My Pilot Proposal:Ideas and Research.

By Abbey Pallett

Genre: TV Dating Show

• The genre I have chosen to work in for my pilot is the television dating show.

A mind map of dating show conventions by me.

Research Case Study 1: Blind Date

A British dating game show produced by London Weekend Television and hosted by Cilla Black. It ran on Saturday nights

from 30th November 1985- 31 May 2003.

FormatThree singles of the same sex would be introduced to the audience. They were then questioned by a single of the opposite sex who could hear but not see them, to choose with whom they would go on a date with. Before the decision was announced, a voice ‘Graham’ would give an amusing reminder of each contestant. The single would announce the winner and the couple picked an envelope naming the destination of their date. The following episode would show the couple on their date with interviews about how it went and what they thought of each other.

Video- Blind Date

Reception

At the height of it’s popularity in the ’80s, 18.2 million people tuned in on a Saturday night. Cilla Black (the host) with her scouse accent and witty catchphrases became familiar nationwide. During the show’s history 3 weddings took place. However viewer figures did decline to 5 million by 2003 with only 2.9 million people tuning in for the final episode.

Research Case Study 2: Take Me Out

Airs on ITV 2 in the UK and Ireland. Began airing on 2nd January 2010. Pilot episode for Channel 4 in 2009. The series is produced by Thames for

ITV.

Video- Take Me Out

ReceptionHosted by Paddy McGuinness who is nationwide reknown for his catchphrases such as “No likey, no lighty!” and “Let the burger, see the bun!”

The show has proved generally popular with viewers with 3-4 million tuning in per episode.

“The Blind Matchmaker” (working title)

Tagline: Love is blind, but the audience isn’t. The Blind matchmaker will be a dating show shot in a studio with a studio audience and a

charismatic host. It will run on Saturday nights on ITV.

Format

TBM’s format will be a fusion of the shows ‘Blind Date’ and ‘Take Me Out’ mixed together to make a whole new show. The host wil

l start the show by explaining how the show works to the audience before introducing the single person (can be either sex- shows will mixed) to the audience briefly. The 5 bachelors of the

opposite sex will make their entrance with the audience responding with applause. The single person cannot see the bachelors and vice versa, they can however hear them. The

show will be separated into rounds which can be broken up by advertisement breaks.

Round 1

VT (video tape) of the single person will be played showing their what they do for a job, footage of where they live and an insight into their personality. However it will not show their face or physical appearance. The bachelors can at any point opt out of a date with the

single person by holding up a card with a red ‘X’ on it. A sound effect will also play. At the end of this round the

host will go and talk to the bachelors, querying them on why they made the decision they did.

Round 2

The remaining bachelors are allowed to ask the single person one question each to which he/she may respond. The bachelors are also able in this round to hold up their card at any point to signal they don’t wish to go on a date

Round 3

If there are any bachelors left this means that the single person will definitely have a date. At this point the single person reveals themselves and asks the remaining bachelors a question. Based on their answers he or she picks one of

the remaining bachelors by holding up the losing ones red ‘x’ cards.

Channel Identity Research

Please see annotated print version

Market Research

I created a questionnaire using survey monkey to conduct my primary market research and help me to determine who my target audience was and how I could cater to them best.

Crew

• Self shooting director• Camera operators• Lighting technicians

Cast• Host• Single candidates• Studio audience

Location Recce

• To be shot in the Television Studio at Amersham College for the majority.

• Video tapes will be shot at home- locations to be announced.

Risk Assessment

• All cords and cables must be taped down and marked clearly.

• Gloves must be used with any of the tungsten lights as they get very hot.

• The nearest hospital must be clearly stated on the call sheet.

• Ensure all fire exits are clear and accesible.• Ensure all smoke alarms are in working order• Make all crew and cast aware of the fire drill protocol.

Equipment

• ‘X’ Cards• Television screen or sheet we can project

video onto• Prompt cards (?)• Lights• Cameras• Tripods• Chairs

Budgeting

TBM is going to be a low budget production as many resources are available freely or cheaply and I plan to cover these costs myself. E.G the cost of prompt cards and ‘X’ cards.

Revenue Streams

Money can be made from the production by:• Producing merchandise- T Shirts, mugs, mouse

mats etc.• Developing an app• Running telephone/text competitions