On The Lot

[goldenboy]

I don't watch reality TV, but I gotta check this one out. Could be fun to pick apart the films. Debuts tonight (May 22). Who's watchin?

Judges: Carrie Fisher (cool), Brett Ratner (hmm), Garry Marshall (eesh, ugh).

http://www.thelot.com/

[prydain]

I'll probably watch it later this week, it sounds okay. How many episodes is it running for?

[teentitan]

It seems to have a 13 week run but it has an odd sched. Tonight was one hour, thursday is half hour. So keep an eye on your tv guide.
I watched it and found it interesting. If they keep the pace up the producers are going to really make these people work for the prize.

[goldenboy]

Yeah, the pace was pretty brutal. That's partly what keeps your interest.

The "pitch a movie scenario" was pretty fun. Some people completely choked, were crushed. A few sounded like they'd been pitching to the studios for years. Some were just sooo wrongheaded, it was embarrassing. Then, you get a glimpse of how egomaniacal the budding directors are - that was kinda funny.

All these projects created within 24 hrs, so far.

[goldenboy]

This show really is just reality TV BS for the most part. And the bickering is just tiresome. But I was impressed with a couple of those 2 and a half minute mini-films last night. The special effects one was really impressive.

If you go on the show site, you can see the films that got these people into the competition. Some really good stuff there.

Edit:

Oh, and it looks like all the 24 hr shorts are online now too...

[teentitan]

It was sorta predictable who was going to get the boot when all they showed was 3 groups.
Glad the pushy one got axed and the girl who whined about the arrogant guy screwing up her camera work was lame.
Do you think the kid from Vancouver who did those amazing special effects might get a job with Ratner regardless of what happens? Ratner looked blown away when he saw the short film.
Hope the two hour show on Monday is better.

[goldenboy]

Yeah, the Vancouver kid must have some kinda future in Hollywood (or Vancouver). Was watching the edited version (http://films.thelot.com/films/595) of his submission film. It's nothing genius or anything, but doing it all as a single shot must've been a feat.

And I like arrogant guy (http://films.thelot.com/films/16071)'s film too. It's more like a music video/indie film hybrid thing.

And I'm glad pushy guy got the axe. Unbearable.

[goldenboy]

Did anyone watch the latest ep? Does anyone watch besides Titan and me? Ah well.

I fear for Arrogant Guy (Kenny). That was the most unfunny "comedic" short, ever. Not an ounce of funny. Nonsensical. He can stick to music videos.

Vancouver Guy's science lab thing was amazing, again. Must be nice to have all the technical support you need for these films.

I actually liked the first one, the interpretive dance one. And the lady going through the strip search at the airport was pretty good.

A lot of cheap laughs though. Comedy's tough.


...and did they not skip an episode? They didn't show what they were promoting last week (the "direct a scene" challenge) and suddenly they're down to 18 contestants. FOX must be getting skittish about the ratings.

[teentitan]

Thank you GB I thought I dropped a few marbles and missed an episode! At my age it is a little scary because I'm either loosing my mind or having senior moments, lol.
When all 3 judges mentioned Zach that has to be good for him. Even if he does not win this Lucasfilm or Dreamworks is definitely going to snag this kid! Imagine 47 attempts to do it in one single shot.
The barfing space alien puppets was funny but just a bit too much barfing. Once would have been enough for me.
And what the hell is with using farts as humour?
The lucky penny was sooo Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and funny too.
Little upset that we here in Canada cannot cast a vote...as if there would be any doubt as to who I would vote for. GO ZACH!!!

[goldenboy]

Oh yeah, the barfing aliens. OK, yes, I laughed. I'm a little surprised they jumped right into comedy. That's got to be the toughest genre to really do well.

The penny one was pretty good. The pacing could have been a little quicker, tighter, something. I liked the granny at the end "Oh, a lucky penny!".

