Our Journey With ... The Show

Exactly one year ago, today, I began

corresponding with a production company

by sending in their arduous questionaire

as the requirement to clear the hurdle

of their "second screening" phase.

I had responded to a production teaser

(aka the first hurdle/screening)

that they had released 

for a certain kind of reality show.

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Here is that teaser:

"Are you trading in your cul-de-sac for a cabin? Or tossing the kids' toys as you plan to downsize from a McMansion to a farmhouse? A prominent television production company is developing a series to profile a family opting to trade in their status quo lifestyle for something more adventurous and environmentally sound. The story of a family on the verge of a decision that doesn't seem logical to many, but is nonetheless in line with their own convictions."

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And here was my initial response to that teaser:

 

We are inheriting 80 acres of raw land (no electricity/no shelter/no water) in the rolling hills of Oklahoma's National Grasslands ... it was the original family homestead, and no one has lived on the land in over 50 years.

We are already wanting to make an unconventional move, and everyone close to us thinks we are deranged.

We plan on selling our mortgaged home (in a central location of Abilene, Texas) and moving out into the middle of nowhere in Oklahoma ... moving away from being right smack-dab in the middle of a city to being 30+  miles from the closest grocery store.

We dream of building our home by hand, with NO mortgage, and implementing earthen plasters along with other natural/old-fashioned construction modalities. We also plan on gardening and raising livestock for food.

Nothing in our past experience has prepared us for this radical lifestyle change ... we are born and raised as instant gratification-seeking, spoiled citizens ... and, so, we are relying solely upon determination and disgust to propel us forward with our revolutionary dreams.

We have already begun downsizing, and are shifting our focus toward Voluntary Simplicity, and this mindset is foreign to everyone around us but we are wanting to proceed for many reasons.

Please send me the questionaire so we can be screened as potential participants, and please send me more information detailing your production's hypothesis (assuming this is a new endeavor.)

Thank you,

B-Crow 

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----- Forwarded Message ----

From: XXXXXXX
To: ~mc~
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 10:08:51 AM
Subject: Re: Trading in Status Quo Lifestyle for Voluntary Simplicity

Hi Brooke,

Thank you so much for responding to our posting. I must say, your email was exactly what I was hoping we'd receive.

I am with two production companies that joined forces a few years back: Marc Summers Productions and Shooters Post & Transfer.

You might recognize Marc Summers' name; he hosted the Nickelodeon series "Double Dare" throughout the 1980s and 90s, and now hosts Food Network's "Unwrapped."

Shooters Post & Transfer is a long-standing post-production facility currently working on a number of feature films (http://www.shootersinc.com/).

Together, the two companies developed and produce the hit Food Network series, "Dinner: Impossible," and have a second series that will premiere in 2010.

Our development department is currently working on a few new show concepts that are in various stages, and that we hope to pitch to networks in the near future. One of these is about a family opting to leave status quo living in favor of something different and new. 

We're looking for a few families who fit the bill and who we can ultimately use as examples when we pitch the series to the network.

You've already told me a good bit about yourselves. Could you also answer the following questions within the attachment, and return them to me with a photo of your family? At that point, we'll set up a phone call if our interest grows.

Thanks so much, Brooke. I'm excited about the possibility of this being a good fit!

XXXXXXX  XXXXXX
Producer, Marc Summers Productions/Shooters Post & Transfer

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Our Journey With The Show

will be continued .....

Stay Tuned.

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