Question set #6.
1)What exactly does it take to get an idea approved and made into a series? What is the process like and what kinds of things does the idea have to go through?
--a long pitching process in which you need to have an idea worked out that is somehow in the ball park of something the networks are looking for and the studios are willing to pay for. Quality has virtually nothing to do with it. Quality (talent) is what keeps it going once it gets sold. If the idea is sort of working, expect three-four months of pitching and
outlining and being screwed with before you actually go to script. And for every 100 scripts that are written, 10 are shot and 2 are picked up to air. You'll be happier hitting yourself on the head with a hammer.
2)Also, are there any non-profit organizations out there that work on projects that either don't or can't make it into a television series?
--no, to sound callous, no. it's all about profit, not art or talent -- if that's what you want, you've got to do it yourself, and with digital and computers, that's easier than ever. but no one cares if it's not going to sell. simple as that. EE didn't come back for a fifth season because it never delivered the numbers that the president of CBS expected it should for its time slot and demographic. simple as that -- numbers didn't meet projection -- canceled.
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Actually, this one is more commentary than question:
I want to let Mr Clark know how lucky I feel to have gotten
hooked on"Early Edition". I can't get enough of the reruns and
of course Kyle Chandler is my favorite actor and he deserves
to be seen often as his acting range is limitless.The show was
not given support by CBS IMHO but it often made me think we
can do more for others and that Gary Hobson along with Kyle
have a quiet dignity that that makes me respect the character
and the actor.I can't praise the shows Mr Clark wrote enough
since I'm crazy about Chuck,Bernie,Lois and Crumb.
The show was original,had a diverse cast of all age groups among the
regulars,co-stars and guest stars.I loved that it didn't do over
the top stuff since tv is full of nothing but sorry reality shows
and clones of hit shows ripping their plots from the headlines.
Gary was so real to me that I want to be as helpful as I can in
any way while LIVING MY LIFE! Thank you Mr Clark for your
contribution to "Early Edition".
---I appreciate that. I can tell you that Kyle works as Gary hobson, because he's so close to being that guy for real. It was fun to write and I really enjoyed getting to use a sense of humor on the show as well.
Is it too late to ask a question?
If not, here's mine.
In Crumb Again, it seems to me that there are hints of an attraction between Gary and Brigatti. Is that my imagination, or was there already thought at that time of making her a love interest for Gary?
--There were those of us, remaining nameless, who thought we could do with a better romantic interest for Gary and Brigatti might have been slipped under the door to be set up for that possibility, yes. But you didn't hear that from me. Constance marie is great, by the way, and she shines in the
George Lopez show...
I have what's probably going to seem like a silly little question after all the ones I've read so far, but, when Gary was shown reading the paper, and we're looking over his shoulder, were those always his hands or was there a paper holder stand-in? Oh, and thank you for helping to write one of my all time favorite shows ever!
Cheryl
---actually it was often both. we did try to get gary in the shot, but sometimes, it's a hand double. remember we do 6-8 pages a day in tv and they do 1-2 pages a day in movies, so we don't have time to mess around....We also did some "wake-up" scenes and recut them from other episodes rather than shooting him getting the paper again.... also, the
cat meows, then the paper arrives -- other way around and it sounds like the cat's been splatted by the paper....