Behind-the-scenes of My ESPN Feature
For most of 2017, I worked with an insanely talented group of producers and videographers from ESPN. Why?
Well, we created a mini-documentary of my life and my relationship with the New England Patriots.
From working with a Sports Emmy Award-Winning producer to becoming more involved with such an incredible organization (the Patriots!), this once-in-a-lifetime experience was nothing short of remarkable.
In this documentary feature, you met some remarkable people who make this life of mine a great one. You saw the kind of influence the Patriots have had on me and my family. And, by the end of it, you knew exactly who to root for during the football season.
Grateful was an understatement, and humbled only began to describe how I felt from this opportunity. Unfortunately, due to NFL copyright issues, we were unable to post it online. But, if you had a chance to watch it (or are simply curious about what goes on behind the scenes of an E60 documentary), I thought I’d take to the good ol’ blog.
So, let's dive deeper into the clips you saw and share some stories of what was happening behind the cameras?
I had the best time filming with the most talented group of people, and I think you’ll see why in the photos below.
The Interviews: August 31, 2017
Welcome to the day of interviews! It’s crazy to me that only a few minutes made the final cut when the crew was there for about 7 hours. That’s show biz, I guess. (Truthfully, I’m not even sure I’m using that statement in the right context, but let’s just go with it.)
Setting up for interviews was a process.
Aside from all the equipment that needed to be set up, furniture had to be moved, our two dogs had to be kept quiet (the struggle was real) and the sun even had to be tracked in the sky for lighting purposes. I’m sure this was all autopilot to the production crew, but my mind was blown.
Sitting down for my interview was pretty intimidating.
However; I was determined to make it count. After all, this was my opportunity to truly share a piece of my heart with the world. It was a chance for me to explain my why behind doing this E60 documentary. To educate people on what life was really like with a disability. And- of course- to gush about what my favorite NFL team meant to me.
Although I had only met Lisa, my interviewer, ten minutes before we started, her presence felt familiar, almost as if she and I were old friends, catching up on life.
We sat there for 2.5 hours as I shared everything I possibly could with her. And while it may come across as just another interview to many, it was one of the most redefining moments of my life.
At one point, Lisa had asked me about the treatment I was receiving for my disease: Spinraza.
That’s when it hit me…
Prior to this treatment, I wouldn’t have been able to do this interview.
I could barely get a sentence out without feeling winded. While I knew Spinraza was beginning to take effect in my body, I didn’t realize just how much it was making a difference in my life until that moment.
Getting vulnerable on national television was no easy feat, but realizing I had regained the strength to share my voice with the world, I decided to pour my heart out.
Training Camp: July 28, 2017
Behind the scenes of this shoot, I was fighting some personal battles.
Early that morning, just as the production crew arrived at the house, we received a phone call from my uncle who was deeply concerned about my grandfather. He had been experiencing some health issues in the recent months, but that morning he could barely get up and walk. He became disoriented, fell, and experienced a slew of other health scares. Being 87 years old, we feared this was the end.
And as he was heading to the doctor for a prognosis we weren’t ready to face, I was heading to Gillette Stadium for a full day of shooting.
On top of the heaviness that sat on my chest, I was dealing with my own set of mysterious health issues. In fact, just 48 hours before this shoot, I was lying on a hospital bed as a patient at Boston Children’s Hospital. Machines scanned my bones, and needles pierced my skin, but no diagnosis was ever confirmed.
The production team kindly offered to push back the shoot, but I politely refused.
Looking back on this day, I wish I could go back and hug each and every person involved in that shoot for they made me feel so deeply cared for.
Without even trying, they put the most genuine smile on the face of a girl whose heart was tired and spirit was weak. There wasn’t much more I could ask for, and they truly fueled me that day to keep moving forward. In spite of my personal heartache, I was reminded of the love that was ever-present in my life.
Oh, and my grandfather? What was misdiagnosed as Lyme disease was actually a bilateral subdural hematoma he had had for months. After a long road to recovery, we are very blessed to still have him with us today.
Training Camp: July 28, 2017 PT. II
This is one of my favorite stories to tell!
Meet the other Alyssa, the girl you see cheesing next to me in the photo here. Alyssa and I have this little motto that we sing to one another, and it goes like this: “what can go wrong will go wrong will go wrong with Alyssaaaaa.” It’s not so much self-deprecating as it is poking fun at the hilarity of our lives sometimes.
Seriously, if something’s bound to go wrong, it’s going to happen to me or Alyssa, and we’re convinced it’s a name thing.
**All the other Alyssas please inquire.
Anyway. Being newly discharged from the intensive care unit, I knew I had to be extra gentle to my body that day. The production team and everyone involved from the Patriots organization were so kind and caring that day.
Since becoming aware of what was going on, they’d often ask if I needed air-conditioned breaks, a moment to rest and lay down, and even reminded me to take sips of Gatorade.
At a certain point, I began to felt weak and asked to take a snack break. We stopped filming, and as Alyssa got my almond butter pack to feed me, the crew discussed what was next in terms of filming. All that was required of me was to simply stare straight ahead while the cameras did some 360 shots around me. Easy, right?
But as Alyssa went to squeeze the pack into my mouth, all the almond butter oil leaked out, leaving the most beautiful stain on my shirt.
I’m very happy to inform you this shot never made the final cut.
Game Day: August 10, 2017
Meeting Tom Brady wasn’t planned. As a result, you can imagine the excitement taking place behind the scenes as Robert Kraft introduced him to us.
