[Esther Shihabi]

Esther Built her Clock

What I learned during this assignment is how to put together a logline for a reality show and the elements that comprise a rundown and how to start thinking about what the show would look like.

Assignment #1

Aloha Florida

Segment 1:

Element: ­­­­­­­­­­­Cold Open Tease

Element: Title of the show

Element: Meet the house shopper

Element: Meet the Real Estate Agent

Element: Interview while driving

Element: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Interview with Real Estate Agent

Element: House Tour #1

Element: Interview while Driving

Element: House Tour #2

Element: Interview While Driving

COMMERCIAL BREAK 1

Segment 2:

Element: House Tour #3

Element: Interview while Driving

Element: Interview with the House Shopper

COMMERCIAL BREAK 2

Segment 3:

Element: Interview while Driving

Element: House Tour #4

Element: House Tour #5

Element: Interview with Real Estate Agent

Segment 4:

Element: Decision Revealed

Element: Interview while Driving

Element: Interview with the Family

Element: Credits

When
in the show do viewers meet the couple who is looking for a home, and what
do we learn about them and the problems they need to solve? In the first
segment <div>

When
do we learn what the couple is looking for in a home…and how successful is
their strategy unfolding throughout the half-hour? In the first segment

When
do we learn of conflict in the couple relative to their search? In the
second segment

How
many houses are toured in each segment and how much time do we spend
seeing each house? 2 in the first, one in the second and two in the third,
about 2 minutes

When
do we learn of the couple’s final decision? In segment #3

When
do we see the couple in the home they chose and for how many minutes?
Segment #4

How
often and in which segment(s) do we hear an interview with one or both
house shoppers describing their house shopping journey and emotional
experience? In every segment

How
often and in which segment(s) do we hear an interview with the real estate
agent describing the house shoppers? In segments 1 and 3

In
what segment do we hear the first sign of conflict between the house
shoppers? In first segment

In which segment do we learn the most biographical information about the house shoppers? In the first segment

Assignment #2

Give us a logline for a show idea that you might be working on. If you’re not working on one, make one up just for this exercise.

Young aspiring musicians land entry level positions at a career making music label with the hopes of breaking into the music industry only to get more than they bargained for when faced with the grueling requirements of the job and working with one other.

2. Tell us if your show idea is a half-hour or a full hour.

Half Hour

3. For half-hour, give us a version of what the 4 segments might look like. For full hour, give us 8 segments.

Segment 1:

Element: ­­­­­­­­­­­Cold open

Element: Title sequence

Element: Days assignment or task on the docket

Element: Interview with the intern

COMMERCIAL BREAK 1

Segment 2:

Element: Intern at the task

Element: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Meet the other people involved in the task

Element: Comments from the boss during the task

COMMERCIAL BREAK 2

Segment 3:

Element: We see the outcome of the task

Element: Interview with the Intern

Element: Interview with the bosses

Segment 4:

Element: Bosses deliver their thoughts to the interns

Element: Decision revealed of who stays and who goes

Element: Interview with the departed intern

</div>

[Esther Shihabi]

Esther Connects to Viewers!

Assignment #1

What I learned doing this assignment is the meaning of points of access are the hooks/elements that keep viewers tuning in to the show.

What makes this show’s points of access so wildly distinctive and different from shows whose formats are virtually identical?

For Fixer Upper, the show contains many points of access all at once.

There is an emotional connection of hope for the home owner and the hosts that a transformation can occur and that the owner will like the transformation.

It contains Character hooks as the hosts are married which also provides a deeper relationship between them, and the viewers get to see how stresses of home renovation and being in business together can impact a relationship. They are relatable in that they are approachable, down to earth and passionate.

Expertise is prominently featured in the design and the construction that occurs with the property, along with tips and advice from the hosts.

Settings is a hook as the houses themselves are in locations that are ordinary and therefore accessible to the majority of the public vs mega price points.

Humor, the hosts and their interactions themselves provide humor for the show.

Assignment #2

1. Answer these questions about how your show will connect with viewers.

A.
What is the emotional connection to the show?

Deep
dive into the emotion of hope, anticipation for the characters that have
expectations and desires to make their dreams come true. <div>

B.
How are the characters relatable or non-relatable?

Relatable
in the fears that they have, lessons that need to be learned, growth and
belief in themselves.
Relatable
for everyone that has had a dream and had to work their way from the
bottom.
Non-relatable
in the courage or perseverance to continue to chase dreams that seem to
be stacked against them

C.
Is there expert advice or skill depicted that is compelling to watch or
learn?

Yes
from music artists and label executives that have been in the industry
for a long time

D.
Is there an authentic setting that is uniquely compelling?

Yes
the label itself, which has its own unique culture within its walls and
as a part of the music industry over all

E.
Do the situations portrayed in your show idea lend themselves to comedy or
drama? Are they fun or funny to watch?

The
situations would lend itself as more of a drama

2. How do those answers help define your show and how might it connect with the audience?

It helps me to focus on the hooks of the show and which characters would be the most appropriate to look for in terms of casting.

