John Chester is one of the most talented filmmakers in this country! And John has embarked on a journey that will transform all our lives: "Random-1" is a series of true stories about the adventures of John, his partner Andre Miller and the random strangers they meet. The saga begins as they set out in a 1973 pick-up to test a simple idea: chance encounters can change the course of a person's life. To test this theory, their goal is to help random people in absolutely any way possible. After breaking down a person’s defensive walls and soliciting a compelling life story, a seemingly shy and simple offer is extended to the stranger.
“Is there anything in your life that could be made better, something you need, maybe even a goal or a dream we could help you with?”
Think the idea lacks power? Check out the site for yourself at www.random1.com. Here's what one investor had to say about the concept in an email to John recently:
John:
Likewise, a pleasure for me, as always! I do think you have created something that has a chance to tap into some pretty core American myths, with a good dose of modern interpretation blended in. The offering up of a chance to pursue a dream is fundamental to the American opportunity; along with the dream, however, goes the companion myth that you must earn your dreams by taking the risks associated with their pursuit and following through. The show has the intelligence to be about people actually confronting the choice of what it takes to pursue a dream.
You, Andre, and the RV aren't fairy godpeople who simply drop into someone's life and grant
a wish. In fact, it's very much the opposite. You engage with someone and give them an offer, no more and no less than that. What they do with the offer is up to them. And the show will play out that choice and its myriad responses. I think this aspect is why it's important for the show to include segments where people bail out on you, are ultimately unable to embrace the opportunity.
Achieving the American dream is not a give, after all, it takes grit, gumption, and courage, with a dash of idealistic optimism (this is why Millicent was so taken by Amber and so diappointed by the outcome; Amber seems to perfectly suited to this archtype!). This entire issue of someone's being given an opportunity and having to make some important decisions is
fundamental to the rather complex American myth of individual responsibility and the old Puritan free will, coupled with the critically important American sense of limitless possibility. In my view, this is what you are depicting, in a very modern, dramatic, and entertaining way. Of course, the other layers here are also valuable, specifically the road show aspect of it. The American myths of mobility and self-invention are inextricably intertwined with limitless possibility.
You and Andre, travelling around, encountering people, giving them choices, the chance to self-invent, this dramatic interplay fits perfectly into a framework that most Americans, perhaps without even consciously identifying what is being tapped into, will
find themselves relating to and engaged with. The fact that you are a diverse group of vagabonds, the ol'Huck Finn and Jim floating down the river as we discussed, only adds to the appeal. And there is also the relationship-building aspect of it: people eyeing you and Andre, trying to decipher your true purpose, deciding whether to trust you. And finally there is the internal relationship among the Random 1 team. You must all emerge as characters, and as characters people will want to watch!
Guerilla Philanthropy, baby!!! Doing good without being wimps! Gritty goodness!!! Camo T-shirts with hearts!!!!!!!
Best:
PLB
Couldn't have said it any better myself. John is still looking to complete a round of financing for some production elements and to jumpstart a web project related to the program.
-Tuna Boat
posted by Brian Altounian @ 10:47 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home