I always knew I’d be impressed if I ever had the opportunity to meet the GOAT himself but, truthfully, I wasn’t expecting to be as impressed as I actually was. During that scene, you hear Mr. Kraft ask if Tom had met me to which he replied, “yeah, I saw her at practice the other day!”
As if I wasn’t already nervous enough to be in the presence of greatness! What he said completely took me by surprise.
Yes, we technically did see each other at practice, but it was the quickest, most in-passing glance. If it were anyone else but Tom Brady, I probably wouldn’t have even remembered.
There was nothing notable about that moment for him- at least that's what I thought. He simply walked by saying, “hey, how ya doing,” and while my heart melted a little on the inside, that was probably something he said to a hundred people that day.
So, hearing him say he remembered me on game day meant a lot. I think it just goes to show the type of football player he is and how he genuinely cares about his fans.
This moment was one of my biggest highlights filming with E60.
Aside from the fact that I had the honor of being introduced to Tom Brady, being able to have shared these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities with loved ones was truly the best feeling.
I love my brother’s face in the bottom picture- you can tell how genuinely happy he was in that moment. And while I felt incredibly fortunate to have been able to experience moments such as this, I felt even more fortunate to have been in a position where I could facilitate these experiences to others who were more deserving than me. Especially when it came to my brother.
My favorite patriots
Although you never saw these faces on screen, these two right here were behind the scenes of almost every shoot.
Meet Stacey and Anne, two employees of the Patriots organization who worked effortlessly to coordinate each shoot with E60 and even orchestrated the van surprise. But, to me, they are better known as two of my closest friends.
I met Stacey by happenstance back in August of 2013 (more on that here) and Anne a few months prior to these photos after she had been hired to come work for the team. This day was Anne’s first game as an official New England Patriots employee as well as her 25th birthday. I was so excited to spend the evening with my new friend.
While these two played important roles in the making of this documentary, the friendship they’ve given to me exceeds far beyond the end zone.
There’s something to say about people who unconditionally see your best even when you’re at your worst. There’s something to say about people who go the extra mile to always ensure that you’re well taken care of.
They forever have your best interest at heart.
Stacey and Anne do all of that for me, and then some. These two have set the bar pretty high when it comes to the definition of a good friend, but in doing so have made me feel so very loved and supported. I don’t know I could ask for anything better.
Wrapping Up: November 12, 2017
Meet Max, the producer behind my E60 feature!
Max has been working to bring people’s stories to the television screen for over a decade and has even won a Sports Emmy for his knack for storytelling. To say I was honored he chose me for his next feature was an understatement.
Storytelling has always been a way for me to educate people on life with a disability and, most importantly, show up for them. When Max showed up to the scene with the most incredible opportunity, he created a platform for me to let my voice be heard even louder.
I am truly humbled to have worked with him. Not only did he have a knack for storytelling, but he also had a knack for giving me way too much credit on the television screen. That Max!
This day was one of our final shoots. The production crew wanted to come out to grab some day-in-the-life footage and a few shots of us watching the Patriots play the Denver Broncos that evening.
What you may not have gathered from watching these clips, however, is that I was actually battling a touch of bacterial pneumonia then. As with anyone who is battling some type of illness, the last thing I wanted were cameras in my face all day.
But, it doesn’t get more day-in-the-life-with-SMA than a sudden onset of pneumonia. Because I wanted this documentary to be a true reflection of my life, I realized how important it was to let the cameras in on my weaker moments. The crew was so good to me that day which only made feel extra special to be a part of this.
BONUS- The Surprise: August 16, 2018
True story. We hadn’t a single clue as to what was about to go down with the van. ESPN had reached out to me saying they wanted to grab some footage “just in case” they wanted to do a follow-up story in the upcoming season, and I fell for it. Who wouldn’t?!
In true Silva fashion, we were running super behind to our estimated time of arrival. I won’t get into the nitty-gritty of what went down, but let’s just say we were extremely mortified/embarrassed/apologetic when we learned what had been going on behind the scenes.
When we finally arrived, we were taken to a wide garage that opened like an accordion. Waiting for us on the other side was Robert Kraft, Matthew Slater, and a blue van with a big, red bow.
God’s honest truth…
I thought maybe the van was going to be some special giveaway at the game that day, that’s how much I least expected it.
My sister-in-law kept asking if anyone noticed the van, but we were all so distracted by Mr. Kraft and Matthew that we really didn’t have time to process the possibility of it being ours. That was until Mr. Kraft handed over the keys...
Friends, A LOT of tears were shed that day and in the days that followed.
Truthfully, I still get teary-eyed when I start replaying those moments in my head. All my life, I was deeply inspired by Mr. Kraft and the entire Patriots organization for the amount of goodness they poured into the world. I never expected to be on the receiving end of it.
Without even trying, Mr. Kraft has taught me there is only one better feeling than being on the receiving end of a person’s kindness and generosity:
Having the opportunity to selflessly give it.
While our old van was no longer fitting our travel needs, we knew it would for someone else in need. Because of the generosity Mr. Kraft extended to us, we wanted to pay it forward to a young girl with SMA who had never had a wheelchair accessible van.
Like the Patriots did for me, my parents and I surprised this girl by randomly showing up at her house with the van. And, just when I thought there was no greater joy than receiving the greatest gift ever, the look on this girl’s face showed me otherwise. You can read all about it here.
There it is, friends- a closer look at what filming an E60 documentary was like with Max, Lisa, the amazing production crew, and the New England Patriots! I am, truly, the most grateful.
Want to stick around a little while longer and get all the BTS of my life? Well, then let’s make things official. Email official.
