Back some twenty years now, I had an idea for a reality TV show after watching an episode of Big Brother. I developed the idea and started pitching it back in 2018. I think it the first thing I pitched on here actually. I call it The Crucible. Where 10/12 Musical Theatre contestants compete for a place in a major West End/Broadway Musical The Hook, like Big Brother/Love Island, the contestants live, rehearse, and perform live together.
The other week I saw, on British TV a new show called Mamma Mia - I have a dream where 14 musical theatre contestants compete for a chance to star in the West End show Mamma Mia. The contestants live, rehearse, and perform live together
Similar? No, pretty much spot on with minor variance. Two people have pretty much the same idea, what are the chances?
I have pitched and consulted on the The Crucible (originally called House of Dreams and the Theatre of Dreams) over the years but never got anything further than a TV Bible request and yet clearly the idea was good enough to make it onto TV. I guess it's all about those connections. The right contacts, right time, right place, right person.
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I read somewhere that there are only five, I think it was said, movie ideas and every movie ever since has been a variation of those five originals. So, can anything be truly original?
Simon
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The same thing happened to me, Simon Hartwell. I think our scripts can be truly original, but we have to really think hard about our ideas and try to find fresh angles.
One thing I do sometimes when I come up with an idea (to try and make it original) is test out the same story goal with different protagonists, obstacles, and stakes. Or I'll test out the same protagonist, obstacles, and stakes with a different story goal.
One thing writers can do is look at situations, movies, etc. and think "What if?" Or do a double "What if?" ("What if this happens AND this happens?").
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Originality does not pay; execution does.
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Everything has a new spin, twist, and re-imaging. Just read a good script the other night that had echoes of 'Hamlet' and Hitchcock's 'Rebecca' in it. The writer didn't know what I was talking about.
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I think there's a distinction between original stories and original re-telling of those stories, Simon Hartwell. Yes, every story has been told. There are no new stories. BUT, it's the re-telling of those same core stories that make them original, even fresh. How and why they are told separates them one from another.
This reminds me of the old Hollywood maxim, "Give me the same thing but different."
One well know example is Avatar, which is a reimagined Dancing With Wolves. Same story, that was undoubtedly told even before Dancing With Wolves, but expressed in a different way.
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At its base, nothing is original. As you add nuance things can get “different”, but not original, as they have a non-original base.
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It’s crazy when you think about it right, I think more formats are designed to catch us and our interests in certain ways subconsciously so I think that it’s fairly likely we will come up with the same/similar ideas. I mean as you stated, it was inspired from an episode of big brother.
Point is though, it was a good idea!
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Hey, Simon, did you check the credits for Mamma Mia to see if any of the producers, EP's were people you pitched to? Just out of interest...
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Thank you all for your comments. @Matt. I did but didnt find 'a smoking gun.' I did email one of the Producers and emailed the contact address of the show itself, I felt so sure, but with a cooler head my frustration is the show not doing it right! Lol. My idea was a nightly show like Big Brother/Love Island so we saw more of the interplay between the contestants and had a wicked twist lol.
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I wrote my first script back in 2001 as an semi-homage to the bully we had at high school only to discover I've made a Donnie Darko spinoff. Many "original" ideas get compromised subconsciously... and I think it's not bad thing, but actually fascinating.
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@Kiril. Exactly, I can see that easily happening. As Lindbergh mentioned a script with hints of Hamlet, and I didn't know of the link between Avatar and Dances with Wolves. I have to go watch Dances with Wolves now. Lol.
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@Ty. I took a look at Avatar and Dances with Wolves and read there were a number of claims against that movie. Ferngully was mentioned, written works too, and more. Which I think supports the thread, audiences/industry like the familiarity of the story, told in a new fresh way. The original Scream movie, I think, is a great example of that.
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It merely reinforces the old saying, "Great minds think alike." And there are only 7 stories. Everything else is a variation.
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Here's as close I can personally get to being original with an ?unscripted? reality tv show:
Title: Truman Show Delusion
When FIVE STAND-UPP COMEDIANS sufferering from TSD (Truman Show Delusion) suddenly can't get gigs and end up on the streets of L.A., a TV COMPANY gets them a place in a HOMELESS CENTRE where they can perform; in return they must - on a day to day basis - tape their lives; (a) performing, (b,) slowly 'bonding', (c) 'teaming up' to (d) 'investigate' in cin city, (e) bring to 'justice' the CULPRITS(S) that got them sacked. Letting the whole WORLD enjoy their paranoia... where slowly the audience' main question becomes "is there a larger, mindblowing, conspiracy?"
Inspired by a combined brainfart of " The Truman Show", BNN's "The Grote Donorshow", and MTV's " The Real World"
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When a scout ant finds food a thousand more will follow. Now is actually the time to remain positive, get that manager, utilize the heavy-lifting someone else did by jumping the industry wall, bringing your idea/genre into mainstream, and pitch this idea in piggyback fashion, {i.e. ..."like the British reality, Mamma Mia"}. Foreign networks (like BBC and others) always reformat successful shows for American audiences as their A-Game marketing strategy--("Hell's Kitchen and Masterchef", "Top Gear", "The Office"). If the first original run series is successful, you will see it hit U.S. streets in 2 years or less. Make it now your marketing strategy and beat them to the punch!
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Pidge Jobst Great Idea. I'll review those I pitched that are in the USA and can highlight the success of Mamma Mia - Living the Dream here in the UK.