DISCLAIMER: The following column has nothing to do with my personal dislike of Senor Spielbergo and is actually just a critical assessment of yet another summer replacement show.
I’ve gotten some feedback to yesterday’s column on summer shows and those that asked were wondering where On The Lot was. Created by Survivor mastermind Mark Burnett in conjunction with Steven Spielberg, On The Lot is yet another reality entry, this time following aspiring filmmakers as they try to win start up capital for their newest production. Since I’ve got the whole film background people apparently thought this would jump out at me but I’ve got to say I’m not that interested. Sure Burnett is an evil genius who knows how to build a successful show but filmmaking isn’t a creative skill that lends itself to 5 minute challenges like Top Chef or American Idol style showcases week to week. Is a challenge revolving around making a 30 second film really going to give judges or the audience true insight on who should stay or who should go?
Project Greenlight had been the only reality show focused on film and they were smart to focus less on the competition and more on the results. The last season of that show proved fascinating as no name director John Gulager dealt with an immense budget and the immense egos of everyone associated with the project. That was real drama and in a way real competition. Watching the little guy fight the man as he attempted to preserve some kind of creative control was truly fascinating…at least to someone like me who’s been a part of similar battles albeit with slightly smaller budgets.
Speaking of budgets, Fox has sunk a lot of money into this show hoping it will not only be a hit summer show but one that could return again by next winter but I’ll be surprised if it garners high ratings. The film enthusiasts like myself would rather see the production side while the casual viewer wants drama and competition but not through a series of 10 minute films that demands they pay attention especially when it’s nice outside. Of course I could be wrong and On The Lot could prove to be a highly engrossing show and at the very least it’s given many filmmakers another avenue to showcase talents. The On The Lot website (thelot.com) features all the trailers, and short films that perspective filmmakers submitted from all over the globe. Sure a lot of these can be found on YouTube or IFilm but there’s some really good stuff out there. I even found an entry from a director whose film I crewed on back in the summer of ’97. Although the film didn’t get the director on the show as a finalist, here’s the trailer for Melvin: A Midwestern Tale:
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