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"Practicum Pitch"

• Posted by Shannon Litt August 15, 2011 - 851 views
  Myself and the rest of Ryerson University’s Radio & Television Arts class of 2012 is about to enter their fourth and final year. Besides graduation, the greatest thing about this year is Practicum. For those who don’t know what Practicum is, it’s an intense 8-month-long project. Many people seem to pitch ideas to the board of industry folks and professors, but only a few are actually produced. Seems to be about 5-10 per year, by my reckoning.
  
  Most people look forward to Practicum for their entire first 3 years, as we are allotted budgets for each project and it’s considered a full class. I can definitely see why it’s a big deal to most students. It’s become a huge deal to me over the summer. I’ve tossed ideas out from left, right and centre, and refused to stop until I found something I really thought could by viably produced, be chosen by the board, and that people could feel passionate about. After two months of brainstorming, I finally settled on a webseries called, “Youth Group”.
  
  Logline: A Christian youth group try to make it through their weekly meetings without sacrificing their morals or killing each other.
  
  I would like to produce the first two or three episodes of a webseries. Not your standard action or pure comedy webseries, but a dramedy. It will be the documentary “Jesus Camp” meets the TV show “Community”.
  
  Why a webseries?
  
  Well, webseries belong to the people. They don’t have to go through censoring before the public has access to them. Why not use the censorship-free environment to produce something more controversial than the dominant action or comedy webseries? After all, some of the most successful shows with the biggest cult followings being broadcast today are raunchy dramedies like “Breaking Bad”, “Dexter”, and Britain’s “Skins” and “Misfits”. Part of why they’re so popular is that they’re far more clever, intense, and satirical than your average show. They push boundaries and are therefore able to connect better with viewers. Viewers think, “wow. This is something raw and honest that I haven’t seen before.”
  
  “Youth Group” will do just that- it will present teenagers in a new light. The characters are stepped in a doctrine that is completely counter to that of the world they live in. There is a lot of room in the story to examine all sorts of different issues. Some believe in religion completely, some are atheists, and this creates an interesting dynamic between them.
  
  An overwhelming majority of people have some religious affiliation, and the show’s subject matter will connect with them on that level. We have gotten too used to TV shows and films simply make fun of religion without delving more deeply. I would love the opportunity to examine religion more in depth through these relatable characters. People, especially today’s youth, aren’t afraid to step back and laugh at themselves or think a little deeper about serious issues.
  
  “Youth Group” will show viewers the ridiculous and more serious aspects of religion. It will satisfy both their dramatic and comedic needs in quick, easily-accessible 10-minute webseries episodes.
  
  Why should the board trust me to produce this show?
  
  In the past year, I’ve produced, directed and edited 8 short films, co-produced and directed a demo reel for a film that is currently being considered by the CBC, and have storyboarded an A-list feature film which I have been involved with in other aspects as well. I’ve hired ACTRA members before and am aware of their paperwork for student projects, and am familiar with the complexity of budgets.
  
  I have a good eye, I’m extremely dedicated, punctual and organized, and I know how to direct actors well. I have a solid team that I’ve organized specifically for “Youth Group”, excepting a few key positions, and have written the full first season. I’m extremely well-networked and I’ve worked with several people in the current Toronto film industry.
  
  I’m well aware of how much work and effort I’m going to have to put into “Youth Group” but am fully prepared to do so. I have a clear vision for it and I feel very passionate about it, however not to the point of closed-mindedness. You can rest assured that I will produce a quirky and poignant webseries that will exemplify previously-established Canadian values such as wit, irreverence, and wisdom, as well as high production value.