posted 01-07-2001 02:28 AM            

Concept: One hour show split between six 10-minute short stories. Every show would be a new episode of the same six stories. In essence, serials. All would have a common thread to them, maybe bookended by a narrator or something (ie - David Ducovny in "Red Shoe Diaries"). Hey, if we could pull it off, maybe Ben or Matt could be the narrator, since it would start in Greenlight!

The beauty is, the stories could take place anywhere (maybe every year a new set of stories). I would assemble them all here in L.A. and run them on cable access (yes, no money, the idea would be to keep it a fun outlet). Maybe we could enter it into some festivals or something.

Would need people who can get access to Digital Video gear in their area to do their story. Guessing we would have to do a mini-contest to narrow the stories down. But without the hack reviews, I promise!

Okay, I just brainstormed, now it's your turn. If there is any serious interest, let me know, I'll start a page on my web site, www.keyframeentertainment.com

posted 01-07-2001 01:50 PM            

Two more ideas: 1) the common thread could be the message boards. Kind of a look into the lives of the people behind the posts. Silly? 2) if we can get the first one done and it's really good, I might be able to call someone at Bravo and get it on there instead of public access.

I imagine we're not getting a lot of replies because I put "free" and most people will pass up something cool that doesn't pay them in hopes that the gods will reach down, touch them and pay them to do this.

Keep bumping this one.

posted 01-07-2001 02:10 PM            

Keep at it, though. I'm currently talking to a woman from here who has a concept for a cute sitcom. She has some connections and access to money, but I don't think she knows HOW much work goes into the development of a sitcom. And then there's the actual sale of the concept. It's difficult to know when to invest your time, paid or otherwise.

posted 01-07-2001 02:42 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by wordwrangler:
Well, I see two problems right off the bat. First, a one hour show is really only 48 minutes. gotta sell ads. And, you can't just start in on new clips. you need an announcer or whatever. Second, and let's say you're down to four shorts with intros, I'm supposed to keep up with four different stories from week to week? Did I read your concept right? I don't think I could do that. Maybe it's just my non-working brain. Oh, and a third, do you have an agent or connections? Without those, you won't get pitch meetings with network execs.

Keep at it, though. I'm currently talking to a woman from here who has a concept for a cute sitcom. She has some connections and access to money, but I don't think she knows HOW much work goes into the development of a sitcom. And then there's the actual sale of the concept. It's difficult to know when to invest your time, paid or otherwise.

Best,
Susan

---

1) I've done this kind of thing before, successfully (and won an award for it). If you read the concept, it would probably air on cable access, which means no ad time. I know people in development at Bravo/IFC and even that would probably still be an unpaid deal (it gets too complicated when money is involved).
2) Obviously there are a lot of details that would have to be worked out. I'm sure a quick "recap" of some kind would have to start the show. Otherwise, it would be a challenge to keep people up on the story. That's suppose to be part of the fun of developing it.
3) If you don't like the idea, don't get involved with it. Pretty simple, I think.

Thanks anyway,

posted 01-07-2001 03:23 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by aroer:
big ol' bump! great idea, jeyframe, and congrats on your past award. i'd be glad to help you out, but i'm up in burlington vt. if you want a story set here, i could probably hook up with dv or digi-beta equip. i could also get pr outside of greenlight if you're intersted. good luck.
-a.
roer25@hotmail.com

---

Thanks...and thanks for the bump!

posted 01-07-2001 09:22 PM            

UNLESS - (and at this point I find myself delving into the depths of the current TV show mentality) - the audience gets to vote which segment stays and which goes. If you had four serials running, and each had to get a certain level of "votes" each week to stay on the show (don't ask me how to vote - a 900 number maybe?) then maybe people would stay interested. You'd have to have some replacement segments in the can, probably tailored to the current tastes of the known audiece (as determined by the votes). Hopefully you'd end up tossing one per month or so, giving an average four month life per serial.

Maybe the best loved segments could be expanded into an hour long drama, or bundled together and sold into other markets.

posted 01-08-2001 12:46 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by HideandSeek:
Cute idea, but...I'm worried that you are gambling that the audience for the first segment is the same as the audience for the fourth. Suppose one is a romance , and another sci-fi - I think you'd have a problem.

UNLESS - (and at this point I find myself delving into the depths of the current TV show mentality) - the audience gets to vote which segment stays and which goes. If you had four serials running, and each had to get a certain level of "votes" each week to stay on the show (don't ask me how to vote - a 900 number maybe?) then maybe people would stay interested. You'd have to have some replacement segments in the can, probably tailored to the current tastes of the known audiece (as determined by the votes). Hopefully you'd end up tossing one per month or so, giving an average four month life per serial.

Maybe the best loved segments could be expanded into an hour long drama, or bundled together and sold into other markets.

HideandSeek

---

Good points, Hide. We would definately have to set a tone and theme for the overall show beforehand.

I was thinking the PGL Message Boards would be the common theme. As each person checks the boards, they interact with the person in the story before/after, only for that instant. Then we go on to their world outside the PGL arena (the drama, romance & comedy of it). These would all have to be pretty easy to produce, so genres probably wouldn't work. We'd have to get a group together to agree on the overall storyline, story bible, character arcs, etc. before the scripts are even written.

Everybody's coming up with good stuff so far!

Don't worry if you don't have access to equipment, we can use you as a writer. Like I said, I'm sure there will be lots of people with access to equipment who can't/don't want to write. We'll find a fair way to do it.

Keep posting, keep bumpin'! I'll try to start setting up the web page tomorrow.

posted 01-09-2001 11:52 AM            

But hey! Drop me your e-mail, think I have some other stuff I could use help on in the coming year.

Again, e-mail me, don't just put it on the boards. Some have already done it.

Later!