[Laura Souders]

Laura Souders Story Producer Insights

What I learned was that the process to get a show produced from inception can be 12-18 months.

3 Things I learned:

The field and the edit room may not get to talk much about how the footage is working.

The story line is scripted, but the dialogue/fights/ what is said, may not be.

It’s not enough to have funny or interesting people, they have to be over the top.

[Laura Souders]

Laura Souders Plans a Great Pitch Deck!- Lesson 5

I learned that there is a different types of pitch decks and they are not geared to the intended viewer of the show.

Title Broken House, Broken Home

Can these people clear clutter and transform their home and will it be enough to save their relationship?

With Professional Organizer Laura Souders, author of the Amazon Best Seller, Organizing Her Life

A professional organizer helps desperate clients declutter to save their home and relationship.

Each episode in this half hour unscripted reality show, follows professional organizer Laura Souders as she helps a desperate couple reclaim their space and hopefully save their relationship.

Season 1

• Episode 1: Husband and wife are at a breaking point after the husband decided to sell his law office building and move his business into the home, since Covid. His wife also works from home and is tired of their dining room table being cluttered with his paperwork.

• Episode 2: Mother and adult daughter are living together again. Daughter just graduated from nursing school and moved back into her childhood home, because she can’t afford a place of her own with her college loans. Their relationship has been strained because mom feels she is taking over common spaces.

• Episode 3: Women life partners have spent several years living apart because of their careers, now one is retiring from her position as a college English professor and they are trying to combine into one home, with way too much stuff, especially Shakespeare books.

• Episode 4: Two guys who are life partners, one with a career in television, have very different ideas about how to use their home. One has overtaken the basement with memorabilia and the other one thinks the basement should be for entertaining guests.

• Episode 5: Girlfriend and Boyfriend live separately but have plans to marry. He and his mom are “savers” and he keeps bringing sports memorabilia to her apartment. She worries that it will get worse wen they move in together. Season 1 Continued

• Episode 6: Husband and wife are struggling to remain together because his “collections” are literally pushing her out of the house. She feels there is no room for her and leaves on trips for several months at a time, to get some space.

• Episode 7: Boyfriend and Girlfriend live apart, but can’t because her space is so full. He bought her expensive gym equipment and can’t even use it because her basement is stuffed with holiday decorations.

• Episode 8: Two women friends have shared a house for years, but one of them is fed up with her friend’s stuff creeping out into the living room. Seeing the mess stresses her out.

• Episode 9: Husband and wife had successful careers in education, but she has cancer and they both decided to retire. Now they realize they have neglected their house and may need to sell it and downsize soon, but both of them are overwhelmed.

• Episode 10: Girlfriend has her own home and her boyfriend moved in to save money. His 4 daughters have been spending time at the home and tempers are running high in this unorganized space, nothing has a home.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by  Laura Souders.

[Laura Souders]

Laura Souders Built Her Clock!

What I learned in this lesson was the segments of a reality show that are repeated for each episode, showing consistency in the way the show tells a story.

Assignment #1

In the half hour show “House in a Hurry” on HGTV, with 4 segments, put the following elements in the segment in which they occur. Here are the elements in no particular order:

Cold Open/Tease

Title of the Show

Meet the House Shoppers

Meet the Real Estate Agent

Interview while Driving

House Tour # _1_ (as many as you see)

Interview with House Shopper

Interview with Real Estate Agent

Decision Revealed

Credits

Segment 1:

Element: ­­­­­­­­­­­Cold Tease

Element: Title

Element: Meet the House Shopper

Element: Meet the Realtor

Element: Interview While Driving

Element: House Tour #1

Element: Interview While Driving

Element: House Tour #2

Element: Interview While Driving

Element: House Tour #3

COMMERCIAL BREAK 1 (7 Commercials)

Segment 2:

Element: Interview While Driving

Element: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Interview with House Shoppers

Element: House Tour #4

COMMERCIAL BREAK 2 (6 Commercials)

Segment 3:

Element: House Tour #5

Element: Interview Realtor

Element: Interview Home Shopper

COMMERCIAL BREAK 3 (6 Commercials)

Segment 4:

Element: Decision Revealed

Element: Interview Home Shoppers

Element: Credits

1. 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? The first segment and we learn they are living in a cramped
place and need to find a home quickly for a new job.

2. 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 beginning we learn what they want and they redefine it
with each home.

3. When do we learn of conflict in the couple relative to
their search? In the beginning we know they want different locations, busy
vs. private and during each tour and in interviews afterward they express
their differences.

4. How many houses are toured in each segment and how much
time do we spend seeing each house? 5 Houses are toured in this episode
and we see each one a few minutes.

5. When do we learn of the couple’s final decision? We
learn what they want in the 3<sup style=”font-family: inherit;”>rd</sup> segment.

6. When do we see the couple in the home they chose and
for how many minutes? We see the house they chose in the fourth segment
for about a minute.

7. 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? We hear interviews throughout each
segment.

8. How often and in which segment(s) do we hear an
interview with the real estate agent describing the house shoppers? The
real estate agent gets emotional about the house shoppers in the 3<sup style=”font-family: inherit;”>rd</sup>
segment.

