Steven Spielberg got his break directing a TV movie (Duel), so it seems somehow fitting that he’s using the idiot box top give a little something back.
Along with Mark Burnett – the man behind most of America’s top rated reality shows – he’s launching a Pop Idol-alike competition to find the next big thing in film.
On The Lot, which has just been greenlit by the US Fox channel, will pit wannabe, undiscovered filmmakers against each other in a series of tests, including making short films as part of teams. The results will be critiqued by a panel of experts, including a studio honcho and a film review scribbler and then the viewing public will be invited to vote on their favourite. The competition will be whittled down to two finalists, who will make a last short in the hopes that one of them will go on to win the big prize: a development deal at DreamWorks/Paramount.
"All through my career I've done what I can to discover new talent and give them a start," Spielberg tells Variety. "This opportunity ... allows all of us to reach out directly to open a much wider door." He’s not planning to appear on every episode like a filmmaking Donald Trump or Alan Sugar, but he will turn up from time to time, and will no doubt be there to crown the winner.
"To have Mark and Steven Spielberg associated with this, it should be huge," Fox reality guru Mike Darnell gushed to the trade mag. "I think movies are very relatable, and most Americans not only have a love for film but think of themselves as movie critics."
Trusting the opinion of a group who loved Date Movie? Our hopes for the next big thing in film just died a little.