An idea for a new reality show – “Bandits” !

[Mark Suszko]

I once knew a guy or gal that was into this, (a casual internet buddy from a mailing listserv) they had a fun time going cross-country and as I recall (dimly now) , they shot some footage in the cars along the way on then-new Dv camcorders. They tried to get friends to meet them at checkpoints and shoot the dirtside b-roll of them coming in and going out. I can’t recall now how that project ended up. It sounds pretty niche, unless you open the narrative up at each checkpoint into some local color angle or something. Some big events seem amazing/riveting to the insiders, but less so to external audiences with no inherent knowledge or connection. This goes for everything from sci fi conventions to the transpac yacht races. To break out of the niche following and get a general audience interested, requires some creativity in developing the narrative.

[George Holt iii]

I completely agree that you would have to get creative to make it interesting. It seems like most of these house flipping, motorcycle building, muscle car restoration shows,etc., all have a some kind of self imposed deadline they have to meet to get the car, motorcycle, or house done in time for an auction, show, or something that gives the show some kind of suspense and draws the person in that’s watching. It’s also helps to have colorful characters like the Moonshiner gang, and American Chopper bunch, or celebrity host. Once you get to know them, you start to view them like family, and someone you can relate too. We have the same bunch of colorful people that are trying to get their new projects done in time for auctions, car shows, etc., that run into real problems like hard to find parts, cars catching fire, paint problems and more. A central location that the show revolves around is always nice, but since this one would revolve around hundreds of people around the world, it would be more of a, “today we’re in Germany to help Haans get his 1977 Pontiac Trans Am Special Edition ready for the big car show in Munich”. Then hang out with Hanns in his home town riding with him in the Trans Am, getting to know the people and the impact that our American muscle has on them. Help him get the parts he needs, or whatever problem he’s having. Then head off to the show, the judging, the tenseness when the judges arrive, all the Smokey and the Bandit gear laid out around the car. The emotions when he wins, or loses. We also have some super hot sexy female Trans Am owners that would blow your mind! One of them is married to a cop in California and he builds the Trans Am’s for her. There are cool people and cool stories everywhere all with their own kind of drama that will draw people in. But yeah, you have to be creative. If you wanted to have a central location where a narrator would start the show by announcing who and where they would be going that week, just fill up a room full of Smokey and the Bandit gear, Trans Am posters, sponsor stuff, car parts, etc., and throw a hot celebrity in there as the host, or hosts. Maybe Burt Reynolds, or Jerry Reed have grown kids that want to get into acting. A man and a woman team maybe. By the way, the fastest car in Denmark is a Bandit Trans Am. He’s on the website. I’ll set you up with plenty of interesting people, and situations, just say the word!

Thanks, George

[Mark Suszko]

That’s not how I’d go.

Only other gear-heads watch purely gear-head-centric shows with any real loyalty. Top Gear would have a very low audience if they just did straight car reviews. it is all the OTHER unrelated stuff they do in between the car reviews that attracts a huge audience.

What I’d do for your club’s show is, every episode is a mission. Or several missions.

One of your car-driving Bandits has to help out a different person (chosen from fans writing in) each week. The mission may be simply driving them to a destination, with them sharing some of their interesting life story along the way, say, delivering a buddy’s cremated ashes to his favorite spot, three states over. Or transporting a person to a job interview. Or delivering a care package or tools or whatever to some people in need. Throw in a rally episode every couple weeks where they drive a poker run and award the best Bandit of the month for the good deeds done.

This gives you elements of an oral history documentary, a contest, and a feel-good charity make-over kind of show. It sells what the original Bandit movie sells: the independent man (or woman) going where they want to go, and with a purpose, in command of their own little rolling world.

The car and driver are tasked with getting some kind of element delivered somewhere, on time.
You then throw them a couple of unexpected problems or detours to overcome along the way.

Now you have a story to watch. Not just a car parade.

[George Holt iii]

Wow, you’re good! That’s a great idea for a show. Let’s do it!

[Mark Suszko]

I need my fee up front.

[George Holt iii]

Oh course! Name your price!

[Mark Suszko]

I would need 250, large, for my producer fee, 20 percent of all merchandising revenue in perpetuity, one of the 30 second spots built into each episode of the show to sell for myself, and one of the hero cars, with a T-top and an automatic transmission, delivered, to keep, after the season wraps.

You can leave the 8-track in it.

[Bill Davis]

I still believe you’re thinking too narrowly.

Why Trans Ams? It’s like 000.1% of car nuts.

You have a whole world out there of people who fetishize their cars. THATS your show.

Fine, start with Team Trans Am. (plucky, American, scrappy) But if you want to attract serious money, you ALSO need Team Honda (asian techies in jump suits), Team Volkswagen (gruff but lovable), Team Ford (nostalgicly piloting classic Mustangs!)and an insufferably rich and self-absorbed Team Bentley who participate with valets and platinum cards at the ready to solve “inconveniences”).

Also, cast married teams and SPLIT them with the producers making sure that the most incompatible “car couples” are forced together to ensure they melt down at the first sign of adversity. (remember to follow them with low-light cameras as they make their nighttime calls to their estranged spouses to bitch and complain about EVERYTHING!)

Now THAT’s how you make yourself some modern TV!

(When can I expect my consulting fee?)

Know someone who teaches video editing in elementary school, high school or college? Tell them to check out http://www.StartEditingNow.com – video editing curriculum complete with licensed practice content.

[Mark Suszko]

Why Trans- Ams? Why not firewood?

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/world/europe/in-norway-tv-program-on-firewood-elicits-passions.html?smid=pl-share&_r=3&

[Todd Terry]

My friend Ed who is also my neighbor AND a retired actor was briefly on the TV show “Knight Rider” many years ago.

He was a guest at a Knight Rider fan convention last summer. Ed said he was stunned to arrive and see a parking lot full of Trans-Ams belonging to fans who had them fully “KITT transformed.”

Takes all kinds.

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com