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Happy Holidays and Seasons Greetings!
I hope everyone out there is having a wonderful holiday season. There are going to be some repeats coming up on the program - so if I repeat myself or end up reposting a blog, that's why. Keep your eyes open for a repeat of the pilot - if you missed it, now's your chance to catch up! Here's what I had to say about that one...
Episode 1 of LIFE IS WILD is, in fact, the “pilot” of the show (edited for the date change - will RE-AIR...) on the CW Network - I'm sure you've already put that on your calendar! As most of you know, many pilots are made each year, but few get the opportunity to continue and to make more episodes. In addition, in many instances, pilots get re-shot, sometimes extensively, in order to accommodate cast changes and script revisions. This was doubly true for our pilot. Both Stephanie Niznik and I were replacements for the original parents in the pilot AND extensive script changes were made to improve the show. I will touch on some of those script changes as I discuss the pilot and as far as the “re- casting” process goes, I have, in my career, been replaced and now I am the “re-placer”. Life goes on and good actors, like the ones no longer with this show, will continue to thrive.
The tough thing about a pilot is that you have to tell a really compelling story (one good enough for a network to want to continue telling) AND you have to introduce a whole army of new characters. I think our pilot does both quite well. It really helps when you have a strong and simple premise to operate from. WE’RE MOVING TO SOUTH AFRICA TO CHANGE OUR LIVES. Simple enough. Oh wait. WE’RE MOVING TO SOUTH AFRICA WITH TEENAGERS AND SO OUR CHANGED LIVES ARE STILL GOING TO BE MADDENINGLY AFFECTED BY THEIR TEEN-AGE PROBLEMS. Check.
The classic story of the “fish out of water” never grows old. In our case, it is made more interesting by the fact that the new “water” that our fish find themselves in is populated by the most amazing animals and people you have ever seen. There is simply nothing to be said
about the first time you walk up to and actually touch an elephant. Nothing can describe the feeling of awe and amazement. Nothing. Hopefully that is a sense that the audience will come away with from our first show. Not just how WEIRD everything is for us as we land in Africa, but also how stunned we all are by the sheer majesty of our surroundings. To that point, a scene was written for our “improved” pilot in which the family, just after arriving in Africa, stumbles upon a particularly large wild animal. Check out this scene when you watch the show and let me know what you think.
Just a final word on what to look for in the pilot and, in general, in our show. Look at the landscape, the people, and this world that most of you have never seen before on a network show or perhaps ever and ENJOY IT! And once you've seen it, let me know what you think. I love feedback!
I look forward to your comments and questions and will stay in touch with you throughout the broadcast season.
Cheers from the Northwest Province....South Africa
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Dec 26, 2007 10:54 AM
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