by Voyage | Dec 2, 2011 | Uncategorized
… AND YOUR MOM TELLING YOU YOU’RE AMAZING DOESN’T This month Nat Mundel welcomes hot reality TV producer Aisha Wynn to the Starbird to discuss what it takes to turn unknown talent into network-based celebrity, and spread it across multiple formats. In addition to working with Voyage, Wynn is an independent producer who got her start at HBO, and eventually moved into development positions at New Line Cinema and Robyn Nash Productions. In the past year alone, Wynn has developed and sold 4 reality series to networks and studios. In this insightful interview learn why she attributes 100% of her success to being open minded. Archives December 2024 (2) November 2024 (2) October 2024 (3) September 2024 (2) April 2023 (1) January 2023 (1) December 2022 (1) October 2022 (1) June 2020 (1) April 2020 (1) February 2020 (1) January 2020 (1) October 2019 (1) August 2019 (1) June 2019 (1) January 2019 (1) April 2018 (1) March 2018 (1) February 2018 (1) January 2018 (1) December 2017 (1) November 2017 (1) October 2017 (2) July 2017 (4) April 2017 (1) February 2017 (1) January 2017 (1) December 2016 (1) November 2016 (1) October 2016 (1) September 2016 (2) June 2016 (1) May 2016 (1) April 2016 (1) February 2016 (3) January 2016 (1) December 2015 (2) November 2015 (1) October 2015 (2) September 2015 (2) August 2015 (2) July 2015 (1) June 2015 (1) April 2015 (1) March 2015 (1) February 2015 (2) January 2015 (3) December 2014 (2) October 2014 (1) September 2014 (3) August 2014 (3) June 2014 (2) May 2014 (5) April 2014 (3) February 2014 (1) January 2014 (1) December 2013 (1) April 2013 (1) December 2012 (1) July 2012 (1) April 2012 (2) March 2012 (2) December 2011 (1) November 2011 (3) October 2011 (4) September 2011 (5) August 2011 (3) May 2011 (2) April 2011 (1) March 2011 (2) November 2010 (2) August 2010 (1) June 2010 (1) March 2010 (1) October 2009 (1) September 2009 (2) CategoriesCategories Select Category Audience (25) Blog post (38) Book to Film (20) Entertainment Business (48)...
by Voyage | Nov 20, 2011 | Uncategorized
CONVERTING YOUR UNIQUE EXPERTISE INTO GREAT TV In these days of the YouTube generation and reality TV, we’ve got dating coaches helping us find love (Bravo’s Millionaire Matchmaker, Logo’s Bad Sex), stylists perfecting our grooming rituals (The Look For Less, Project Runway, Tabitha’s Hair Salon), and even health and fitness experts shaping our bodies (any given Dr. Oz show). And one of the many lessons reality TV has taught us – besides how to conduct a passive-aggressive catfight, Housewives-style – is that there’s always room for new talent. Reality TV widens the definition of “talent”, offering big opportunities for those of us who didn’t go to Juilliard or Yale Drama School. It can be a great vehicle for people with specific areas of interesting non-entertainment expertise (like therapy, pet-training, and even the lately-very-hot paranormal investigation). Creating a show is a great way to raise your profile and share what you know. If you or a friend has an interesting job or business, it’s worth investigating the possibility of pitching a show about it. Here are the top 3 things to consider when creating your own reality show: 1. Consider the audience—especially the niche. —What group isn’t being reflected or heard in the TV world? Who deserves a spotlight, a chance to share a compelling story and offer viewers something they never knew they needed? Can you speak to them? 2. It doesn’t hurt to try something radically different —Of course you should know what the buyers want now, but you never know how the market will evolve or what other trends may pop up a year (or months and...
