Twelve Is Not Enough

A Television Pilot Creation Project

The Teams

The producers here at Masconomet Regional Television (WMRT) have decided to schedule a television series for next fall based on the Greek pantheon. You are the pool of writers that have been hired to write the first four episodes of the test series. All of the writers in the pool are to be divided up randomly into groups that will be in competion to be the team that will be put in charge of the series. You are a team. Work at it. The better you work together, the more profitable your colaboration will be.

Team Task

Each team is commissioned to come up with four episodes of the night time television series that will be called Twelve Is Not Enough. There is no clear idea about what the series should be about except that the producers envision a prime time soap opera that is loosely based on the relationships of the twelve gods of the Greek pantheon. The series will be an ensemble piece similar to E.R. or NYPD Blue. You have twelve characters to use as you wish, but you must base them upon the twelve gods of the Greek pantheon. For the time being you will even call the characters by the Greek names of the gods. You may set the series where ever you choose and in whatever time period you choose. You must decide what will sell on TV.

Keep in mind that the modern style of television series is to have simultaneous plot lines in each episode. Each show should have at least three plot lines that are complementary. (For instance, Episode One might have the theme of betrayal where Zeus cheats on his wife Hera with the Dean of the local agricultural college, Demeter; another might have Hermes trick his friend Apollo into falling in love with another woman; a third involves the local mortician Hades attempt to lure the college dean's daughter into leaving home and living with him.) Each episode must build on the one before it, but the last episode need not have complete closure because there will be more episodes to come in the future.

Requirements:

4 Episodes

3 Plot lines in each episode (a plot line may be contined to the next episode) that share a common theme.

12 Characters (All twelve of the pantheon should be accounted for even if not all are given major parts. Each of the gods should be identified in the context of your series even if the character is not given much to do.)

1 Story board or presentation to convince the producers you have the show that will garner the ratings.

1 Oral presentation by a member or members of your team to sell the producers on the idea.

All characters should have a logical relationship to the gods in the pantheon. Poseidon's profession should be a ship owner or sailor or even weatherman or seismologist who loves to sail on the weekends, but he should not be a surgeon or farmer.

Rewards

WMRT has budgeted $1,000,000 to the creation of these four episodes. The budget has been allocated this way:

For the team chosen to write the series: $250,000

Second Place: $200,000

Third Place: $100,000

Fourth Place: $100,000

Bonuses, consultation fees, additional groups: $350,000.

Each group will be allowed to vote on what percentage of the monies allocated should go to each member of the team. For instance, an outstanding member of the team could be voted a 40% share of the money while the remaining members would share the rest. Non-working members could be voted a smaller percentage of the fees.

Groups that impress the producers and finish ahead of schedule will be eligible for appointments as consultants ot other groups. Consultants will receive additional fees from the budget. These consultants may also be given editorial power over the other teams. Earning additional money will help ensure a higher grade.

Bonuses (As always, all bonus amounts are subject to the whims and budgets of the producers):

Meeting your deadlines.

Getting another team to meet its deadline.

Getting another team to have success.

Peer allocation. Teams will vote on how much of a bonus the consultant should get for his or her efforts on their behalf.

Creativity bonus.

 

Grading

Writers will be graded based upon how much money each accumulates during the course of the project. Meeting deadlines, consulting and creative energy will all be rewarded financially and ultimately through grades. The student with the most money will get the highest grade. The highest grade will be determined by the quality of group work and presentations involved. In general, A+ is the high grade, but it is conceivable that the high grade of a group of writers might not be that high if the all of the work submitted and all of the efforts made by the teams is substandard. This is a rare and unfortunate circumstance, but it can happen. Be aware.

Objectives

Through this project I hope to acquaint you with the characteristics of the gods and goddesses. By learning about the cast of characters for your television show you will learn about the characters in Greek mythology. Further, I would like to help you learn some lessons aobut group dynamics. Those who display creative energy will gain position and rank. Those whose groups to not have sufficient forward motion will lose their freedom to choose hteir own course of action. Your work and creative skills will not only be judged by the teacher, but by the people who depend upon you. What you display in your own team may or may not translate into success when you are put in charge of another team. Changing teams changes the dynamics of the group. Being a team member is not the same as being a team leader. These are some of the lessons I hope you will learn through the course of this project.