RTE Drama Pilots / Storyland

[Cian McGarrigle]

Originally Posted by Jason Butler

Biscuits!

Since you went under my name I hereby claim half those biscuits for myself.

[Jason Butler]

Okay so we turned up at RTE at 7 and were given a choice of stickers - Producer, Director, Writer - as we entered the room of to the side of the TV studio. I'd say about 100 people there - though I didn't count.

After some biscuits and tea we sat down and a series of speakers talked to us briefly about the Storyland project whilst two cameras captured the event - it's going up online soon so you can check my facts and try and spot who you know in the crowd.

First up Jane Gogan (Head of Drama in RTE). Jane started by saying that Storyland isn't a scheme or an initiative, it's a competitive environment. It's a way for RTE to develop new talent, and opportunity to discover new voices for TV. Their plan with Storyland was to create an environment for the writer to engage directly with audiences. They want independent and distinctive voices, someone with a bee in their bonnet, with something to say. Be radical, aim high.

Next up Jo Caulfield (RTE). She talked about being original and avoiding self-censorship. Be as dangerous as you can be. Make dramas for audiences. RTE will advise you as much as want. And in a change to the entry conditions she stated that the they will accept hard copy applications and not just e-commissioning - all this info will be on the updated website.

Mark O'Halloran spoke very briefly but he was excited about being invloved in the project and said that it would be free, open and democratic as the internet itself is.

Next Neil Mossey (sp?) writer on hit internet drama Kate Modern (it's on Bebo). He talked about the differences and adavntages of internet dramas. About generating interactivity with your audience and creating hooks and cliffhangers to draw your audience in. He noted that this project was at the cutting edge of what internet drama is or could be. He encouraged the dramas to be different, to blur reality, to capitalise on the medium. He talked about several TV shows from Arrested Development to Desperate Housewives and the interesting things they had done to grab audiences. And idea of his, that may not be what RTE are looking for, was to maybe show someone trying to blow the 8 grand in 3 minutes.

Next up Dara Hennessey from RTE marketing. She talked about how they would help the selected teams with advise on the marketing of the dramas. Most important seemed to be getting people to vote each week. Kinda like X Factor. She encouraged the use of spam emails!

Sharon Brady also from RTE publicity spoke next, she stated again that they would advise teams on how to best publicise their films to get votes. She also asked a number of questions: How are you going to diferentiate yourself? Who will be the faces of your project? Who are your spokespeople - to go on radio shows etc... to promote the work and get votes. What will be the signature image of your drama?

There was a Q&A then with Jo Caulfield. Most of the answers to the question were either a) it's a pilot project we not entirely sure or b) it's all on the website.

But non-union crew shouldn't be a problem as it's online. You can upload your films to bebo and youtube if you want and think it'll get you more votes. It's all about the votes! You can email drama@rte.ie for more info about anything. It's a talent search for RTE and we should all be optimistic and ambitious. It's allows RTE to take cheap risks on new talent. Whether or not your had to have a limited company to apply wasn't properly answered but it'll be up on the website next week when phase two goes online.

They cut the Q&A off and asked us all to stay around to network - guess that's what the stickers were for - but you're either comfortable with standing around on your own trying not to look like you are on your own and walking up to strangers or you're not. I'm not so I grabbed a few more biccies and left.

[mrbobdobalina]

Cheers for that, Jason. I had thought about heading up, but couldn't make it midweek from Cork in the end. But I do intend on submitting for it alright. The limited company thing was an issue. But at least they are accepting hard copies now, which means that question can be left until another day. I didn't catch up with you at the Cork Film Fest this year - I thought you hadn't come down until I saw your posts. It was a good week.

[Davros]

I was chatting to a few lads that are entering, Alan Bleasdale, Ed Burns, David Simon, Dennis Potter, Jimmy McGovern and Harold Pinter. They said they were initially were unsure about the whole thing but that the combination of the dignity afforded by the process, the "kewel" website, and the embossed biscuits soon swayed them. The bikkies persuaded old Dennis to such an extent that he even came back from the dead.

[SuolasfilmS]

I thought it was an interesting enough evening (was there too but didn't see the thread til today).

