B,
Not great news to start the new year, but the theater who was thinking of doing RTG this summer, has officially decided not to. We had someone in there pitching for us, but they “can’t afford to take the risk on an unknown production”. I think they’re doing Grease instead.
I received the above email from Laura (my co-writer on Room to Grow) the other day, just a few hours after talking to someone else who had assured me “the industry” doesn’t want anything original. It leaves me wondering, where do we go from here? I know I, as a consumer, am so sick and tired of the same old material being rehashed over and over again. In the past year alone, we have been bombarded by not one, but two Snow Whites, The Hobbit, Les Miserable, more Batman, Spiderman, Avengers, Men in Black and The Hunger Games, just to name a few.
My instinct was to tell the woman I was speaking with that this is exactly what is wrong with the industry. However, I want to work in this industry, so what is a girl to do? Every piece of advice I get is met with a road block. For example, I was told I should be a member of Women in Film in order to be a part of their mentoring program. Great, right? I went to see what’s involved and found that I have to have been working in the entertainment industry for three years in order to be eligible. I have been advised to get a producer for my TV pilot and yet I have also been assured none will see me because I don’t have a high powered agent. No agent will see me because I have no credit in the industry. Round and round it goes.
I want to say that I will be the one who goes in and proves them all wrong. I’ll be the exception to the rule and prove once and for all that originality should be celebrated and that the public will respond favorably. And, sooner or later I will, but the real question is how do I break in and play the game long enough to be able to do so? Also, how do I pay my bills until then?
So tell me,when you look for entertainment, do you want more of the same or are you willing to take a chance on something new?
Here is a a “not so helpful” story. It happens in many lines of work. I had a friend who wanted to be a trucker and drive a semi cross country but he needed experience and a truck before they would consider training him. So he wrote a book and got it published…ok. I made up that last part about the book.
sent you direct message on twitter
I take a risk on what I watch all the time. I give it the 3 episode try. I’d LOVE to see something original, Bridget! You keep at it! xoxoM
The remakes are getting a little ridiculous. Now there’s a trend in Hollywood of remaking movies that are barely 20 years old! It’s time for something new, yet no one will take the gamble. It’s a sad state of affairs if you ask me.
Obviously I agree with you. It’s got to turn around again soon, or so I hope.
So sorry…I complain that there is no originality in the theater. Hoping you will get your shot soon, Thank you for sharing st the hop xo