would have been a real rookie mistake for someone like me on the first day of the job.
Marcella: Thank you for making sure that I was fed and cared for. I could not have done it without you taking such good care of me! Thank you for going to my house and sorting through all of my hot mess piles and piles of laundry to find the exact outfit we needed to film that one scene.
Grace: Thank you for styling me for this process! It was because of you that I felt so confident and comfortably me in all of these scenes. The producers were blown away by your flatlays and what you selected for shooting. Working with you and having you ensure I look and feel my best is just incredible.
My AKL Team: The real MVPs, my biggest supporters and fans. Thank you for taking on all the extra things and supporting me through this roller coaster of a journey. For everyone I delegated to or asked to step up during this long, long process, you know who you are and I love you.
Dad: We almost had a TV show. I wouldn't want to share this experience with anyone else! Having these videos forever is such a gift. Although it was tough to be on camera for a minute I had the best time laughing, filming, and doing our usual BS together. Being able to work with you IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST.
Sean: My biggest supporter. Thank you for keeping me from falling apart during this entire process. The fears, emotions, excitement, and hesitations. I could not do any of this without your support and encouragement. Thank you for stepping up to be with the boys 24/7 while the crew was with us. Thank you for allowing our home to be flipped upside down. Thank you for agreeing to be on camera, do interviews in front of a million strangers, and let the world know what a pleasure it is to live with an OCD, type A, perfectionist wife. I love you!