If you ever wondered what it's like to be in your favorite TV show, then look no more!
In this week's episode of Katy Keene, during Ginger Lopez's performance of "Pretty Hurts" by Beyoncé, we see the gang – Katy, Pepper, Josie, and Jorge's mom supporting Ginger while an energetic crowd applauds her. That crowd consists of casted extras instructed to behave a certain way while the main characters are filming.
I got to speak to one of the people in the crowd! Orion Bustamante, otherwise known as a celebrity enthusiast and aspiring actor to his followers, spoke to me about his experience while filming. "[Jonny Beauchamp] sang a cover of "Pretty Hurts" by Beyoncé and absolutely blew everyone in the crowd away," he says.
The scene Orion appeared in was for the episode titled "Mama Said" in which the "Miss Washington Heights Pageant" is taking place. The scene – filmed at Silvercup Studios (Gossip girl, Manifest, Sex and the City) – becomes "Molly's Crisis," similar to its counterpart "Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe" from Riverdale, where the core 4 hang out. This is where Jorge Lopez becomes the stunning Ginger Lopez and belts her heart out.
Orion and Ginger Lopez pictured in "Mama Said"
He recalls the time he attended an exclusive pilot screening at the Tribeca TV Festival for the Archie Comics' show and was drawn to the world of Katy Keene. After leaving the screening he fell in love with the series' tone and characters. Orion mentions how immensely talented Jonny Beauchamp is which made his job as an extra "even easier" and his reaction to the performance "was very genuine and needed very little to no direction."
When he's not working as a host in a Williamsburg restaurant or working in production, he's meeting all our favorite celebrities. He and Lucy Hale have been acquainted long enough that she knows all about his dreams of making it on the big screen! "It was a pretty unique experience getting to work with her," he adds, "She and Jonny know I am an aspiring actor so they were surprised and happy to see me!"
Orion tells us to keep our eyes peeled and hints to appearing in an upcoming episode.