In a sit-down interview with one of The Valley’s senior producers, Ashlei, cast member Janet Caperna asked her to spill some behind-the-scenes tea.
Describing the show as a “coming-of-age story” about couples starting “new paths” and “new lives,” Ashlei felt the subject matter would resonate with many viewers. “I love working on the show, too, because I’m starting a new life and starting a family and all that stuff,” Ashlei shared. “So, it’s a great parallel for everyone who’s just trying to figure it out.”
Read on as The Daily Dish offers us an insider’s perspective on what happened during filming of The Valley.
Who tried to hide from producers the most?
When asked which couple tried the hardest to avoid the cameras, Ashlei confessed that Kristen Doute and Luke Broderick were the guilty parties. They tried to hide out more than any other couple on the show. Perhaps Kristen’s new boyfriend, a newcomer to reality TV, was a little nervous about being filmed.
Ironically, even though the Vanderpump Rules alum tried to evade cameras, according to Ashlei, the scenes Kristen filmed always took the longest.
The producer went on to declare Jax Taylor as the most likely to be tardy for filming. As far as the most spotless home of the group, Ashlei tagged Jax’s now-estranged wife Brittany Cartwright for being the tidiest homemaker.
The most challenging part of being a producer
Ashlei shared that the thing people most often ask when they learn she works in reality television is if “things are real.” Janet laughed, “You can’t script this sh*t.”
“I just like to tell people, ‘No, everything is real,’” Ashlei continued. “We elevate stories, we learn how to track stories – so that you know what’s going on and that everything has a beginning, a middle, and an end – but as far as things being made-up, we couldn’t possibly.”
When Janet asked about the best and worst parts of producing The Valley, Ashlie said she loves working with and getting to know the cast. But the worst part of her job is when cast members want to veto certain storylines.
Production’s job is to help castmates tell their stories, but when someone starts saying, “I don’t wanna talk about that anymore” or “It’s over,” the job gets difficult. Viewers have often witnessed a cast member ripping off their mic and leaving the room in frustration.
“When things get heated, and we have to hold your feet to the fire,” she emphasized, “that is always very challenging. But … it helps us know we’re doing our job because we are always getting what the audience wants to see.”
Despite the work being challenging amid all the drama, Ashlei called it “rewarding” to see “the big picture come together” in the end.
The Valley continues Tuesdays at 9/8c on Bravo.
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