Working with Talent at VH1

Just a few weeks ago, I got offered the amazing opportunity to work with VH1 as a talent intern and have had the pleasure of working on their latest show, Best Week Ever. Some of my duties working in the talent department are researching new talent that may be fit for upcoming projects/ shows in addition to my main responsibility of making sure the talent coming in each day to film Best Week Ever is happy and that they are taken care of during their time at our offices.

The talent who are on Best Week Ever are comedians who have had a substantial following and buzz locally in the New York area, and for some, this is their first time on television. Just as I was nervous to be starting my first week on a shoot for a major television network, so were some of the talent I was coming in to assist. Most of the comedians who came in to film I was familiar with because I had either seen them on TV from the previous season of Best Week Ever, or I had seen perform live at comedy clubs. The idea of interacting with these comedians was very exciting, even if they aren’t considered “celebrities” just yet.

Not knowing what to expect from them, I greeted each person coming in to shoot as if I knew who they were and tried to be as personable as possible in order to make them feel comfortable in the short time they have from make-up to on set. Some of the talent had been doing this for weeks before and it was obvious they were comfortable making requests and knew their way around, but for the talent who had not filmed before it was interesting to see just how lost they really were in the whole process. None of them knew this was my first time on the shoot and that I had no idea of what was going on ether, but I made it a point to be confident in the way I interacted with them and if I had been doing this for a long time. I knew that if I didn’t seem confident that the newer talent wouldn’t feel as confident either, and that was very important to their performance. Just the simple gesture of handing them a bottle of water while they wait in the green room or make sure they have their script to go over in make-up can go a long way.

The good thing I’ve noticed about working with comedians in particular, is that they have all been very down to earth and I have not had to deal with any “egos”. As the show continues to film, I look forward to getting to know the talent much better and forming some great working relationships with them. I want to be someone they can rely on during the run of the show who helped make their experience enjoyable, and after the show, someone they remember not just as that intern.

-Alyssa

Spielberg's Jurassic World Set to Release Summer 2015

Universal Pictures 4th installment of the dinosaur action/adventure film Jurassic Park, the newly titled Jurassic World has been set to be released for June 12, 2015. This major film is being filmed in 3-D and is sure to be another epic project produced by Steven Spielberg. The first Jurassic Park film was re-released earlier this year to theaters in 3-D for its 20th anniversary and left fans anxious for another Jurassic Park installment. The cast has yet to be selected but Deadline reports that along with Spielberg, Pat Crowley and Frank Marshall will also be producers for the film. Colin Treverrow, of 2012's Safety Not Guaranteed, will be directing. An interesting choice since Treverrow's directorial credits show that this will be his first blockbuster film... it will also potentially be the film to put him on the map as a major Hollywood director since his other films have been much more under the radar.

Just from looking at the success of the previous three films, it can already be predicted that Jurassic World will easily be a summer blockbuster and major contender for the big summer films of 2015. The re-release of the original Jurassic Park alone raked in an impressive $114 Million worldwide.

Previous stars of the franchise have included Sam Neil who has played Dr. Alan Grant in all three of the films and Jeff Goldblum, who appeared in the first two Jurassic Park films. Leading ladies of the past films have included Laura Dern, Julianne Moore and Tea Leone, raising the question of who will be the lead female role for Jurassic World?

My prediction based on her role as a strong leading female in action/adventure film the Hunger Games, is Jennifer Lawrence. She has just enough roughness to have to handle dinosaur manure, if needed, and confidence to outrun a ferocious T-Rex!

Behind the Scenes of Reality TV- Reeling in the Bait

Negotiation is a major part in any business and in entertainment, the tight deadlines and shoot schedules makes it that much more of a necessity and valuable skill to take on. I spoke with field producer, John O’Connell* who is currently working one of the biggest fishing shows out on TV right now.

Here’s what he had to say about reality TV and the negotiating that takes place behind the scenes:

What are some of your main responsibilities as a field producer?

My job is a Field Producer- Basically I prepare the shoot as it goes out the door, having everything in place so that the production can be completed as efficient as possible. I do a lot of talking with talent and make sure all crew members know what's going on at all times. I work on all of the logistics for the entire production so that the Director can focus on the creative.

Is negotiation part of your job? What do you negotiate typically?

Yes, leading up to the shoot I negotiate rates for all expenses. The cost of Fishing vessels for example, the fishing gear including wet suits and anything that may need to be included on the shoot. I also negotiate the talent’s appearances. With these types of reality TV shows, we try to get the most out of people without having to pay so negotiating is constantly required.