I can see Spielberg lapping Zach's films up. He can actually construct a coherent plotline with a beginning, middle, end - in addition to the high concept stunt stuff. It's a given he'll be in the top 2 or 3 finalists. Not sure with who else though.

What happens if they cancel this thing? No winner?

Ah, found the "missing episode (http://www.thelot.com/episodes/?ep=2&vd=32)". Outakes, 2, 3 and 4.

[teentitan]

MY GOD if they drag out the results show this series is going to be just another empty lot!!!!
So how is it that the Brit, Italian, and Spainiard bite the dust and that moron that did Whack Cab stayed? His short would have only been understood by Hunter S Thompson or anyone who could vote stoned on acid!
And I have totally lost respect for the Carrie Fisher for changing her opinion on Ghetta Room. If you don't like it stick with it regardles if his short was one of the top 3.
Mrs. TT said just tape it so we can skip the crap. Now my wife has a lot of tolerance for crappy shows (one of very few characteristics she has that drives me nuts) so if she wants this taped I'm betting this sucker is toast and not just in Titan Towers.

[goldenboy]

Lol. Kenny, the Whack Cab guy is still on because...of all the teen girls calling in to vote on reality shows? And maybe cos people liked his original submission film. Dunno.

I was a little surprised when the British guy was let go. That lightbulb film from that Jess girl...just didn't do it for me.

I'd like to see some slightly longer films that aren't just speed round panic attack projects for the filmmakers. They gotta winnow down the field first. I guess they'd always be totally rushed, unless they get more than a week for a given project.

[teentitan]

TV Guide has totally trashed the series up to this point. I got the impression it was a wake up call then I went to another site that lists shows and they only have 6 episodes in the can???
And next week there is only one elimination?
Sorry but I don't think this show is going past 6 episodes.

[goldenboy]

Actually, if you go to their official site, almost everyone is trashing everything about it, lol. The format, the host, the judges, most of the films. Makes kinda fun reading.

But yeah, that last elimination show was like fingernails on a chalkboard. Maybe this would have been better if they'd not tried to do the American Idol thing. Focused more on the actual filmmaking, let the judges decide.

[goldenboy]

This show is still a mess, but last night's ep was alright. Apparently, the latest films are ones that the producers had contestants create to qualify for the final 50. If so, they were already in the can before this series premiered. Seems like they're treading water now, waiting for this show to get the axe.

Finally, an actual skilled, semi-useful judge! I've disparaged Michael Bay in the past, and I still hate most of his movies, but...he actually attempted to offer succinct, constructive critiques of the films. I agreed with him about almost everything. Still, what can you offer in a 20 second critique? Not much.

I think I liked the Broken Pipe Dreams one the best, personally. It relied on conventional visual storytelling more than any of the others. Silent movie-style. But yeah, Bay was right that he had about 2 minutes of material for a three minute film.

The musical one was ambitious, and a clever idea...but just kind of pedestrian directing.

[teentitan]

Sooo Fox is keeping this series alive but it axed Drive in a heartbeat! Oh yeah Steven Spielberg is a producer of the series.
This series needs to be axed now!!! Absolutely pathetic. No direction in film presentation by the contestants, how do fans develop a 'relationship' with the competitors if they keep changing the show up?
I'm done with it.

[goldenboy]

I still like watching the films, but it is amazing Dreamworks had anything to do with this debacle.

[teentitan]

I remember when Dreamworks first came together and it was touted as the greatest event since God created the world.
Then within 2 years the studio fell to earth with a resounding thud! It is now just another studio with no clear style. Bruckheimer is blowing their doors off and pretty well every movie he has done is gold.
Dreamworks I think is hoping by doing this series they will get some tv fan juice because 'we' voted for the next great director so this is a desperation attempt that is going down the crapper faster then the shit goes thru the goose!
To save face they need to pull out now and just take the directors they have left and hire them as AD's or whatever and teach them to see if they do have potential to be a director. The only one who has potential to move into a directors chair is Zach, and it's not just because he's Canadian, he's got skills with a capital S.