cinqque5tion with Stella Acquisto (by: Jovin Tardif)

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cinqque5tion with Stella Acquisto

We made our way through the jumbo jet’s main cabin. We walked passed two different sections: first class and coach. This 747 can carry up to five hundred passengers.  We put away our luggage and took our seats.  A flight attendant was greeting and helping passengers board the plane.  The same flight attendant made the in-flight announcements and went over the safety and emergency procedures of the plane in both French and English.  In the background, we can hear the Captain. “This is your Captain speaking…Today we will be making our way back to Toronto…the flight should be about (pause)…. approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes… (pause) The temperature here is a sunny 28°C and back in Toronto, a cold -20°C. Sorry folks.”  The passengers start booing.  The flight attendant started to go around and number each passenger to get a headcount.  55… 56… They reach Stella Acquisto … “57.”  We both looked at each other and said: “Passenger 57”. We both giggled. [Passenger 57  (1992) action thriller film directed by Kevin Hooks. Stars include Wesley Snipes and Bruce Payne]  Fun fact: I started the interview this way because Stella used to be a flight attendant. Quick question: for those who may know Stella Acquisto very well, how many of you thought the flight attendant was going to end up being Stella Acquisto?

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cinqque5tion with Stella Acquisto

1. Can you tell us about your first experience on television as a reporter for CTV News?

I had just graduated from a post-graduate program at Seneca College for Broadcast Journalism when I was offered a video journalist position in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. I spent 2 years there before being promoted to a position in Sudbury for a year and then made the big move back to Toronto to work at CityNews. In Northern Ontario, I had the opportunity to do multiple roles. I was a Video-journalist so I would report, shoot and edit my own stories. In addition to this, I was also a weather specialist. During my time up north, I had a chance to do a 3-piece series in Haiti a year after the earthquake.

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2. You have played multiple roles on both Breakfast Television and City News including host, reporter, weather specialist, and community correspondent. Do you have any advice to broadcasting students to prepare for a show?

In preparation for a show, I just try to be as calm as possible and remember that anything can happen in a live setting, so just roll with it. Pay attention to your subject, listen to what they are saying and feed off their answers to set up your next question. 

3. Can you tell us more about Dreams Take Flight? Tell us about a favourite moment?

Dreams Take Flight is a not for profit that brings deserving children to the Magic Kingdom once a year. I’ve been a part of dreams take flight for over a decade. I started as a flight attendant on the flight and eventually began to cover the flight as media. Recently, I just took on the role of social media chair. One of my most memorable experiences in the park was when a child who was blind, touched Mickey’s face. Her excitement as her face lit up with a smile, was a magical thing to experience.

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4. Let’s play a game I like to call “Athlètes of the Week”.  In one word, how would you describe your time with the following athletes #Athlètesoftheweek? 

*Dominique Wilkins (The Human Highlight Reel)
Knowledgeable

*Morris Peterson (Mo Pete)
Funny

*Jerome Williams (JYD – Junk Yard Dog)
Entertaining

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5. Can you tell us about your roles in V-Wars(2019) and Dog Days of Summer (2016)? How does acting compare to journalism/broadcasting?

I was a reporter/anchor in both of those roles. So, it was actually very similar to what I do on a daily basis. The only difference, the role is scripted and I’m used to adlibbing, which could be a bit of a struggle.

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Bonus:

6. Can you tell us about the #adventuresoflaylarose?

#adventuresoflaylarose is something I created when my daughter Layla was born. I was bringing her with me to a lot of events across the city, so I figured I would turn it into an “adventure” for her. The truth is, it ended up being quite the adventure for me hauling all her things and going from place to place.

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View this post on Instagram

Press/Media (Full story at https://whatonwhatsgood.com/ #whatonwhatsgood #cinqque5tion interview with @sacquisto now available. Click link in bio. "We made our way through the jumbo jet’s main cabin. We walked passed two different sections: first class and coach. This 747 can carry up to five hundred passengers.  We put away our luggage and took our seats." (Full story at https://whatonwhatsgood.com/ Link in bio https://whatonwhatsgood.com/2020/03/12/cinqque5tion-with-stella-acquisto-by-jovin-tardif/ #citytv #bttoronto #toronto #Thursdays #disney #magickingdom #breakfasttelevision

A post shared by whatonwhatsgood 🧢👍 (@whatonwhatsgood) on Mar 12, 2020 at 11:50am PDT

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About the Author
Jovin Tardif
Press/Media What On What’s Good
Storyteller, Conversation Starter,
Writer, Reviewer, Interviewer
and Social Media