On the Lot

[Michael Hackney]

Anybody here been watching "On the Lot"? I think it's great and finally can watch some talented and CREATIVE people shine on an entertaining show. I mean stuff like American Idol, just gets under my skin.. It's just people with good voices singing OTHER people's songs. It's like having a Panavision and doing your own DP. Anyways, just wondering, if anyone's been keeping up with it (I've been downloading the episodes as I do with tv shows I miss and like), so I can have someone to talk with it about.

[Mal]

I don't like the format at all, I must admit (only watched the first episode...or was it the second?)
It should be more about the films & filmmakers, and less about all the fluff/American-Idol-style voting and such.
It's a neat idea (although not new at all!), but very poorly excecuted in my opinion. But then again, what could one expect from Burnett?

[Michael Hackney]

Oh, well maybe it's because you only saw the first episode, which I have to admit really disappointed me. I just saw the third last night, which was about an hour and a half. The whole show was just about the film makers and their films. Nothing but a bunch of short films (theme was comedy) the show the next day about 40min, were the results. I really enjoyed watching all those films, especially since they're made with prosumer cameras. I even saw a camera with a Red Rock Micro. I think if you give it a chance you may like it, but I have 3 episodes downloaded right now and may change my mine after those. However in a world of over saturated crappy tv, I'm just glad we have something different where people that have my interests (film making) can shine.

[Ten Ounce]

I agree with Mal. I love the idea of the show, but the way it's presented is crap. It is a straight rip from American Idol, and the host has the most annoying voice!

[Michael Hackney]

Yeah, I totally understand where you guys are coming from, because I hate American Idol. However, I've seen all six episodes and they keep getting better in my opinion. The thing I can compare to american idol are people voting and judges judging, while lower scores get kicked off the show. But some of the short films are good and funny. The equipment they use is Prosumer, with 35mm adapters and things we'd use. They use their own creativity to write these short films that get judged. American Idol is 100 times worse, because it's just a bunch of posers with good voices singing other peoples songs. Stuff they didn't even write. At least On the Lot I'm sure I'm watching something that came from the director's head, even though some of the ideas and techniques may be influenced by their favorite directors. I haven't had something fun to watch about filming since the last Project Green Light, so I'm not gonna lump it into the same category and American Idol, which I hate with a passion.

[itsmeb]

I liked the first few - but to be honest I found the format starting to annoy me.

[Michael Hackney]

Yeah, leave it up to network tv to try and glam up and change things. The core is people like us making short films, I guess I'm trying to look past the "Fox Effect", hopefully I'll last the season.

[Ten Ounce]

Anyone still keeping up with the show? I think it's gotten a bit better towards the end of the season. Adrianna has finally started to dress appropriately too! haha Who's your pick to win the show? I'm thinking Will.....

[newb]

They use their own creativity to write these short films...

I, too, once thought they wrote all their scripts 100% by themselves until I read several things over at the show's forum. I tried finding the lengthy thread I originally read which had some very enlightening information, but I think this thread covers the major points anyway: http://community.thelot.com/boards/topic.aspx?topic_id=11925

Still, I admire what they've all done and have enjoyed some of their stories even if I can't attribute 100% of the writing to them.