If they bring up money, we try to reel it back in. Normally I explain that we are a small production and we don't have a lot of money to play with and we try to make a lot happen given a small budget and if they do this show they can have the possibility to participate in a national show on a major cable network. I also tell them it's a great opportunity for their business, we can put you in the credits. I work on their emotions and try to get them really excited about it, and at the same time I’m managing expectations. 

What type of negotiator do you consider yourself? A soft or hard negotiator? Has your style changed since you started your job?

I would say it depends on the negotiation but generally I'm a soft negotiator. I think that sometimes when you're dealing with people who don't respond to that you have to respond with a harder approach.  No,  I wouldn't say  my style changed, but I've gotten more confident over time and I've gotten more clear in how I express myelf.

Do you seek the outcome of mutual benefits for both parties?

Yes, we definitely want it to be mutually beneficial. It’s not always clear with reality TV. We know it'll be beneficial to us and we can try to provide mutual benefits but in the industry its not always promised.

If a negotiation isn't going in your favor, how do you handle it? Can you give an example?

I usually try to buy myself time if a negotiation isn’t going in my favor or if I know they are asking for something we can’t give by saying I'm not in a position to make that call so I'll have to get back to you. Most of my conversations are over the phone and I reassess the situation and get back to them that way.

Can you give an example of when a negotiation went sour and now looking back what you think the cause was?

There was a time I ended up paying someone way too much, and I think the cause of that happening was that I was afraid he'd pull out and if he did, it would have put the whole shooting schedule in jeopardy. 

What do you consider to be your most successful negotiation, what did it entail and what tactics did you use to come out of it successfully?

I would say my most successful was getting loads of extremely expensive fishing equipment and gear for the entire crew for free. I accomplished this by telling half truths. I told them it would be a chance for their brand to appear in the show… we gave them the credit but it didn't appear on the show. We can only give possibilities not promises unfortunately. We got it all free though and both parties were happy about it.

**John’s name has been changed for anonymity  

Spotlight on: Hollywood Game Night

Based on the game nights that executive producer/ creator Sean Hayes would host in his very own home, Glee star Jane Lynch replaces Hayes as host and brings Hollywood Game Night to viewers’ living rooms each Thursday night. Just 3 episodes in, NBC's new game show has already taken to great reviews and is rated #1 in the 10pm time slot.

The game show takes a refreshing twist on traditional TV game shows by bringing together Hollywood celebrities and comedians, throwing liquor into the mix--audience viewers and the guests are encouraged to "drink up"-- and having them play a slew of games that include putting pictures of Jennifer Aniston's hairstyles in chronological order and naming a candy bar by looking at a cross section of it. There’s no surprise that this trifecta of fun has done so well and keeps viewers coming back for more.

The hour long show consists of two “civilians” or non-celebrity contestants playing for the chance of winning some serious cash, as they are teamed together with 3 celebrities and compete in a mix of off the wall and name that celebrity type games. Some of the celebrity teammates have included former SNL cast mates Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry and Martin short among many others. The upcoming episode’s line-up, which will be airing next Thursday, August 1^st at 10pm, will feature celebrity teams consisting of Tom Arnold, Stacey Keibler, Rose Byrne, Patricia Heaton and Anthony Anderson and Jamie-Lynn Sigler.

According to an article on the Futon Critic, the show has not only continues to bring in some big laughs, but has consistently done well scoring high Nielson ratings and is sure to have a bright future ahead! Each week the celebrity game show has drawn in more and more viewers in key demographics, in particular, among 25- 54 year old adults. As a new reality show on network programming this summer, Hollywood Game Night has delivered the best ratings so far for reality programming on NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX tied with NBC’s Get Out Alive. 

Summer of Sequels

Just recently, I was waiting on the subway platform waiting for the train to arrive and across the way I noticed three new movie posters lined up. The movies were Grown Ups 2, Despicable Me 2, and Red 2. All three movies were sequels. Is this what we have to look forward to this summer? An entire season of movies that were OK and the studios decided to make another offspring. It's a topic that has been going around for some time now and poses the question, where are all the original films? Movieinsider.com listed an incredible 35 sequel films to be released this year in 2013... 35!!!  This summer alone, more than half of those sequels are to be released. If you're looking for something original, this is not the summer for you to rush out to theaters.

