Now That's A Wrap

Well, finally another show after my own: America's Next Producer (TV Guide) will premiere this week and has received a fair amount of promotion.

The show, produced by my neighbors Magical Elves (Top Chef and Project Runway), is set to feature ten Producer hopefuls who will battle it out this summer on TV Guide Network's new reality show America's Next Producer hosted by Ananda Lewis (The Ananda Lewis Show/ MTV and BET Fame).

The amazing prize is $100,000 cash, a deal with TV Guide Network and a production office in Hollywood. The contestants must create compelling TV concepts in different genres each week for judges David Hill (Chairman & CEO, FOX Sports Television Group) and Matt Roush (Senior Television Critic, TV Guide).

Sounds great - When I had heard of the show last year, it gained my interest and many have been asking if this is my show. Although the idea is certainly intriguing and relatable subject matter, I simply would not be able to make the time to manage a group of hopefuls, or a production about a group of production hopefuls....

The Nitty Gritty

If you watch the trailer for the show, currently airing on the top video site YouTube (also playing on Brightcove, Veoh) you get a sense of the drama and volatility one would experience as a "Hollywood Producer". Which brings me to this point, yes there are high-stakes, intense competition, and never ending challenges - ah, but that is the fun part of the job.

However, most people are not familiar with what the job of a Producer entails - well, allow me to educate....

First, there are different types of Producers. There are Creative Producers (Yours Truly), Executive Producers, Line Producers, Production Managers, Production Coordinators, Associate Producers - each have their own capacity, responsibilities and unique set of job functions.

For example, as a Creative Producer my job is to create the "big" (-?) ideas and pitch them to the studios, networks, production companies, other producers and really anyone who will listen :) If successful, my job usually sets everyone into motion. Believe me, I have more ideas than I have pitches - more pleasantly stated, many people should be working for a very long time.

The job of an Executive Producer (more typically) involves the financing of a particular project - the E.P. is the true power player that has the funds and/or access to the funds to get a project made.

A Line Producer is usually working in the trenches managing and overseeing the entire crew. The Production Manager controls the administrative functions of the production, which may involve filing for permits, payroll, and the budget. Production Coordinators handle the details of the facilities such as, arrangement of transportation, lodging, scheduling, and equipment.

None of the before mentioned are easy as there are always fluctuating variables and circumstances (Some within your control and some outside of your control) that may affect any well planned production. You get the idea.

Back to 'ANP'...

America's Next Producer is really the first original reality project for TV Guide Channel and casting a great personality such as Ananda Lewis - the show has some good potential for the network.

After reviewing the cast list of contestant for the show, it is encouraging to see such an interesting dichotomy of Producer hopefuls (and unlike another show, half of the cast is not from Los Angeles).

It is inspiring to see talent representing Denver, Cincinnati and New York from such diverse backgrounds that range from an entrepreneur, a news writer, a seasoned television vet, a Marine, a Notre Dame grad, a comedy writing self-proclaimed "control freak", a real competitor that does not like to play nice with other kids, and few other good hopefuls.

As they say, "Check your local listings..."