by Voyage | Nov 10, 2011 | Uncategorized
A GOOD SUBJECT NEEDS AN EVEN BETTER PITCH So let’s say you realize that lots of people might be entertained by your expertise as a French chef, your adventures in ghost-hunting or the hilarious fights your co-workers keep having down at the holistic diet center. Well, guess what? So have a dozen or so others. There’s still room for new faces in Reality TV, but there’s also growing competition for coveted airtime—especially in areas where there are already lots of shows, like cooking, pet care, and weight-loss. If you would like to be a contender, you’ll have to realize that it’s not just what you’ve got, it’s how you’re presenting it. Assume that whatever your central idea is, producers have seen it before in some way, shape, or form (or they’ll assume they have), so it’s imperative that you invest some effort in the details. Here’s your checklist of… 5 Things You Need to Do To Make A Great Pitch: 1. Use a show format that makes the most of your show subject and connects with your audience. For example, would 20-somethings prefer a show about young wives or basketball wives? Would families with teens be more likely to gather around the TV together to watch a show about travel, or a show about other families running around the world in a big race? As well-known past successes have shown, the spin you put on your show idea can make you stand out among the rest. 2. Plan pitch materials that are appropriate to your concept, format, and potential buyers. Some ideas will require a power-point deck, others just...
by Voyage | Nov 5, 2011 | The Expert Network
JUST KIDDING. THAT’S NOT HOW IT WORKS. There’s a reason why they say “There’s no time like the present.” The present is what determines and shapes what’s to come. So take action! If you think you’ve got something that connects with today’s audiences and trends, act on it! If not, demand and trends might change, your work might change, and you might change. Don’t assume opportunity will stay constant. Instead of waiting around for an opportunity to come along, create your own opportunities now. Many of us hold back for different reasons, and one of those involves fear and doubt. There’s the fear of rejection (“I’ve had so many doors slammed in my face, why bother knocking on another one?”). There’s the fear of being accepted and then having to follow up on a promising proposal (“What if I don’t have enough to back myself up? They’ll be disappointed!”). And then there’s the basic fear of the unknown (“What will happen to me if…?”). Let’s face it. You (and we) are not getting any younger, and you never know what life-altering changes may be waiting for you around the corner. The wants of the entertainment marketplace are constantly changing. Therefore, there really is no better time to break out of your shell of insecurity with an idea you can share with others who can help you turn your vision into something real. So write your idea and find your talent. Don’t forget to make a sizzle reel and a pitch book. Hit the print button. Compose an email. And send it out into the universe. You just never know....
by Voyage | Oct 27, 2011 | The Expert Network
HOT PRODUCER REVEALS HOW HIS PROJECTS MOVE UP (WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE’S ARE GOING DOWN) Few industry professionals have better insight into the process of getting films greenlit than active producers. This month Nat Mundel welcomes Producer Monnie Wills to the Starbird. Wills is in the process of building on his already impressive list of credits, and just completed filming The Darkest Hour starring Emile Hirsch, produced at Regency and to be distributed by Summit Entertainment and 20th Century Fox later this year. In recent years, the industry has contracted, but many producers, like Wills, just won’t be stopped. In this interview, Wills shares some of his most effective tools for keeping things moving forward. Archives December 2024 (2) November 2024 (2) October 2024 (3) September 2024 (2) April 2023 (1) January 2023 (1) December 2022 (1) October 2022 (1) June 2020 (1) April 2020 (1) February 2020 (1) January 2020 (1) October 2019 (1) August 2019 (1) June 2019 (1) January 2019 (1) April 2018 (1) March 2018 (1) February 2018 (1) January 2018 (1) December 2017 (1) November 2017 (1) October 2017 (2) July 2017 (4) April 2017 (1) February 2017 (1) January 2017 (1) December 2016 (1) November 2016 (1) October 2016 (1) September 2016 (2) June 2016 (1) May 2016 (1) April 2016 (1) February 2016 (3) January 2016 (1) December 2015 (2) November 2015 (1) October 2015 (2) September 2015 (2) August 2015 (2) July 2015 (1) June 2015 (1) April 2015 (1) March 2015 (1) February 2015 (2) January 2015 (3) December 2014 (2) October 2014 (1) September 2014 (3) August 2014 (3) June 2014 (2) May 2014 (5) April 2014 (3) February 2014 (1) January 2014 (1) December 2013 (1) April 2013 (1) December 2012 (1) July 2012 (1) April 2012 (2) March 2012 (2) December 2011 (1) November 2011 (3) October 2011 (4) September 2011 (5) August 2011 (3) May 2011 (2) April 2011 (1) March 2011 (2) November 2010 (2) August 2010 (1) June 2010 (1) March 2010 (1) October 2009 (1) September 2009 (2) CategoriesCategories Select...