There is some background to this influx of sequels... Hollywood saw dollar signs last summer and are hopeful those same moviegoers will return this year and support the movie franchises. Just last year, 7 of the top 10 grossing films just so happened to be sequel films. It's a trend that is likely to follow this year being so many of them released during the summer alone.

One studio, however, has promised to cut back on releasing sequels and put a focus on original stories. In an article from cinemablend.com, Pixar studios has made a noble decision to no longer make unnecessary sequels. While the studio does have a sequel out right now, Monsters University, they will now only make sequels if the story demands that it be made. Although they won't stop making them, Pixar studio head Ed Camull, stated they will now be releasing one original story a year. (Which is very promising since they typically release one film a year). Perhaps other studios will follow Pixar's lead and change their focus to producing original stories as well!

Women in Film- a Focus on its Mentorship Program

Originally founded in 1973, the non-profit organization Women in Film is a leading professional organization in the entertainment industry that encourages and promotes the success of women in the film, media and communications industries. Headed by Academy Award Winning producer, Cathy Shulman , the organization provides numerous resources to its members that include mentorship programs, grants and scholarships for film, network opportunities and many other programs geared towards help with women in the industry achieve their goals.

With 40 chapters across the country, the organization’s reach represents over 10,000 members.  Featuring a speaker series and monthly independent film series, the program offers endless resources to help women progress in their careers in the film industry. One of the very valuable programs the organization offers to its members is its mentor program.  In the New York chapter, members are able to apply for an internship allowing them to explore their area of interest in the field and gain hands on experience.  Upon successful completion of the internship program, the candidate is then assigned a mentor in their desired career path to help guide and provide inside insight to what it take to be successful in their field.  Based on the intern’s interests, the organization matches them with a mentor who is specialized in their area.  The mentor and intern are then to meet once a month during the internship and advises him/ her on their professional and personal growth.

The advantages of Women in Film providing programs, such as the mentorship program, prepares women today for successful careers in entertainment tomorrow. Encouraging enthusiastic women of all ages to make their mark only helps create a more experienced/ talented pool of potential job candidates for productions. Women in film today are hugely underrepresented and do not hold nearly as many positions in the industry that men do. Resources such as a mentorship program help promote the integration of women in the industry and serves as a support system that few other programs are able to achieve. 

Gatsby a Hit, the Hangover III a Miss

Making this summer's long list of much anticipated movies include the much talked about Baz Luhrmann film adaptation of The Great Gatsby and the 3rd installment of the comedy the Hangover. Both films were expected to bring in big numbers for this summer and were on my list of must sees for this season.

One of the the few books I actually enjoyed reading in my high school English class was F. Scott's Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, so when I saw last year it was going to be made into a Hollywood film...and starring some of my favorite actors, I couldn't wait for its release! Surprisingly, director Baz Luhrman's over the top style and amazing use of color only enhanced Fitzgerald's classic story, not once taking away from the original book's story line. Luhrmann's approach to the story was very refreshing in that he never veered too far off from Fitzgerald's words (something few film adaptations have done in the past.) The book held its own on the big screen aside from the lavish, jaw-dropping visuals. The film also had solid performances by Leonardo DiCaprio who played the main character, Jay Gatsby. However, with any movie that DiCaprio's character speaks with an accent, I always find myself cringing because each line sounds like a different dialect. In Gatsby, his accent's origins are just as questionable, a far cry from the foreign actresses who did have accents (Carey Mulligan and Isla Fisher) were able to carry out their lines in a very believable American accent.

Where Gatsby surprised, the Hangover part III disappointed. I'm ashamed to say I never got around to watching the sequel, Hangover II, but was told from many who did that if you had watched the first Hangover it wasn't necessary to see the second. Now that the third one was released I was curious to see if the film that had me laughing for days after I left the theater would have the same effect on its 3rd installment. With the start of the opening scene of Ken Jung's character, Chao, escaping a prison (which I safely assumed he ended up there from the 2nd Hangover) I was almost sure this movie was going to be non stop laughs. But only about 20 minutes in and only a few laughs brought from the overweight man-child Alan (played by the hilarious Zach Galifianakis) the story took a predictable turn when they began a road trip and the laughs quickly subsided. If they said the Hangover 2 was basically the Hangover in a different location, then the Hangover 3 was the Hangover and Hangover 2 in some of the same locations. The shock value that the original movie had is something that could never be matched in its sequels and the box office sales will surely reflect that. Hopefully this will be the last of the Hangover movies... (even though the ending was perfectly set up for a 4th).