Fit18 E174 Lana Smalls Initial Casting And Crea... May 2026

Lana Smalls received a nomination for “Best New Talent” at the 2024 Digital Fitness Media Awards. More importantly, Fit18 announced that E174 would serve as the creative template for all subsequent episodes—prioritizing raw casting chemistry over polished choreography.

On March 12, 2023, Lana Smalls was called back for an in-person chemistry read at Fit18’s Burbank studio. Unlike traditional acting auditions, Fit18’s process includes a “dynamic blocking test,” where the talent must improvise movements and reactions alongside a seasoned partner. For E174, the producers wanted to test how Lana would handle unpredictability. Fit18 E174 Lana Smalls Initial Casting And Crea...

She was paired with a veteran Fit18 coach, Marcus “Vex” Torrence. The scene: a high-intensity interval drill with verbal callouts. No script. Lana not only kept up but began trash-talking Marcus with a grin. The room erupted. “That’s the moment we knew,” says executive producer Ryan Hodge. “She wasn’t performing. She was being.” Lana Smalls received a nomination for “Best New

The truncated "Crea..." in your title likely refers to "Creation" or "Creative." What is fascinating about this episode is how much of the creative process is left visible. We see the director step in to adjust a light. We hear the cameraman ask for a different angle on the casting sofa. The scene: a high-intensity interval drill with verbal

In less skilled productions, these moments are errors. In Fit18 E174, they are texture. The production team understands that the mise-en-abyme (the story within a story) is the product. We are not just watching Lana Smalls; we are watching the construction of Lana Smalls.

The "initial casting" is thus a metaphor for the internet itself. Everyone is being cast, constantly. We are all performing our "initial" selves for a new audience every day. Lana’s hesitation is our hesitation before hitting "post." Her eventual compliance is our own learned performance of confidence.