The Asylum

[Andrew]

FX Network is having a contest to have a new sitcom developed. They are looking for submissions for it. Haven't had the chance to find out details, but their website is here:

http://www.fxnetworks.com

Their recent "hit" show is It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It got developed after the head of programming received a "pilot" for the show that two guys shot for $200. At least that's the story he's telling in the ad for the contest. Saw the ad last night before falling asleep on my couch.

Someone should look into this and we should think about submitting. The Jymi and Kimy show is ready for primetime I think.

Any other thoughts or ideas are welcome.
_________________
I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey.

[Andrew]

Here's the website with details aboout the contest:

http://myspace.com/sunnyfx

We have until June 12 to submit something. It has to be 5 minutes or less. A week later they announce the 20 finalists.

Here's the submission guidelines/rules:

http://fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/sunny/myspace/Sunny_Submission_Guidelines.pdf

If we were to do this, we have to shoot what's needed on Thursday, edit over the weekend and submit on Monday.

Are we up for a challenge?
_________________
I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey.

[Jymi X/0]

If we can come up with something that we don't mind giving away, by all means, let's go for it. But...

[Andrew]

Yes, I read that completely (and knew that clause would be there even without reading it.) That means they own whatever bit we give them. It doesn't mean they own the idea or any subsequent versions we might create (assuming we aren't given the development deal.)
 
Any dealing with a network will necessarily involve giving something up. But we get an awful lot in return (again assuming we win.) Did you read the part about how they give us $50,000 to shoot a real pilot with if we get picked?
 
I know how you feel about your creations, Jymi. I understand. But this doesn't take control away from us in any way. It's an opportunity.
 
I think Jymi and Kimy is worthy of this. It could be awesome. But if anyone has other ideas for something we can submit that we can refine and get done in 5 days, I'm all ears.
 

[Jymi X/0]

[Andrew]

Jymi wrote:
Wow, you must be psychic! How did you know that would be there?!
 
Clever I am.
 
Jymi wrote:
Oh, garsh, yes. I did. That's the part in big letters on the advertisement, right?
 
I just wanted to make clear that this is not just prize money. It's a development deal that [b]we get to make the real pilot with. No loss of control.
 
Jymi wrote:
I thought these were our creations??

I appreciate that, but I also recognize that Jymi and Kimy is a kind of special case - you and Kimberly originated (brilliantly) and it is fairly personal in that the characters are based on you as real people. I didn't want you to think I was willing to sell that out without acknowledging that fact. You have the final say, right up to a veto if you think the cut isn't good or you just plain decide not to go ahead. No questions asked, no hard feelings.
 
Scripted and blocked is you and Kimberly for the most part. But if you want some input, I'd love to help. I know it might be tough to throw this together in a single shot this week, but I'm game if you are. Yes, I can edit over the weekend. I'll stock in a case of Jolt (oh, that's right - caffeine doesn't affect me - and I hate Jolt) and go to town. Willing to entertain all input as to what the final cut should look like. Others are welcome to come over (if they dare) to assist and advise.
 
Ideal would be if I can actually borrow the camera with the tape in it (just for Thursday night) so that I can download the footage direct to the iMac. It will automagically divide up the clips based on where the camera was started and stopped and import them to iMovie. Then I could get the camera back to you on Friday. This would help avoid any crises of the footage not being something I can work with.
 
Any prep you and Kimberly can do tonight and tomorrow would be great. I'd be willing to come over tonight and tomorrow as well to script/block/help/get started/pre-vis/whatever.

This message was just mailed in.

[Jymi X/0]

Kimberly and I have been discussing this for the past couple nights, and she brought up the point that -- and I agree with her -- the Jymi & Kimy Show is "too personal" to place in non-SOTM hands. We want to maintain control over this.

Alternate idea: Why don't we submit Cash Fortune? It's a great concept, kinda sorta yeah like MST3K but not really. (Not to mention that we've already got most of the work done.) Each month could be a different movie, done in four segments. It would be a cinch to keep doing this with other public domain films. The lower the production costs...

Alternate-alternate idea: The show that started this whole thing -- the "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" show -- that wasn't submitted to a contest, was it? Didn't the writers/producers turn that in all on their own? On their own terms? I think we have what it takes to get The Suits to watch us without entering a contest, and without submitting to a contract worded solely by someone else's lawyers.

[Andrew]

I know this is dead for the moment, but just to note for the record: Network television typically works somewhat like book publishing in this way. Unsolicited material goes into what they usually call the "slush pile." It may or may not ever get read/reviewed and it is highly unlikely to catch anyone's attention. What the process was that got Sunny noticed and watched by the suits is a mystery. A lucky accident that does happen, but is QUITE rare. We stand a FAR better chance in a contest situation where they are specifically asking for submissions that are certain to be reviewed than if we randomly send a tape in hoping that the head of programming will get to see it.
 
That is why I keep my eye out for contest opportunities.