A Real Producer from the Real Housewives of OC
“The Real Housewives of Orange County” producer James Lee has seen his fair share of drama. And not just on-screen.
James Lee produces Bravo’s Real Housewives of Orange County. Photo credit Bravo.
“I love my job but it changes so fast,” says Lee, who produces the show with production company Evolution Media. “You have to love a fast-paced type of environment. Things change every second of every minute and we have to go with the flow. So that's what being a producer is: helping figure out what to do when something happens at the last minute. But I love it. It's exciting and it's fun to see it come to life on television.”
After serving as a producer on Bravo TV’s “The Real Housewives of Orange County” for over five years, James has made a lot television. And a decent part of that footage is shot in Irvine. Over the course of the show, currently airing its fifteenth season, Lee has overseen filming at 28 Restaurant, K1 Speedway, Jeannie n Mini, and Tanaka Farms as well as other Irvine locations (including castmate Braunwynn Burke’s “love nest” from season fourteen).
Lee searches for independent shops in Irvine and throughout Orange County to promote local businesses. He hopes to give air time on a major network to small businesses that would normally never get such massive exposure.
“Before we start filming with the ladies, we have preproduction where myself and the segment team start reaching out to returning locations,” says Lee. “And we search for new vibrant, fun locations. Typically mom and pop shops and boutiques are the ones that we go for. We love to help them out in terms of the potential exposure. We can't guarantee what makes it on air, but those are the ones we'd love to reach out to first. Pre-production is kind of like clearing the locations for these ladies, and that's when we start figuring out which place would be best for a particular segment.”
For each segment filmed, production needs to get approval before any on-screen drama can ensue. The process can be complicated, but when it comes to filming in Irvine, it’s relatively simple thanks to the Irvine Company.
“It's super easy,” says Lee. “One of the things that our company does is we reach out to property owners. Of course, the Irvine Company is pretty much the owner of a lot of land in Irvine. And I have a great relationship with them. We've worked with them for all sixteen years. There's one particular person who I work with. Her name is Melissa Robles. She's amazing. She helps also with other ideas in terms of what's going on in the city. She helps speed up the process and the paperwork for any type of landlord property issues that could come up. So Melissa at Irvine Company is one of the closest people that we work with for finding spots or activities that are happening in the area.”
Getting locations to agree to host a filming crew is normally not a tough sell. Lee fosters relationships with business owners so he can return to favorite sites.
RHOC Housewives Emily Simpson and Gina Kirschenheiter filmed at Tanaka Farms in Irvine during season thirteen of the show. Photo credit Bravo.
“I get to talk with a lot of people in Orange County in terms of the locations that we go to,” says Lee. “I have a great relationship with them. And I love that because the following year becomes easier in terms of reaching back out to them again to say, ‘Did you enjoy seeing your establishment on TV?’ They love it and they're always open to having us again. And that's what makes it a great show. That's why we're still around for sixteen seasons. Because of these places that are open to having us.”
Once filming locations are set, production waits to see which one cast members will choose. It’s part of the unpredictability of shooting a reality show.
“What happens is the ladies are the ones who choose the locations,” says Lee. “They will say, ‘Hey, I would love to go to such and such place,’ and then I'll reach out and make sure that they are either already cleared from the preproduction area or if that date and time works for that location. If the ladies get stuck, then I'll suggest some places to them, and then they can choose which spot they would like to go to.”
In guiding cast members to certain locations, Lee keeps the personality of the setting in mind. He wants the shoot to reflect the character of the city.
“Irvine is like business casual,” says Lee. “So if, for example, Vicki [Gunvalson, former RHOC housewife] is coming off work and she wants to go to a restaurant, she'll suggest 28 Restaurant or something like that. We want it to feel like they're in Irvine. Just like with Newport Beach: you want to look at a beach view when you're there. So it's the atmosphere of the city that leads to the spot that we end up choosing.”
When the filming day is done, the crew frequently hangs out together for a meal. When shooting in Irvine, they have some favorite spots to eat and unwind.
“I'm a frequent visitor at North Italia and HiroNori Ramen over in Irvine,” says Lee. “They're go to spots. HiroNori is a craft ramen spot that we found a couple of years ago, and our crew and boosters will go there like on a Tuesday. That's one of our favorite spots. Usually when the crew is working in a restaurant that we've filmed in, they take their break there and have the food there. Of course, it is COVID time, so it's a little bit different. But in past seasons, they would eat there.”
During these COVID times, Lee is keeping his sanity by doing the same as the rest of us: binging Bravo.
“Well, I'm watching my Bravo shows,” says Lee. “Orange County is airing right now, so I am watching our work on television. It makes me happy to see the locations that have made it onto the show. That's pretty much it. I am staying at home. I am doing what the mandates are trying to keep everyone safe, and yeah, watching Bravo. I mean, why not?”
“The Real Housewives of Orange County” airs Wednesdays at 9 pm ET/PT on Bravo.