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on the lot
By:rick grantFrom: EU
When we hear the names Mark Burnett and Steven Spielberg, normally we think they exist on different creative planets. So, when Burnett and Spielberg made a deal to produce a reality show that would showcase the brightest young filmmakers in an American Idol styled show, it seemed like an odd happening. Odd or not, Spielberg looked at Burnett’s track record of hit shows, and even he was impressed. So the two strange bedfellows conjured up this new reality show that was a hit right out of the box. Yes, Spielberg figured that if he couldn’t fight reality shows, he’s better join them to get a piece of the action.
On The Lot premiered on May 22 and will air twice a week through the summer on Fox. Initially, the producers were inundated with12,000 submissions which were whittled down to fifty original contestants. That in itself was a challenge. The fifty original filmmakers were showcased on the debut. They came from all areas of the country, and they were an eclectic group of young aspiring filmmakers looking for the big break that this show could give them. Some of the contestants were film school graduates and some were self taught. But they all were honored to be chosen as fifty among 12,000.
It didn’t take long to weed out many of the contestants. Their first assignment was to take an idea given to them at random and work up a pitch to producers, or the judges, who are Carrie Fisher, Brett Ratner, and Garry Marshall, with John Avnet as an alternate. This was an extreme challenge for most of the young hopefuls, who never dreamed of pitching an idea to major Hollywood producers. Only a few contestants were good at doing this. One guy, who was so confident in the beginning, completely blew the pitch by forgetting what he had to say. I felt sorry for him because he’s a creative filmmaker to be chosen in the last fifty, but terrible at selling himself.
Ah yes, but this is the big time, and the winner will get $1 million dollars and a job with an office at DreamWorks. So, the producers are looking for a multi-talented person who can pitch ideas and work with the moguls. It’s not a job for a person who lacks confidence in themselves. The first assignment eliminated many of the group down to 18.
The next assignment was to work in groups of three to make a two minute film based on ideas given to them. This challenge tested the contestant’s ability to work together with different people and get results. Clearly, there were going to be serious personality conflicts, which were fascinating to watch. Filmmaking is a team effort involving many people.
In the end, the trios that got along and worked as a team made the best films and were safe. The others went home. There were some heartbreaking scenes of talented young auteurs having to face the cruel reality of the business for the first time. They were so close to their dream, but it slipped away. But as in American Idol, they can use their appearance on this show as an important credit on their resumes.
The producers wanted to task the young hopefuls with real world problems like time frames, budgets, and turning chaos into product. When one considers the judges, one realizes that these filmmakers have to take multi-tasking to new levels of frenzy that equates into meaningful shoots. Sure, someone has a great little film, but if one is hired, suddenly one is cast into the pit of fire with unimaginable pressures to get things done on time and on budget. Only a few of these hopefuls have all these qualities. Obviously, the judges know what they are looking for and it may be clear who is the dominant one.
Nonetheless, in the end, although the judges have clout, in the final stages of this competition, the viewers at home will determine who will make it to the top. As in real life, that vote will be in the form of “box office” results. In other words, in the final analysis, the people who buy the tickets, or in this case, viewers at home who vote determine who gets hired and who walks. Whatever happens, the show is exciting and heartbreaking to watch as these promising young filmmakers go for it.