In a few days, the election of candidates for the Nice episode of “A Nearly Perfect Dinner” will be completed, and Sylvain Lopez, the casting director of the show, reveals the latest information about a program that is experiencing growing success on the small channel that continues to rise.
Cooking is taking on an increasingly important role in the French audiovisual landscape, and the show “A Nearly Perfect Dinner” is now a reference on the small screen.
From April 2 to 6, the city of Nice will be the setting for this program.
So, why not you!
Nice Premium: How is the preparation for the Nice nearly perfect dinner going?
Sylvain Lopez: The first step in our casting process is to spread the word as much as possible in the city. Through this, we gather a certain number of applications. Following a phone call with each candidate, we ask them to send us an application dossier including photos of themselves, their homes, as well as a proposal for the evening (menu, decor, atmosphere).
Following this, we select the 20-25 best applications (those that demonstrate originality, creativity, and motivation!) and arrange a meeting with the selected candidates a few days later at a hotel in the city for a brief filmed interview, which I review upon the return of the casting team to Paris, so we can present the final ten to the producer who will choose five.
NP: How many applications have you received to date, and have any already caught your attention?
Sylvain Lopez: Since it has been quite a while since we last visited the city of Nice, we have received a very enthusiastic welcome. I believe we have already processed almost 150 applications so far, but the casting is not over yet, and the people of Nice can still surprise us, I’m sure of it!
NP: When are the filming and airing dates for the Nice episode?
Sylvain Lopez: The filming will take place from April 2 to 6, 2012. The show is filmed from Monday to Friday, as seen on television. Since each week of the show requires about seven weeks of editing, our Nice participants will only gain television fame two or three months after filming.
NP: What role will Niรงoise cuisine play in your show?
Sylvain Lopez: Wherever we go, we appreciate when some candidates offer us local cuisine. I hope we will find stuffed vegetables, socca, or pissaladiรจre! But not only that, of course!
NP: How has cooking become one of television’s pillars?
Sylvain Lopez: I believe that before becoming one of television’s pillars, cooking has always had a central place in France. This is probably why viewers enjoy identifying with amateur cooks in a nearly perfect dinner, getting excited, and dreaming in front of our “top chefs,” or applying the valuable advice of Cyril Lignac in “MIAM.”
NP: Finally, what do you hope for from the Nice episode?
Sylvain Lopez: We hope for colorful, friendly, and lively people, but I’m not too worried about that; the people of Nice have never disappointed us!