Although the 8,000 sounds like a lot a few producer's I've talked to say it isn't as fancy as it sounds and that's because the submissions have to be made by limited companies, unless you're doing a set of talking heads or get your actors/crew to work for free the cost in set-ups, insurance and contingencies is crippling. If you have a scene that's continued in the next 'episode', -as we do, you have to shoot it with what you're shooting in the first episode and those costs carry backwards and if your next episode isn't picked up its been a waste of time shooting it but you HAVE to shoot because you believe it will be voted for another episode. If they (RTE) gave out the €50,000 for the whole 6 episodes it wouldn't be as big of a problem because shooting would all be in one lump and isn't that much of a strain on the crew, the writers and more importantly, the actors who have to give up a day or two this month, maybe a day or two next month and so on and so forth and remember all their character work from day one.
But yeah, I'm still entering
The Ascention Project

[Sean Wallace]

Well Did everyone get their entries in ??

[Dick Darlington]

Originally Posted by Sean Wallace

Well Did everyone get their entries in ??

Yep,

Was pretty happy with it in the end. The only odd bit being the budget I think, but happy all the same

[Scruffyblaze]

Hi, my name is Shane, and I entered the competition. I handed my package in at about five to twelve (eek!). I was just wondering did anyone here enter in the end and if so what were your showreels like? I'd like to see some of them as this is my first time entering or doing anything on this scale.

[smiling sadly]

Originally Posted by Scruffyblaze

Hi, my name is Shane, and I entered the competition. I handed my package in at about five to twelve (eek!). I was just wondering did anyone here enter in the end and if so what were your showreels like? I'd like to see some of them as this is my first time entering or doing anything on this scale.

I entered this showreel - http://www.vimeo.com/2095188

Not 100% happy with it but it's not bad, not enough drama on it for my liking. Our writer did the pitch to camera bit, which I haven't seen!

[Scruffyblaze]

That's an excellent showreel. They said that this competition was open to everyone but the showreel's are going to limit some people, you know, who are having a go at something for the first time, don't you think?

I enquired about it and they said that as long as it shows you can edit etc then it should be OK, so I just made this teaser instead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KXCOlUUZRY

Not as good as yours now but hey it's all about the experience!

Do you know when the announcements are gonna be made who goes through and stuff? I hope you do well! My pitch wasn't very good, it was sleep deprived and highly caffeined!

[smiling sadly]

Originally Posted by Scruffyblaze

That's an excellent showreel. They said that this competition was open to everyone but the showreel's are going to limit some people, you know, who are having a go at something for the first time, don't you think?

I enquired about it and they said that as long as it shows you can edit etc then it should be OK, so I just made this teaser instead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KXCOlUUZRY

Not as good as yours now but hey it's all about the experience!

Do you know when the announcements are gonna be made who goes through and stuff? I hope you do well! My pitch wasn't very good, it was sleep deprived and highly caffeined!

I'm not so sure the showreel will limit people if they keep to the principle that they're trying to find new writers and directors. That's a big if though.

I actually don't know anything about announcement dates and the like - I was asked to come on board as a director by the production company.

I don't think your showreel will damage your application in any way - there's a nice sense of suspense to it and it could work in your favour.

Best of luck with it!

[Scruffyblaze]

Thanks, best of luck to you too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KXCOlUUZRY

[SuolasfilmS]

Managed to enter too. Was there just before yourself, Scruffyblaze. Squeezing everything in making sure we had all the details right.

This isn't what we entered, we re-shot this guy delivering the lines so it was more inline with what I wanted, but this is also a great job... Even if he does come across as a bit of an urban terrorist!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYk3ZCEbZnU

[Scruffyblaze]

Very mysterious, who's chasing Callum Morgan then? Vote to find out and all that. How was your pitch? I cant upload mine cos I don't have it on this computer, I think my pitch let me down but the experience will be worth it if anything.

Good luck man - might have seen you there by the way, I saw a few people drop in their stuff around that time. I would love to know how many entered.

[SuolasfilmS]

Originally Posted by Scruffyblaze

Very mysterious, who's chasing Callum Morgan then? Vote to find out and all that. How was your pitch? I cant upload mine cos I don't have it on this computer, I think my pitch let me down but the experience will be worth it if anything.