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

10. In which segment do we
learn the most biographical information about the house shoppers? First segment

Assignment #2

Logline: The stakes are high as two ordinary people try to transform their home through organization to save it and along with their struggling relationship. In the end, we learn if it’s enough to make them want to commit to stay in the home and together.

Half-hour show, 4 segments

Title: Broken House, Broken Home

Segment 1

Element: Cold Tease

Element: Title

Element: Meet People needing organization and relationship help, hear their story and view their home.

Element: Meet the Organizer & Therapist as they get a first look at the home and talk to the people.

Segment 2

Element: Interview the People needing organization and relationship help, as they work on organizing their home.

Element: Interview the Organizer about the progress.

Element: Show process of working on their relationship and interview the People.

Element: Interview the Therapist about the progress.

Segment 3

Element: Show progress in home and interview People needing help, hear their concerns.

Element: Listen to conversations with the People about their relationship, hear their concerns.

Element: Interview with Organizer and Therapist.

Segment 4

Element: Final reveal of home

Element: Couple decides whether or not to commit to staying in the house and each other.

Element: Interview of Couple follow up check-in to see where they are.

Element: Credits

[Laura Souders]

Laura Souders Connects to Viewers

What I learned doing this assignment was that the network is trying to make a connection with the audience. If a show connects with the viewers, they will get hooked and regularly tune in.

Assignment #1

Characters- the hosts are likeable and relatable, as well as the home owners<div>

Expertise- their expertise in design and construction draw
in viewers

<div>

What makes this show’s points of access so wildly distinctive and different from shows whose formats are virtually identical? The relatability of the hosts and their relationship with each other, makes you want to be friends with them.

Assignment #2 My Project

A. Emotional connection- The relationship struggle of two people who live together, fighting for their relationship and their home, two of the most basic human needs.

B. Characters relatable or non-relatable- My characters are relatable: everyday people, parents, couples, teachers, bankers, nurses, etc. Viewers will see themselves or someone they know in these characters.

C. Expert advice- Given by the Professional Organizer and a Therapist

D. Setting- Will vary: rural/ city, large house/apartment, east coast/west coast

E. Are situations more comedy or drama? The situations in my show would be more drama, the characters are in dire situations in their relationship and living space.

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

Knowing the elements of how people connect with a show helps me to understand what elements are necessary.

</div></div>

[Laura Souders]

Laura Souders

In this assignment, I learned how to recognize the types of shows/themes that each channel/streaming service considers their brand and where my show idea would fit and what elements needed.

Part 1 Brands

HGTV- Home make-overs, ordinary people, fun, light, everyday decisions

Bravo- Lifestyles of rich/famous, grand, conflict, drama

ID- Unsolved crimes, mysteries, interviews of people investigating, recreating the scene

Part 2 My Show

What’s at stake?

Wondering if the relationship of two people who live together can be saved.

Deciding whether they should/can keep the house.

Viewers?

People interested in organizing shows.

People interested in relationship shows.

Diyers, women

Compelling elements?

Seeing inside the relationship/lives of people who live together.

Watching the triumphs and struggles of reclaiming their home.

Before & After pictures of the home.

Learning if the couple continues to live together, in that home.

Take-Away for Viewers?

Tips for organizing your own space- what and where things can be donated/recycled/sold

Relationship tools

Comparable shows? Hoarders, The Home Edit

Platform or Streaming? Fits in both

Channels? TLC, Discovery +, Netflix, NBC, Youtube Originals.

[Laura Souders]

1. Name? Laura Souders

2. How many scripts you’ve written? 0

3. What you hope to get out of the class? How to create a buzzier reality tv show and pitch it to producers

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? I have been a support organizer on the HOARDERS show 4 times!! Eight years ago, my husband and I actually bought a hoarded house, completely cleared it out and made it our own. It kicked off my business as a professional organizer and launched me into a live, monthly tv segment showing viewers how to “Get It Together”, which I’ve been doing for over two years.

[Laura Souders]

Laura Souders’ Alternative TV Project

1. The Vow- Docuseries

2. Below Deck- Occusoap

3. 3. Dating Around- Structured Relationship

4. Expedition Unknown- Adventure/Travel

5. Flea Market Flip- Makeover/Competition

2. What I learned doing this assignment is how to analyze reality shows to understand their format and how to combine formats to create an interesting show idea.

Show Idea: Broken House, Broken Home would be a unique home organizing show and relationship show.

Format: hybrid of Makeover and Structured Relationship

Real-life characters: Professional Organizer, a therapist and any two people who feel their relationship is at a breaking point caused by the cluttered state of their shared home- a couple, parent and child, adult siblings

Situation: They are at their breaking point, with their home and relationship. Divorce or keeping the home are at risk.

Setting: Their home, could be in a variety of locations around the county, showcasing urban and suburban settings.

Viewer Experience- Getting a peek into the home and relationship of someone else. Wondering if the pair will be able to get their home organized and fix their relationship.

The series would continue….As a professional organizer, whose business has continued to grow substantially over the last 8 years, each of my clients has a different story and situation.

[Laura Souders]

Laura Souders

I agree to the terms of this release form

GROUP RELEASE FORM

As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

This completes the Group Release Form for the class.