FOX TV’s On The Lot – the first reality show that matters – at least for us film and video makers?

aspiring filmmakers from around the world have the chance to earn a $1-million development deal at DreamWorks.

 by Mark Shapiro

respond to editor AT internetvideomag DOT com

May 29 UPDATE - Have you been watching Fox TV's On The Lot - the new reality show that features "film makers" competing against each other to show off their directing chops to win a million dollar production deal with Spielberg? The first couple shows were very interesting, exposing a little of what goes on behind the scenes to make a short indie flick. However, the show has now turned into American Idol, with the flicks competing against each other and next to no insight into how and why.

What we find most interesting about the judges and their reaction is that they are not evaluating directing skills as much as writing skills. Most of the positive and negative comments were regarding the story and concept of the short films created for the contest - not the actual directorial chips required.

The show really out to be relabeled in the promo materials - this is not a directors contest - this is a film making contest.

Checkout the web site, the films and the full episodes - all in glorious Internet Video

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Here's the link to see the best shorts films created by the On The Lot contestants - these include the videos that aired during episode 2 as well as those that were created but not broadcast. Remember, these were all written, shot and edited within a 24 hour timespan - with a three person production crew who had never met before an din some case, who didn't like each other and did not get along at all. Despite that, most of these look pretty darn good.

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Ok, so enough of these reality shows with people trapped on fake desert islands, shows with ex-celebrities and faded porn stars, fat people trying to lose a few pounds, geeks and vacuous models – we finally have a show that might be of interest to us filmmakers.  

Premiering tonight - May 22, 2007 - on the Fox Channel, this new reality show promises to show the world what we as film makers go through to get our films made and distributed.  

I am looking forward to the Survivor type contests where the contestants have to survive on stale cold slices of day old pizza and drink flat beer, sleep in the corners and stay awake working 20 hour days. Just think of the contest where the Production Assistants have to run to an all night Home Depot to get extension cords and materials to make props. Will they be able to endure running a three casting session where most of the Hollywood actors are totally wrong for the part but insist they can do it?  How about midnight editing sessions where the new investors come in after seeing the screening of the flick for the first time and insist on totally re-arranging the film’s structure and timing? Now that’s a reality show.  

In the two "audition round" episodes airing Tuesday, May 22 9/8c and Thursday, May 24 9:30/8:30c on FOX, these semi-finalists will discover the magic of moviemaking when they are brought to Los Angeles to visit a real-life film set for the first time and must endure a rigorous "Hollywood Boot Camp. 

As typical for a reality show, the judges are a diverse lot, mixing looks, beauty, wisdom and snarkiness. For the first two "audition" episodes, these include actress, author and screenwriter Carrie Fisher ("Star Wars," "Postcards From The Edge"), as well as directors/producers Brett Ratner ("Rush Hour 3," "X-Men 3: The Last Stand"), Garry Marshall ("Georgia Rule," "Princess Diaries," "Pretty Woman") and Jon Avnet ("The Starter Wife," "Fried Green Tomatoes," "Risky Business"). Judges for additional rounds will be announced at a later date

 Despite my critical aspersions, we have high hopes for this show and will be glued to the screen… 

 Check out some of the submitted films - http://films.thelot.com/films/

 According to the show’s PR, -

ON THE LOT, executive-produced by Mark Burnett and Steven Spielberg, will give aspiring filmmakers from around the world the chance to earn a $1-million development deal at DreamWorks.

This unscripted series will feature a cast of undiscovered filmmakers who will compete to win the support of the show's viewers, as their fate will be decided by a weekly audience vote.

The competition will air over two nights weekly, with a one-hour "Film Premiere" episode, followed the next night by a half-hour "Box Office" results show.

Every week, the hopeful filmmakers will produce short films from a chosen genre, running the gamut from comedies to thrillers, personal dramas to romance, sci-fi to horror. They'll have access to the best resources the industry has to offer -- professional writers, cast and crew, and maybe even Hollywood celebrities.

After the teams have battled time frames, budgets and all the usual chaos that goes along with filmmaking, their films will debut and be critiqued in front of a live audience during the "Film Premiere" episode. Judges will include a high-ranking motion picture executive, a prominent film critic and a succession of well-respected guests, such as directors who are experts in the week's featured genre. But the filmmakers ultimately will be judged by the harshest critics of all … the public.

It will be FOX viewers whose votes determine which film should be left on the cutting-room floor. On the next night's "Box Office" results show, the director whose feature garners the fewest votes will be sent home.

The competition continues and directors are eliminated until only the most talented filmmaker is anointed the winner and heads to DreamWorks … ON THE LOT.

After receiving a record-setting 12,000 video submissions at TheLot.com from aspiring filmmakers around the globe, 50 semi-finalists have been selected for the new filmmaking competition series ON THE LOT from Mark Burnett, Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks Television.