Good luck man - might have seen you there by the way, I saw a few people drop in their stuff around that time. I would love to know how many entered.

Might have seen or passed by each other, I was the one that looked like the living dead as I was dying with flu carrying a manilla under one arm and a box of tissues under the other!

yeah, something like that. I've planned the story to actually last just over a year in its full and complete timeline, so even if we manage all 6 episodes, by then the story won't be any further along than day two!

As for the pitch... well, there's reasons why Actors and not Directors go infront of the camera! so yeah, my pitch sucked (even after rehearsing it, re-writing it a dozen times and finally recording and then finally getting it right-ish at around 4.30 in the morning - of course, by noon I hated it!) hopefully the inclusion of some Parkour/Free Running footage I included will distract them long enough!

Good luck to all of us, If RTÉ were even half truthful in what they said at the info evening, we will all be congratulating each other by January (I'm guessing by January we will all know one way or another wether its a PFO, a short-listed 20 or if we've been handed "just under" eight grand! (And those in the beret's sporting the pointy beards will be the first to get the PFO.

We were annoyed a little at how they were so vague about what they wanted, especially the "DVD Footage" aspect, did they want things all on one DVD or on seperate DVD's (Its all presentation with these guys too, the picky.....) and as for that, did they want it as a play in a DVD player DVD or as files on a DVD?

If this is even half successful, do you reckon they'll do it again next year?

[Scruffyblaze]

I haven't a clue to be honest, and I doubt they have much of a clue either. I think they've really just opened it up to see what they get.

As for the DVD - in fairness you're right, they were very vague and they never said how they wanted it exactly; therefore if they get DVDs with file formats on them or DVDs autoplay then tough either way because they did not specify!

I like your concept, I love the idea of messing with time, and I've done something similar with 'WEEK'. Unlike your which is drawn out and takes place over two days or so, mine is the opposite, each episode is one day. It opens on DAY 7 with the protagonist bloodied and waking up in a heap, cuts to DAY 1 (episode 1) and we carry on through each day (episode) until we get to day 6 (episode 6) which leads into DAY 7, right back where we started, and we've learned why this guy woke up in such a state.

I wasn't sure what to do with the showreel, yours is good in that it sets up the story, I tried to rely on the editing to turn mine into a teaser, I wanted it to look like something that after you saw, you'd want to learn about.

I wasn't at the info evening, what did they say with regards to experience and stuff?

P.S. I was the guy in a mad green hoodie and a cap (dunno did we pass each other).

[canty]

Hello!

I submitted my entry early last week. It's a Surreal Comedy based on a Zorro like character called Borro as he seeks to tackle the villains of Cork.

They were quite vague alright. I emailed them about that DVD thing...they said to actually burn it too DVD as the judges will be taking them home and watching them on DVD players etc...

Here's a link to my showreel -

http://www.bebo.com/FlashBox.jsp?Fla...erId=315756328

And to a preview to Borro(I didn't enter all of this as it said only 30 secs) -

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/e2a...shift-squadron

[canty]

I also came across another crowd who entered a series called Hardy Bucks - it's very very funny in fairness! -

http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=4549639646

Another fella Ray O'Sullivan is entering too -

http://www.raysullivan.net/

With the quality of stuff that I have seen so far RTE must be delighted. It's been very high standard.

[Scruffyblaze]

Hahaha very good. You managed to get a lot into that showreel, mine hardly shows anything, with yours it's pretty evident how the story transpires which is good. On a separate note - I really like that establishing shot on the preview.

I think they were very vague on everything, and it might work in your favour that you went for a comedy drama, cos' I'm not sure how many people would've done that.

How did your pitch go by the way? I think my pitch let me down...

[canty]

We actually planned to make the series during the summer...the preview episode was for that. The script and comedy has changed a bit since...we are cutting out a lot of the language and are going down a more visual humour road. It's looking a lot stronger than before.

I'm happy with our pitch...although I'm going to revise the budget and send them a new one. Didn't really know what I was doing filling that out!

If you want to exchange scripts give us an email - theshiftsquadron@gmail.com , that goes for anyone!