Celebrity chef, Raymond "Ray" Russo, has built a successful brand through buying underperforming restaurants and firing inept staff on live Reality TV, but his hit show is turned upside down when he falls for a spunky waitress with big dreams and even bigger heart.

SYNOPSIS:

This is a story about food and love. Raymond "Ray" Russo, celebrity chef turned reality TV food critic, hosts a popular hidden-camera reality show where he goes undercover (in hilarious disguise) to expose offensive restaurant cuisine and behavior (think sneezing into the soup). He then reveals himself and fires the inept staff on live TV – a signature fiery finale that's made him infamous!

Audiences, meanwhile, eat it up. What red-blooded, reality-TV-viewer wouldn't savor the flavor of an uppity server or sloppy cook from the kitchen getting their comeuppance?

This sizzling schadenfreude has made Fired Up for Food a ratings smash, baking Ray into a star, and earning the broadcast network a delicious stew of revenue.

Ray is uber successful, but he's not satisfied. He doesn't have what his heart truly desires-- love, of course! After all, it can be quite lonely at the top of the food chain.

Then, while recording his latest episode, Ray meets the "one." Her name is Sam. All her life, Sam has dreamed of owning her own restaurant, and saves every penny to one day fulfill her goal. But until that day comes, she supports herself (and her ailing mother) as a full-time server for a fancy grill-house.

Coincidentally, the grill-house happens to be Ray's latest target, and he's there now, undercover. Sam is his server, but she doesn't know that she's serving the famous Ray Russo because (as always) he's deep in disguise – this time as a woman with curls!

Even in disguise, Ray can't help himself from falling for Sam and her inspirational big dreams. Unfortunately, the rest of the staff is the worst Ray has ever seen, and his producer demands they stick to formula – EVERYONE must be fired. To do otherwise would deny the audience their schadenfreude fix. The show must go on, and Ray does what he must, devastating Sam.

Afterward, Ray feels awful. He tracks Sam down to apologize. For good reason she doubts his sincerity, and turns her nose up at his offer to hire her to work on his big season finale. But Ray IS sincere, and with the support of Sam's mother (a big fan of his show), convinces Sam to give him a chance to prove it... by promising to change the show formula!

Ray will ditch his signature firings, and instead he'll offer to guide the staff through turning it all around. Sam loves it, agreeing to work alongside Ray as his producing partner. The sparks fly.

Alas, the Network receives wind of Ray's change, and hates the idea - it's ratings suicide! They remind Ray that his contract prevents him from altering the show formula. If he does, it's a breach, and he would lose everything. He's stuck. He tries to sell the news to Sam, but she won't hear it. He's breaking his promise to her! And her heart.

But Ray's heart is hurt too. He can barely function going through the motions of his show without her. Finally, he breaks down - it doesn't matter if it means the end of his career - Ray chooses to do what feels right.

And so, on live TV, Ray disobeys the network, and deviates from his signature finale for all the world to see. Instead of firing the flinching staff of his target restaurant, he offers to take them under his wing and guide them through a business rejuvenation. The audience is shocked. And so is Sam!

3 MONTHS LATER: Ray's risky new show finale was a failure. Viewers blanched, ratings dropped, complaints flooded in (Where were the firings!?), and Ray was told he would never work in TV again.

But to look at him, you wouldn't notice. Because he's in love, and Sam loves him right back. They put all their savings together, purchased the restaurant from the failed finale, and together rebranded it in their own way, putting love back on the menu.

Accolades:

Quarterfinalist, Table Read My Screenplay, Park City 2023

Quarterfinalist, Emerging Screenwriters Screenplay Comp 2023

Semifinalist, Creative Screenwriting Unique Voices Comp 2020

Finalist, The Script Lab Free Screenplay Contest 2020

Quarterfinalist, Creative Screenwriting Comp 2023

Quarterfinalist, Big Apple Film Fest Screenplay Comp 2023

Semifinalist, Nashville Film Fest 2023

Semifinalist, Rhode Island Film Fest 2023