Ferraris for TV show

Hey everyone,

I have been looking into producing a TV show centered around cars and parts for a long time. I finally started doing some research with Comcast cable and it is more reasonable than I thought to get it on TV. They put it on air and give you 96 commercials a month that run on various networks at various times thoughout the day. This is all free when you agree to run a one hour show a week on channel 15 in the Portland area and I will also be looking into running it in two other locations like LA and Florida.

Here is my concerns. Content. I have a lot of ideas for the show but I want to make sure that I can get the main focus, a cool car, per episode. I am looking into a $1 million policy that will cover me driving other people's cars so if something should happen, they don't have to pay for it. I have been getting things together to take to companies like Northwest Investment and dealers like that so I know that the cars will be there when I need them. My question is do you think, yourself or others, would be interested in letting us use your personal Ferrari for an episode?

Here is my other concern. Advertising. When you buy an hour it is your hour. I can run a full hour or sell spots for commercials. So here is my idea. I get 96 commercials a month and of those 96 I can run different versions in different areas like Southwest Washington, North Portland, etc. So my thought is to have a 20 or 25 sec. commercial about the TV show and then have a picture of someone's business and say, "this weeks show brought to you by xxxxx". This would allow me to sell these spots also. So as a monthly package a company would get 16 of these mini commercials and 4 30 sec. commercials during the show for a total of 20 spots on TV for an introductory price of $200 a month. Regular price would be $400 but I don't know that I would ever go to that point. My question is, do you think businesses would go for this? Again the mini commercials would air on channels like the History channel, discovery, etc. Only the 4 30 sec commercials would be on channel 15.

So any feekback would be appreciated.
_________________
Jason Godsil
[email protected]
www.SeriousOverkill.com
1-866-Overkill (683-7545)

 

"letting"?

 

Basically it would entail a walk-around and a drive, nothing performance. So about two hours of filming the car total with about two miles of driving.

 

I produce Films, Commercials, TV shows and the like.
So I have a few questions for you.
Like, of what quality is the show going to be?
I know most people would say "Oh it will look great, with exotic cars and such"... but have you sat down and priced what it will cost to produce an hour long show that people will actually sit down and watch?
From writing to graphics creation, video editing, audio voiceover, music selection, shooting and field audio/wireless mics, proper lighting, location scouting, insurance, and so forth.
Any idea how long it takes to edit down footage into a good looking hour long product?
Or were you just planning on putting together yet another amateur looking Comcast low dollar show that nobody watches?

 

I know it won't be easy. The editing software I am looking at is the Abobe Premiere Pro and the cameras I am looking at are the Canon XL-2. I am going to buy two cameras so I can get two angles on everything shot.

 

And exactly who is going to be operating the cameras while you are driving?

I hate to say it, but I don't see much qualified technical thought being put into the show.
It takes more than a couple of prosumer camcorders and a video editing application to produce an hour long show of any quality.
If the show looks like a homemade product of poor quality most will not watch it,
but more importantly businesses will not want to be associated with it for fear that their business will be judged by the standard of the show.
But if your just doing this for fun, then go for it!

By the way, comcast likes the shows they air to be submitted on Beta SP,
so add another $10k to your budget for a Beta SP VTR.
Oh and then to get a broadcast video signal out from Abobe Premiere Pro you will need a broadcast video production card for the analog component input of the Beta SP deck, as you will probably only have the standard 5:1 compressed firewire connection from the XL2 to your computer.

Good Luck!

 

Just wondering if you mistyped "renting" as "letting"?

 

Not renting more like barrowing. I would find people who would let use their car so it could be on TV. Basically I wouldn't even go for private parties. It would really be for dealerships who would get more out of the advertising than we would off of having it on the show. You know, film, drive, and "you can buy this car at so and so lot for the price of $xxx,xxx."

 

I don't think owners will be lining up somehow.

 

You is cold Dave!

I know that is what the reality is but even speilberg started out as an amature.

 

I have been looking into producing a TV show centered around cars and parts for a long time. [/QUOTE]

Hey, all the professional comments are good advice. But they somehow miss the mark. There's so much garbage on TV now - just look at the Speed Channel - that your work may easily be better. Don't worry too mucha bout the production values, you could spend a fortune on quality and still have a lousy show.

My advice is to go for it. Do a real show, one that doesn't assume that the viewer's brain is a walnut. Really talk about the cars, their engineering, history, beauty... There are almost no shows of this quality anywhere. Give it a shot - shoe string budget or not - and see what happens. Bravo for both the idea and the gumption!

 

Thank you all for your comments. I am going to persue this and it may not be spectacular in the beginning but I will learn as I go. I think people will enjoy it. Thanks again.

 

This is my idea for the first show. My business partner owns the first 2004 Saleen S7 off the line and so I will show that car. Also I know the S7 designer who only lives a few miles from me. So the first show will be center around the S7 and an interview with the designer. This way all the viewers will know exactly why this is why this is and why the car is so large.

 

Maybe you could switch to porn and advertise for men to let you film while you screw their wives?

 

I have a good friend, and very close friend of my younger brother who produces a weekly show that has been viewed on speed channel. It is right up your alley

If you would like some help , I would be more than happy to forward his name and company to you.

email me at any time, [email protected]

 

Dream Car Garage? That is actually a pretty well done show. I watch it when I can. Especially when they highlight a Ferrari! Sounds like there are some great restoration and speed shops in the Toronto area.

http://www.dreamcargarage.com/index.htm

 

Right, that sounds like a great idea. Too bad your not getting very good feedback from the owners on FChat.

So how are things, Jason?

 

Hey Doug,

I think this would be a great media for our business and a great show in general. I will be targeting more dealerships than private owners because they will want the exposure.

Anyway, where have you been? We miss you on the other board. Talk to you later.

 

Yes that is it.

I have been fortunate enough to see an drive quite a few F cars at Legendary.
The most memorable was a Gallo Fly 275GTB/4,512BB TR, Lusso.
As a matter of fact that were I sold my 308.


Peter Klutt is a good guy.

 

I'm so sorry. I have no excuse.

You'll be seeing me more again though, thats for sure. Soon.