A Community created Sci-Fi show
OK.... ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!!!
I'm so sick and tired of my shows being canceled over and over and over again. It's driving me crazy. So crazy in fact that I've come up with the idea below. Let me know what you guys think.... would something like this be possible? I think it would.
So the idea is pretty simple actually. Create an extreme low-budget, independent, community created sci-fi show. Between us we have the talent, know-how, and anything else we may need to get something like this done.
When I say low-budget I REALLY mean low-budget. I've had a few ideas for an over-arching story line, but this is something that really would need to be decided by the community as a whole. One idea would be based on an off-world colony with a group of people who are the first travelers from earth. This would require minimum sets, and most shots could be done outdoors. This would also allow for a very small initial cast, and allow it to be expanded as needed (new travelers arriving from earth). It would also be able to write-out characters. Why would the need to write-out characters be an issue? Funny you should ask. Read the next paragraph to find out.
Actors would need to be volunteers only, at least at first. Because they aren't being paid, shots would need to be done part-time. If an actor loses interest, or no longer has time to work on the project the actors would need to be written out and replaced.
A great relatively recent example of a low-budget (by today's standards) show would be the 90s show Lois and Clark. Watch a few episodes and look at how they reduced costs. All the shots of superman flying were just him standing in front of a greenscreen with clouds running behind him. Very basic effects, many of which could be done today at very little to no cost. Similar effects could be used to introduce the sci-fi elements of the show.
Many people care about the stories far more than the effects. The point is to get the ball rolling on something to "fill the void" being left by the lack of any traditional old-school sci-fi.
Ideally episodes need to be 1 hour minimum, and a full season of 20 episodes minimum needs to be created.
Scripts could be written by the community, and posted to a special forum. From there the production team could pick the best stories- the writer would get his name in the credits, and the show would save on having to pay writers.
Any profits made by ads on the website etc. would first go to pay for the shows expenses, and anything left over would be split up amongst the production staff and the actors (if enough was somehow made to pay for the full season, and another season thereafter). Some monies may also be used to increase the budget of the show if it starts to do really well somehow.
With all these costs minimized to almost nothing, a pilot episode could be made in relatively short order. Once it was to launch it would draw new fans who would contribute to continuing the story, and pull in ad revenue to pay for better effects etc. in the first few episodes.
The goal of the show is NOT to make a ton of money, make its actors famous, or get a network to pick it up. The goal is to create an ongoing series that people can enjoy from week to week, without worrying about the networks pulling the plug. As long as the community supports the show it will continue to run.
So what do you guys think of the idea? Do you think something like this might work? I'm so sick of shows being canceled over and over again - If the networks aren't willing to provide us with any stability, than I say we should make it ourselves!
I'm so sick and tired of my shows being canceled over and over and over again. It's driving me crazy. So crazy in fact that I've come up with the idea below. Let me know what you guys think.... would something like this be possible? I think it would.
So the idea is pretty simple actually. Create an extreme low-budget, independent, community created sci-fi show. Between us we have the talent, know-how, and anything else we may need to get something like this done.
When I say low-budget I REALLY mean low-budget. I've had a few ideas for an over-arching story line, but this is something that really would need to be decided by the community as a whole. One idea would be based on an off-world colony with a group of people who are the first travelers from earth. This would require minimum sets, and most shots could be done outdoors. This would also allow for a very small initial cast, and allow it to be expanded as needed (new travelers arriving from earth). It would also be able to write-out characters. Why would the need to write-out characters be an issue? Funny you should ask. Read the next paragraph to find out.
Actors would need to be volunteers only, at least at first. Because they aren't being paid, shots would need to be done part-time. If an actor loses interest, or no longer has time to work on the project the actors would need to be written out and replaced.
A great relatively recent example of a low-budget (by today's standards) show would be the 90s show Lois and Clark. Watch a few episodes and look at how they reduced costs. All the shots of superman flying were just him standing in front of a greenscreen with clouds running behind him. Very basic effects, many of which could be done today at very little to no cost. Similar effects could be used to introduce the sci-fi elements of the show.
Many people care about the stories far more than the effects. The point is to get the ball rolling on something to "fill the void" being left by the lack of any traditional old-school sci-fi.
Ideally episodes need to be 1 hour minimum, and a full season of 20 episodes minimum needs to be created.
Scripts could be written by the community, and posted to a special forum. From there the production team could pick the best stories- the writer would get his name in the credits, and the show would save on having to pay writers.
Any profits made by ads on the website etc. would first go to pay for the shows expenses, and anything left over would be split up amongst the production staff and the actors (if enough was somehow made to pay for the full season, and another season thereafter). Some monies may also be used to increase the budget of the show if it starts to do really well somehow.
With all these costs minimized to almost nothing, a pilot episode could be made in relatively short order. Once it was to launch it would draw new fans who would contribute to continuing the story, and pull in ad revenue to pay for better effects etc. in the first few episodes.
The goal of the show is NOT to make a ton of money, make its actors famous, or get a network to pick it up. The goal is to create an ongoing series that people can enjoy from week to week, without worrying about the networks pulling the plug. As long as the community supports the show it will continue to run.
So what do you guys think of the idea? Do you think something like this might work? I'm so sick of shows being canceled over and over again - If the networks aren't willing to provide us with any stability, than I say we should make it ourselves!
- Second, it would be a wakeup call to the networks that if they won't take care of us, we'll take care of ourselves. In a way the whole production is a sign of protest against the networks. 
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