Dumb Idea... Let's Do It!

It’s been four years since the outbreak of Covid: The era scarred by masks, social distancing, Tiger King, Dr. Fauci, the CDC, wiping down groceries, $50 Lysol, Zoom, and Drinking at 9am… ?you remember it all, as much as you don’t want to. The world seemed to vastly accelerate during this era and the optimistic perception of a bright future now seems to be permanently dimmed by it.?

It feels like the economy is still being mopped up since overheated and melted the job market. Prices have soared. Endless company layoffs hit round after round, there’s a computer gunning for your job, the rent to too damn high, there’s a feeling of a collapse of modern society might happen any moment, and, of course, the entire entertainment industry being on life support isn't helping much (at least for us TV Folk)

So this seems like a perfect time to make… a short film!

I know, I know... the idea seems insane. I do believe, however, inside every "pot hole" there is “h-o-p-e” ?(you just need swich the P- with the L-, but you get what I’m saying). And, if history is a barometer to periods of innovation, then opportunity arises when change is on the horizon. To use one of my mother’s many euphemisms, at this point “dumb ideas, might not be so dumb.”?

Having a decent size following on TikTok has given me a unique perspective on how a general audience is consuming television these days. I’ve amassed a following of about 212,000 by discussing behind-the-scenes production and my role as a producer in unscripted. There have certainly been growing pains and a learning curve on being a content creator -people are going to love you or hate you not matter what you do, -and that support/condemnation echo chamber gets louder the more you put yourself out there. But one thing I quickly noticed, you see patterns emerge in the feedback you receive; and sometimes its worth paying attention to.?

As many are aware, I changed up my strategy to bring more attention to the current crisis the entertainment industry is facing. In doing so, many followers have been outspoken about how they’re leaving traditional TV in droves. This is data that isn't always reported.

The feedback is blunt, but its enough to pay attention to: “TV has become boring.” “It's trash.” “Its predictable.” "It doesn't resonate with me." “Its garbage that’s shoved down a throat.” And its usually followed up by “I mainly watch TikTok/YouTube now" or "I've stopped paying for TV subscriptions altogether."

Economically, its make sense… why pay a high price for entertainment when its free somewhere else? During the streaming wars, some companies chose to quantity over quality. But outside of the straightforward paywall, what else does social media provide hat viewers don’t get from television? The answer: a two way street.

Television is a medium where information flows in one direction. You sit, you watch, you absorb and then vote on Rotten Tomatoes. But what makes TikTok such a valuable application is the fact that fans also have the opporunity interact with creators. They can ask direct questions and, if they're lucky, can receive an answer. It feels personal to them because they can cultivate close relationships without ever leaving their own home. And with the desperation for human connection hitting an all-time high during the Covid lockdown, its no wonder TikTok took off in popularity.?

I started thinking there’s opportunity here to try something different. I had written a script for a short film a few months ago after reading an article about Point Roberts, Washington -a tiny peninsula of the US that can only be accessed through Canada.

The article went on to say this is a likely home to people under witness protection. That got me thinking about a different story...

***SPOILER ALERT*** What if a major influencer had to start a new life under witness protection, would the craving for admiration and fame get the best of that person? That’s the elevator pitch for The Influencer. Its a fun script for a 10-15 minute movie…?(at least I like to think so)

Here’s the experiment: Typically short films are financed by grassroots crowd funding. But again, that’s a one-way street; a donation does not a transaction. But what if the donation brought the investor along the filmmaker's journey? What if the investor had exclusive access to videos, scripts, materials, photos -with a final reveal? Access itself would go towards funding the final product.?

This is a new concept that could help fund creatives to pursue more artistic work. Fans who support the project(s) with a $10/mo donation would receive an all access-look behind the scenes in exchange. They can read the script, learn about the budget and financial goals of the project, give feedback on casting, participate in live table-reads, ask questions in interviews with the cast & crew, the possibilities are endless.

Its worth a try at first and there’s potential for scale here. Not only film, but this method could also be applied to a TV series as well. What if the decision for which show gets green lit was a vote by the consumer? What if the pick up for another season was based on viewer ratings?

?If its a success, advertisers could soon become interested. What products could be featured? Actors and popular social media gurus could also drive viewership if they’re included in the projects.?

Its only me right now… but this is where my head is at and I think its worth taking a swing. At worst, I'll hopefully have a short-film to enter into a few festivals. Dumb... but maybe not so dumb.

Want to join in on the fun? All the pre-production material will be posted on Substack and TikTok:

LINKS BELOW:

SUBSTACK SUBSCRIPTION

TIKTOK SUBSCRIPTION