</div>

[Esther Shihabi]

Esther Explores the Market

What I learned during this assignment is that many homes exist in the marketplace for different types of reality TV. A new learning for me was to understand the business aspect of the mergers and how many channels are owned under an umbrella. I learned that time is required to understand themes underlying a concept, how it aligns with existing channel brands and about new specific resources that are available in understanding the marketplace.

Assignment #1

Channel: HGTV

HGTV’s Brand is:

Properties. Feel good/heartwarming stories. Ordinary People. Relationships, Competition, Major life decisions. Entertaining and aspirational home and lifestyle content.

Channel: Bravo

Bravo’s Brand is:

Aspirational affluence, relationships, drama, beautiful people, locations and lifestyles, food, property, fashion, design, digital and pop culture.

Channel: ID (Investigation Discovery)

ID’s Brand is:

Crime, justice, redemption, and vindication. Ordinary people, relationships, mystery, intrigue

Assignment #2

1. Using a few key words, characterize your reality show idea. We’ve already talked about formats on day one. So, let’s instead stick to words that describe themes, trends, tone, and characters — BIG ideas like the descriptions for TLC above.

Themes: Ambition, Music, Hopes, Dreams and aspirations, young and attractive people, relationships

2. Let’s dive deeper into your idea, or any idea if you’re not working on a specific one. Select an idea and give us a 1st draft answer for each of the following:

A.
What’s at stake (the loss or gain) emotionally, physically, or materially
for the characters in my show?

Money
– income for the day to day based on their work performance while
juggling dreams of breaking into the industry

Relationships
– how they interact with friends that are also their competition

Dreams
– hopes for the future, change in their current status

B.
What kind of viewer might enjoy the show?

Musicians
Music
lovers and fans

Recent
College Grads

Those
within or connected to music industry

Young
professionals starting out in their careers

C.
What elements are the most compelling to watch in my show?

Relationships
between coworkers and friends

Lifestyles
of those that have made it in the industry

Inside
the label – what does the job actually include

D.
What does a viewer learn (or take home) after watching the show?

Importance
of relationships

Music
industry from insiders

How
to break in

Provides
hope to those currently struggling
Understanding
of the sacrifices it takes to preserve and make it

E.
What <i style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>other show on cable or streaming most closely resembles
my show idea?

Love
and Hip Hop (Bravo)

Westside
(Netflix &Warner Bros)

BlackPink
(Netflix)

FirstWorld
Problems, Studio 24 (MTV)

F.
On what platform — cable or streaming — could my show idea fit?

Cable
or Streaming

G.
On what cable channel(s) could my show fit?

Bravo
Netflix
MTV

[Esther Shihabi]

Esther’s Alternative TV Project Assignment #1 and #2

What I learned doing this assignment is all of the various formats that reality TV encompasses and that an idea while interesting may not be the best for a series. It was interesting to learn how having multiple formats in a hybrid really make for an engaging show.

Group #1

Tiger King. Format: Docu-Series, Occu-Soap, Adventure

Group #2

Below Deck. Format: Occu-soap, Structured Relationship, Adventure

Group #3

Dating Around. Format: Docu-soap, Structured Relationship

Group #4

Mysteries At the Museum. Format: Adventure/Exploration

Group #5

Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Format: Competition, Game

Assignment #2

Reality Series: (Name TBD)

A. A one or two sentence explanation of the show.

Following the lives of a group of young musician friends that work at a music label in order to break into the music industry and get noticed.

B. Format or Hybrid that you’ve chosen

Docu-Soap, Occu-Soap, Structured Relationship

C. The real life characters

Assistants, interns and entry level employees at a music label that work together.

D. The situation these characters find themselves in.

They work together, compete for limited time/relationships with superiors and people within the music industry for their day jobs and personal music dreams, while at the same time being friends and a support system for one another.

E. The Setting

New York, LA or Austin at a US label, or in an Asian country where the next supergroups are made (like the documentary on Black Pink) where groups of girls live together, play and work together while competing for limited spots in the group.

F. The viewer experience

Seeing the music industry from the inside out, experiencing the dreams, struggles, and interpersonal relationships of friends trying to make it in an ultracompetitive environment. Also seeing the structured employer, employee and interpersonal relationships and how they change as breakthroughs are made. The viewer will get to experience watching the how far they are willing to go/sacrifice in order to make their dreams a personal reality.

Tell us how you envision it being a SERIES that can run for one or more seasons.

Much like the docu-soaps on Bravo today, the show can continue as a series as the next group of assistants or interns comes to the label and following the relationships of the cast as they help or hinder one other.

[Esther Shihabi]

Esther Shihabi

I agree to the terms of this release form

[Esther Shihabi]

1. Name? Esther Shihabi

2. How many scripts you’ve written? 5

3. What you hope to get out of the class? How to take a reality show concept and create a long running series from it.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? I recently completed a Reiki certification and love meditation.