LOS ANGELES, June 2, 2003 — It’s the next generation of reality TV: viewers creating the shows. That’s the premise behind the Pilot Project competition (www.pilotproject.tv), the Web-based contest where people submit their own ideas for television shows and the winner produces his or her own pilot show as well as receives a $3,000 grand prize.
Visitors to PilotProject.tv can submit their original ideas for daytime/talk shows, sitcoms, reality TV and other shows through July 31, 2003. The Pilot Project panel of judges will then rate each concept based on originality, creativity and marketability. The judges’ top 150 picks will be voted on by all registered members of PilotProject.tv, and the contestants with the top 10 ideas will be flown to Los Angeles to pitch their projects to Hollywood producers and television industry professionals. The grand prize winner’s concept will be made into a pilot show by Effect Productions LLC, with the winner serving as a producer.
During June and July, the Pilot Project team will also be in Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and New York on the LIVE PITCH! City Tour. At each stop, people can pitch their ideas in person to the panel of judges, which includes Chad Gervich, creative executive at the Littlefield Company/Paramount Studios; Sex and the City script coordinator Aury Wallington; and former Emmy Awards judge Dave Evans, whose comedy writing credits include The Bill Cosby Show.
The second phase of the contest, beginning September 15, will allow the public to compete for chances to act, write and design sets for the winning pilot. The talent search, spec script competition and art/production design competitions will run simultaneously and will follow the same format as the first phase of the Pilot Project competition.
For an extra twist on the concept, Effects Productions will produce an eight- to twelve-episode reality TV series about the Pilot Project competition. Contestants will be filmed documentary-style from the LIVE PITCH! City Tour through production of the winning concept.
"So far, Pilot Project has been very well received, and we have started to create significant buzz," said Effects Productions president Ruben Navarrete. "People have already started to post their ideas on PilotProject.tv. If these first few days of the competition are any indication, Pilot Project is going to be big."
CONTACT:
Ruben Navarrete
Effects Productions LLC
(208) 863-8982
http://www.pilotproject.tv
