The director's voice echoed through the quiet street, where I stood just outside the entrance of the ACC headquarters.
"And action!" the director called out.
I took a deep breath and started walking towards the entrance, already getting familiar with being in front of the camera again.
"Hi, I'm Soriyah Davis, two-time winner of the 2019 and 2020 ACCs, and I'm back, more determined than ever," I began, my voice steady despite the nerves fluttering in my chest.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The camera man followed me as I walked through the revolving doors, capturing my entrance into the quiet lobby.
Then we went to a small room, switching to a one-sided interview, where I talked directly into the camera about what brought me back to completing.
"I've always believed that cooking is an art, and every dish is a canvas," I continued, "This year, I'm bringing new techniques and flavors to the table, and I can't wait to share them with you all again." I flashed a smile at the camera, my heart pounding in my chest.
In the next take, the camera followed me, now dressed in my professional, all white chef's jacket, my hair now pulled back into a neat bun. I pushed open the doors to the main kitchen, where the set was ready for more filming.
For dramatic effect, the crew had to capture me coming in from different angles. There was smoke shooting from both sides of the doors as I pushed through, a dramatic flair added for the viewers at home.
I made my way to the kitchen island prop, where a variety of fresh ingredients were carefully arranged.
They told me to do and say what came to me naturally, so I picked up a chef's knife, feeling the familiar weight in my hand.
"My journey hasn't been easy, but every challenge has made me a stronger chef. Being back here feels like coming home, and I'm ready to show the judges and my fellow competitors what I've got," I said, slicing through a bright red bell pepper with precision.
"The Atlanta Cooking Competition has always been close to my heart, and I'm here to reclaim my title." were my last words before the camera zoomed in for a close-up, and I gazed directly into the lens with a determined look.
"And cut!" the director called out, smiling. "Beautiful work, Soriyah. That was absolutely perfect."
"Thank you." I exhaled, relieved and excited that the competition will be taking place in a few days and it dawns on me that I'll be spending a lot of time here.
And it was true, the next few weeks ahead will be tough, but I'm ready for it.
• • •
"Girl, I was in there code switching like a motherfucker." I laughed, telling Jada how filming went earlier. We're at her apartment, boxing things up after she and Javonte decided to move in together.
