In the sprawling tapestry of Hollywood dreams, Kelly Park's journey from Philadelphia to Tinseltown is a testament to her indomitable spirit. In this exclusive Director's Cut, we take you behind the scenes of Park's remarkable odyssey on the highly anticipated reboot of the legendary series "Frasier," where Park directs an episode premiering exclusively on Paramount+ on October 12.

Park, a native of Philly, has an unwavering passion. After earning her stripes as an acting coach, Park's tenacity, talent, and unyielding dedication led her to Hollywood. But her unique blend of storytelling sensibilities caught the attention of industry giants. Join us as we delve into Park's artistry of a director whose journey embodies the essence of making dreams come true. With "Frasier," she continues the legacy of a beloved classic and leaves her indelible mark on Hollywood's ever-evolving landscape.

BET: How has Philadelphia shaped your love for filmmaking?

Kelly Park: Philadelphia has shaped my love for filmmaking in many ways. First, the city is so rich in history -- it's the original city. Just the city's different neighborhoods, you got Germantown, you have Cheltenham, you have West Philly -- and we all had our different thing. It was a lot of personalities and a lot of love.

BET: How did you go from Philadelphia to Hollywood?

Kelly Park: My grandmother would always say, "There are different ways into the house. You don't have to always go through the front door," which I love. I've kept that as the mantra of my life. My husband and I moved from Philly to the Bay Area. We started a life, we had a child, and by the time she was five, we decided we wanted to move to L.A. because we were in the writing scene and doing plays. We wanted to write, I wanted to produce, and so did he. We trekked on out to L.A. My husband was on Craigslist and saw an ad for a job at the Hollywood Improv as a server. My husband said, "I think something might be there for you." I go down there, there's 500 beautiful young actors standing in line for one job at the Hollywood Improv, and then there's me. [Laughs] I filled out the application, and a loudspeaker was going off inside the club. It was an intercom system that said, "Kelly, pick up line 12." I was like, "I'm gonna pick up the phone. "So I was bold, and I picked up the phone, I took the message, handed it to the general manager, and walked out. That night, I got a call, and they were like, "That was hilarious what you did, and we would love for you to join our team at the Hollywood Improv." So, I quit my safe job at my nonprofit and joined the team as a server at the Hollywood Improv and I was terrified, but I knew that I was starting to build a village of creatives.

My daughter was five, turning six -- and she said, "I can totally do stand up." And I was like, are you kidding? So DeRay Davis, a wonderful comedian and actor, said, "Put her up there on Mo' Better Mondays." Mo' better Mondays is an all-Black audience and all-Black comedians. My husband and I helped write a set for her, She goes up and kills it. She became addicted to it; she would do open mics after school. She was six at this time -- it was crazy! I'm wiping tables. She's doing stand-up. We're trying to write, and time goes on. One day, one of the executive producers of "That's So Raven" came in, saw my daughter, and said we would love to have her on "That's So Raven." We couldn't afford an acting coach, so I became her acting coach and we lived our life in that bubble. Then, she got an opportunity to work with Nickelodeon on a show called "Instant Mom." Nickelodeon offered me to coach on set. I was like, "I have no idea what that is, but does it pay, and is their health insurance?" [Laughs] They were like, "Yes!" So, I became an acting coach on set for Disney and Nickelodeon, but I was still searching for something. My husband was like you're a director... So I asked Nickelodeon if I could direct, and they said keep shadowing, and I did. I shadowed a lot of wonderful, incredible directors who became my mentor. I had an opportunity to work for Netflix on a show called "Alexa & Katie" as an acting coach. Time went by, and I said, "Hey, it's the second season, I'd love to direct." Netflix said yes -- that's how I got into the house, and I never looked back.

BET: You've directed several sitcoms, including an upcoming episode of "Frasier." How do you add your style to the sitcom formula?

Kelly Park: The Sitcom is very unique. Some people say it's like a play, and it is -- you have three different acts, there is movement on a stage setting, and it's four different cameras, which you have to know; it's very formulaic in that way. It's about the timing and energy of the actor and giving to each other in that moment, which is a beautiful thing. The studio audience lends all their energy and passion to those actors, making a great sitcom. "Frasier," for me, was one of my favorites because of the beats and the timing. So you're literally on a journey with these incredible players, and that's what I love about it. My mother, an actor, always told me, "Whenever you go to a job, you're not there to recreate the tree or grow the tree; you're just there to put your leaves on it." So, whenever I go to a set, I put my little leaves on it and interject my own thing. It could be from something from back in the past that I've seen or something that I find funny in terms of blocking. I like to lend those things as well. "Frasier," though? Genius.

BET: Tell us about the episode of "Frasier" you are directing.

Kelly Park: It was an honor to even be on that stage with these players. I had the privilege of directing an episode called "Blind Date." It was a 22-page scene that I had the honor of directing, which was incredible. I was live in front of an audience. We camera blocked a couple of days before, but everything was live. These actors are just so in tune with themselves with their bodies with each other. Frasier, Kelsey Grammer, at the helm of this, he didn't skip a beat!

BET: You've also directed episodes of "The Ms. Pat Show" and "The Game." Talk about the experience of working with the BET family.

Kelly Park:  First of all, I want to thank BET because both shows are iconic, irreverent and beautiful. They both have heart, they're both honest and they tell an incredible story. On "Ms. Pat," everyone wrapped their arms around each other, and we did a show with so much heart. The whole cast was amazing. "The Game," first of all, I watched "The Game" from day one. So, to be on "The Game" reboot was a joy and a treat. The actors in "The Game" laid the groundwork for some of the shows that are out today. It was a great experience, and both shows helped shape who I'm becoming.

BET:  We are all the directors of our own lives. What does the director's cut of your journey in Hollywood and life look like thus far?

Kelly Park: Thus far, it looks like strength and goodness. A strong foundation is starting, and my roots are now pushing out into the world. It looks like I'm becoming a mentor and a teacher. I'm starting to grow as a creative person and want to get into films next. I'm branching out that way, but it must always be rooted in comedy. Comedy has to be the thread throughout everything; it's healing to me. That's what it looks like right now. My village is getting bigger, and I'm just honored.