(no subject)

[lagilman]

I...really just don't know what to say about this. On the one hand, yay for making writers and readers stars! On the other... can we say probable trainwreck of fantastic proportions?


May 23rd, 2007
The Ultimate Author, America’s newest reality show is holding a casting call on June 16, in Fort Lauderdale. They are looking for contestants who can write clearly and concisely. They want competitors who have the ‘gift of gab’ and lots of personality. The winner of The Ultimate Author will win a book deal.

Miami, Florida – The Ultimate Author is America’s newest reality show and it promises to be a winner among viewers. Producers are looking for avid readers, aspiring writers, published authors, and journalists to participate in the casting call. Auditions for the show will be held on June 16, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., at the Hilton Garden Inn, 180 SW 18 Avenue, Dania Beach, Florida, which is only five minutes from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.

“There are millions of readers in the world who are looking for a reality show that appeals to their favorite form of entertainment,” said Lauren Spicer, executive producer of The Ultimate Author and the creator of the SpiceRackBooks Series. “This show will be upbeat, humorous and inspiring. We’re looking for contestants who can write clearly and concisely. We need competitors who have the ‘gift of gab’ and lots of personality.”

The winner of The Ultimate Author will win a book deal. They will work alongside industry professionals to promote their book and learn the trade for one year.

According to Spicer, the show was created to attract young adults who don’t think of reading as a form of entertainment. She plans to use her experience as a broadcast television producer to make the show interesting and exciting.

“Instead of the one-hour format for most reality shows, The Ultimate Author will be a 30-minute program,” said Spicer. “Eight contestants will enter into a challenge that will test their mental capacity and physical ability.”

Show producers are also looking for eight graphic artists and two advertising/marketing firms to assist contestants in the competition. They must also audition for the program. All contestants and participants must be at least 21 years old.

To register for the casting call, RSVP to castingcall@theultimateauthor.com.
Walk-ins will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. For details regarding the show, sign onto the website and view the trailer at www.TheUltimateAuthor.com.

For product placement opportunities, contact Lauren Spicer at LaurenSpicer@theultimateauthor.com

www.TheUltimateAuthor.com

Comments

[pbray.livejournal.com]

It's not the first time someone has had this idea.

There's apparently a "Publish My Book" show in Britain, produced by the brother of Simon Cowell, which is supposed to debut this summer. There's also the 2006 experiment "Book Millionaire", of which enough said. Writer Beware posted about them here http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2007/04/victoria-strauss-news-of-weird-publish.html

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

"Physical abilities????" What the hell kind of physical abilities does a writer need? Speed typing perhaps? The strength to heave their typewriter or laptop into the garbage when the words just won't come? The physical ability to restrain themselves from strangling their friends and family members who continue to ask them when they'll appear on Oprah or when the movie will come out?

[lagilman]

I just assumed that they were talking about their ability to consume massive quantities of booze....

[arouraleona.livejournal.com]

It's television, that's just a subtle way of saying, "please don't be ugly and fat, we have to show you to a viewing public not used to seeing such things in their stars"

[onyxhawke.livejournal.com]

You're evil.

I admire that in a person.

If i wrote, i'd enter..... but the being fat and ugly part would keep me from winning.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Speaking as somebody whose daughter refuses to go to Take Your Daughter To Work Day because "All you do is type, and I can see that at home..." I'm thinking this is going to be a ratings bomb... or completely irrelevant to writing. Based on "We need competitors who have the ‘gift of gab’ and lots of personality.”", I'm guessing it's the latter.

[kalligraphy.livejournal.com]

Ultimate Author is America’s newest reality show and it promises to be a winner among viewers.

Of course you think this. Would you intentionally make a show you think will be a failure? However I do have to admit that the satement is true, since anyone who chooses to be a viewer, apparently likes it. Like wise I would say it is a loser among non-viewers.

Ultimate Author will win a book deal

Because Publish America will print anything!

the show was created to attract young adults who don’t think of reading as a form of entertainment.

Because people who don't care about reading would be interested in a show about books? Did I miss something there? What about people who don't think of reality TV as a form of entertainment? Do you think they will be interested in watching your show too?

Eight contestants will enter into a challenge that will test their mental capacity and physical ability.

In last weeks immunity challenge the authors were tested to hand write their manuscripts until only one person without writer's cramp remained! Tonight on The Ultimate Author the contestants will be faced with a new challenge. Forced to stand one footed on an upright 4x4 while typing chapter 5 into their challenge laptops. A test of both balance and endurance, who will win the immunity challenge and be guarenteed a chance to move and perhaps win.... THE ULTIMATE AUTHOR!

[barbara-ferrenz.livejournal.com]

The only thing more boring than the majority of reality shows is watching someone write. (But I am a Survivor junkie.)

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

Since I just finished reading Thursday Next: First Among Sequels, which has a subplot about literary Reality Shows (in this case regarding the characters of Pride and Prejudice, the article you pointed out caused a bit of cognitive dissonance.

[nycdeb.livejournal.com]

oh. my. god

[debg.livejournal.com]

Kill. me. now.

[onyxhawke.livejournal.com]

Just watch the auditions, that should do it...

[debg.livejournal.com]

wakes up screaming about Judith Regan being one of the judges

[onyxhawke.livejournal.com]

I'm sure we could come up with a worse list... Certain people i've seen behaving inanely at conventions. Among them the person who claimed to be a "Marketing Guru" and that she was doing something "totally new" and wring from an "unprecedented" pov in SF/F. She was writing from the POV of the dog.

This was in the last two years, from someone old enough to know better...

[debg.livejournal.com]

She could always point at Anne Rice. "Hey, SHE wrote one from JESUS' pov!"

Brrrrrrr.

[kefiraahava.livejournal.com]

*boggle*

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

I so smell scam.

Victoria wrote this up on Writer Beware a while back and there were lots of questions that had no answers.

I am however gonna bet that a lot of people will show up with that little bit of hope that they will be published.

[rhonawestbrook.livejournal.com]

Pyisical abilities????? They don't read for entertainment? WTF?

This ought to be interesting though...LOL

[music-lover3.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm...Not sure how the show will do, but it sounds interesting.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

No good can come of this except MY OWN ENJOYMENT OF LAUGHING AT PEOPLE. Bwa ha ha ha.

[sfmarty.livejournal.com]

A show built for Harlan?

brrrr

[vincam.livejournal.com]

What on God's earth do "gift of gab" or "physical ability" have to do with writing? Or even storytelling? Even if it's not a train wreck, it'll be offensive to those of us who are real authors. Even the idea of an audience "looking for a reality show" makes me go, "Huh?" People watch reality shows BECAUSE they're train wrecks and they can't not look.

Yeesh.