The Food Stylist Who Creates Hollywood's Unreal Dishes and Drinks
As math consultant to &quot;A Beautiful Mind&quot;, I started when perhaps a dozen people were working pre-production. I enjoyed how the catering improved as the production grew. I also learned to take in the best spirit being the butt of jokes as the obvious &quot;outsider&quot;. Everyone meant well, but dined on me for entertainment.<p>First day of actual shooting, I taught my classes in New York then drove down to Princeton. Arriving in a blur, I noticed the catering had jumped another league, as I grabbed a snack.<p>&quot;You&#x27;re eating props!&quot;<p>Months later, I was mountain biking on a day off. Cell phone rang, they realized they needed me on set after all. As it turned out, after props had me make some fake cigs as a gag for Russell Crowe with a &quot;Dingos will eat your baby&quot; warning, Ron and Akiva realized I was good at Photoshop. They had some work to do overnight, too late to dare ask the art department.<p>Everything happens at a glacial pace on a film, plenty of time to get home, shower, and drive over. Outdoor shoot, a dozen production assistants ringing the property with secret service headsets, to find people quickly. They chat when nothing is happening. A woman recognizes me, &quot;Dave is on set&quot; standard announcement. She asks about my mountain biking, somehow knows. I explain. It goes out over the radio:<p>&quot;Dave gained a freshman fifteen on the film!&quot;