THE INTERVIEW

S.A.: Destin and Rachel, welcome to Social Appetizer. We’re so glad that you could be here with us today.  It is a true pleasure.

D.P.: Thank you.

R.F.: Thanks for having us!

S.A.: Originally when we were slated to do this interview, it was supposed to be with Destin alone. When our founder found out about the engagement and impending marriage between the two of you, he insisted on this being a joint interview. Do you find that this is starting to become a trend?  Does working together grant more positives or does seeing each other at home and at work take its toll?

D.P.: Working together is a pain in the ass.  I don’t recommend it.  Go ahead, Rach, you can hit me now.

R.F.: It’s definitely an up and down scenario!  It has its perks and most of the time we work really well together but we both don’t take authority well so we tend to butt heads a lot too.

S.A.: Where do you currently reside?  Where are you both from originally?

R.F.: We live in the Valley in Los Angeles.  I grew up in the all too famous OC aka Orange County. As much as I have pride being from there I also am SO not an OC kind of gal! My family hails from NY so I’m more of an east coast girl than sunny plastic CA.

D.P.: I grew up on the sunny beaches of Santa Barbara and the cold tundra of Alaska.

S.A.:  Destin, what’s your absolute favorite City in the world…and what’s your favorite thing to do there?

D.P.: London.  I LOVE London.  If I could, I’d live there.  The architecture, the history, the muse… the pubs!

S.A.: Rachel, what’s your favorite cuisine.  If someone was out looking for you, what restaurant would they find you in?

R.F.: Hands down Japanese.  I’m a sushi queen!  You can find me in the amazing upper scale place like Nobu but I prefer to hit up mom and pop authentic joints.  I like the real deal over the fancy pantcy!

S.A.: Where did you two originally meet?  Was it love at first site?

R.F.: Ha ha we met on Myspace! He found me back in 2005 and we were just online friends as he was in LA and I in OC.  Finally we met in person at a club in LA and I was his dream girl, whereas he was not at all my type.  So no not love at first site for me.  It was our first kiss that magic unlike nothing I had ever felt happened.

D.P.: She actually stalked ME on Myspace.  And then was promptly repulsed by me in person.  I guess I’m just a really good kisser.

S.A.: Now to the meat and bones of it all, tell us how you two got started with Patti.  It seems as though the stars aligned and brought you three together.

D.P.: I’m a screenwriter.  In between gigs, I’d take jobs with small businesses and make them more efficient.  I met Patti before the show, we hit it off, and with a lot of kicking and screaming she showed me I had a knack for matchmaking… and a flare for reality. Boom.  The rest is history.

R.F.: I got brought into the family at the wrap of the first season of Millionaire Matchmaker.  I met Patti and we hit it off and she and I begged Destin to bring me aboard.  After kicking and screaming he agreed and the rest is history.

S.A.: What qualifies someone as a millionaire for entrance into the Millionaire’s Club.  Some say a true millionaire is someone with liquid assets in excess of five to ten million dollars.  Others say that net assets, with homes and cars included, can qualify someone as a millionaire.  Where does the Club stand?

R.F.: If you can afford us clearly you have what it takes!

S.A.: For the men and women chosen to go on the dates with the Millionaire’s, many of our readership are curious as to the level of ‘clearance’ the person(s) go through.  For example, does the Millionaire’s Club do criminal background checks or credit checks for the possible daters of the Millionaires…or is it all just a gut intuition by the staff matchmakers?

D.P.: It’s a big fat stew some of the above, and some trade secrets.

S.A.: On the show, The Millionaire Matchmaker, we have seen how sometimes the mega-date participants end up being gold-diggers and in sharp contrast we sometimes see how true love is really discovered.  What is the success rate of the Millionaire’s Club, with the ‘given factor’ that a Millionaire stays with the program for two to three years?

R.F.: Our success rate is in the 90s percentile.  The show is a lot of fun and drama and quirkiness, whereas the parts of the business you don’t see is serious and we have success on a constant basis.  Typically within 3-5 dates our members get into a committed relationship.

S.A.:  Matchmaking is an age old tradition.  All cultures and races have a matchmaker component involved, within the very fabric of their existence and history.  The greatest form of matchmaking brought to the silver screen was in “Fiddler on the Roof”.  Does the Millionaire’s Club feel the burden and awesomeness of this responsibility?  Do you teach new staff, that “this isn’t just a gig”, but rather a service that pre-dates the New Testament. Through the show we see that Patti takes and understands the responsibility of a matchmaker very seriously. We truly applaud that.

R.F.: That’s exactly what we preach and feel.  This isn’t internet dating with fake profiles and dates coming out of your you-know-what.  We are hard core and dedicated and have serious rules and methods to our matching.  It’s a very rewarding job but also very tiring and grating as you are dealing with people and relationships.  When we succeed it is very “God-like”. It’s not just what a person wants but an intuition.  Either you have it or don’t.

D.P.: Ah, the power of love!

S.A.: You two are a lovely couple and we understand you have a beautiful baby boy together.  Are the priorities different now with the addition of your pride and joy or are you finding the work and home transition easy?  Who’s responsible for diaper changes? Who makes dinner?  Is there a bassinet/crib now at the M.C.?

R.F.: Now that Sin Halo is in the mix, life takes on a whole new meaning.  I was once living for me now I live for him.  He is the most amazing thing that has happened in our lives and everything we do is so he can have the best life possible.  Being a mom and having a career in a real business, along with a TV and movie career is not for the faint of heart.  I do it all!  Hey that’s what’s so awesome about us women; we are real life super heroes!  Destin and I share duties but mommy takes over more.

D.P.: Psha!  I do a lot!  Life is too short to not indulge in the moments.  Speaking for myself, this year alone, I have managed to run a successful business, form a production company, shoot a TV show, film a talked about feature film (Sushi Girl), do a press run, fix up a house, get people in relationships, get myself married to the most beautiful woman in the world and prep my next movie… all while not neglecting my son for a single minute… and the year isn’t even over yet.