After receiving a record-setting 12,000 video submissions at TheLot.com from aspiring filmmakers around the globe, 50 semi-finalists have been selected for the new filmmaking competition series “On the Lot” from Mark Burnett, Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks Television. In the two “audition round” episodes airing Tuesday, May 22 (9:00-10:00 pm ET/PT) and Thursday, May 24 (9:30-10:00 pm ET/PT) on Fox, these semi-finalists will discover the magic of moviemaking when they are brought to Los Angeles to visit a real-life film set for the first time and must endure a rigorous “Hollywood Boot Camp.” A special panel of judges, including actress/author Carrie Fisher (“Star Wars,” Postcards From the Edge) and director/producers Brett Ratner (Rush Hour 3), Garry Marshall (Georgia Rule) and Jon Avnet (Fried Green Tomatoes, Risky Business), will begin the process by screening the contestants’ personal submission films and evaluating their attempts at a Hollywood-style “pitch” meeting. Other projects include a “24-Hour Film Shoot,” where the contestants must shoot and edit a short film in a 24-hour period; and a “one-page, one-hour” film shoot, where they will have an hour to film a one-page scene with the help of professional directors of photography, camera and sound operators and actors. After the judges give their ultimate feedback, the Top 18 Finalists will move on to compete in the first “Film Premiere” episode.
A special two-hour “Film Premiere” episode, featuring the first films produced by the 18 finalists, will air Monday, May 28 (8:00-10:00 pm ET/PT) on Fox. It will be up to the American public to determine the first finalists to be eliminated from the competition; voting results will be announced the following night on the expanded first “Box Office” results show Tuesday, May 29 (8:00-9:00 pm ET/PT). “On the Lot’s” weekly “Film Premiere” episodes air in their regular time period beginning Monday, June 4 (8:00-9:00 pm ET/PT), and the weekly “Box Office” results shows will air on Tuesdays (8:00-8:30 pm ET/PT) starting Tuesday, June 5.
The 50 “On the Lot” Semi-Finalists:
Phil A., 40, director and writer from New York City
Shawna B., 36, assistant producer at a movie trailer house, born and raised in Los Angeles, CA
Mark B., 29, editor, director and poker-player living in Los Angeles, CA, originally from McLean, VA
Jarett B., 29, music-video and commercial director, born and raised in Northport, NY
James B., 34, freelance writer and director living in Bristol, England
Will B., 31, film editor, originally from Canyon, TX, currently living in Glendale, CA
Jessica B., 22, computer specialist, grew up in York, PA, currently living in Brooklyn, NY
Jarrett C., 24, graduate student living in Los Angeles, originally from Virginia Beach, VA
Jeremy C., 30, creative services manager for an animation distribution company, from St. Louis, MO, raised in Highland, IL
Michael C., 22, freelance commercial director from Bloomfield, MI, currently residing in Chicago, IL
Opie C., 31, creative director raised in Biloxi, MS, currently living in Jackson, MS
Karla Jean D., 25, tape operator living in Atlanta, GA, originally from Lynchburg, VA
Tamela D., 27, singer, actress and filmmaker living in Los Angeles, raised in Deer Park, NY
Jason E., 30, owner of film production company, born and raised in Winchester, KY
Matthew E., 24, director, born and raised in Los Angeles, CA
Sam F., 27, web producer, living in Santa Monica, CA, raised in Westchester, NY.
Hilary G., 37, stay-at-home wife and mom who lives in Francestown, NH, and raised in Chelmsford, MA
Kenny G., 39, director, writer, producer, born and raised in Los Angeles, CA
Phil H., 22, born and raised in Manchester, England, works as a freelance director
Andrew H., 31, promo producer from Minneapolis, MN, raised in Pittsburgh, PA
Rahim J., 25, freelance editor/director, born and raised in Los Angeles, CA
Trever J. 24, film editor, currently living in Los Angeles, CA, and raised in Great Falls, MT
Shalini K., 30, freelance director, raised in Hartford, CT, currently living in Brooklyn, NY
Mateen K., 41, teacher, currently living in Los Angeles, CA, raised in the Bronx, NY.
Gil K., 23, development associate living in New York City, raised in Verona, NJ
Claudia L., 28, painter and graphic artist, born in Bagheria, Sicily, Italy, currently lives in Miami, FL.
Zach L., 23, special effects editor from Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Kenny L., 28, freelance director and painter, born and raised in Owego, NY.
Justin L., 24, digital post-production engineer, born and raised in Orange County, CA
Dean L., 36, writer/director, living in Los Angeles, CA, originally from New York City
Brent M., 34, freelancer producer, born and raised in Dallas, TX
Mark M., 22, film editor, born and raised in Dyer, IN
Ramsey M., 34, production sound mixer living in Los Angeles, CA, raised in Denver, CO
Tamika M., 33, freelance production supervisor, living in Los Angeles, CA, originally from Miami, FL
Marty M., 26 creative director of a multimedia company, born and raised in Seattle, WA
David M., 23, admissions counselor living in Santa Ana, CA, but grew up in Aurora, CO.
Abigail S., 37, capital campaign coordinator, living in Los Angeles, originally from Toronto
Amy S., 21, freelance director living in Los Angeles
Hannah S., 23, freelance producer/director born and raised in Raleigh, NC
Hilari S., 40, independent filmmaker living in Los Angeles, CA, raised in Chicago, Atlanta and NYC
Jeff S., 30, freelance editor, living in Los Angeles, CA, originally from Toledo, OH
Jeff S., 27, filmmaker and waiter living in San Diego, CA, originally from South Lake Tahoe, CA
Kai S., 39, actress living in Los Angeles, CA, originally from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Randy S., 29, freelance director/editor from New York City
Shira-Lee S., 38, acting teacher, born in Johannesburg, South Africa, now living in New York
Adam S., 29, freelance film editor, born in Miami, FL, currently living in Los Angeles
Daniel T., 26, special events coordinator living in Los Angeles
Adam W., 24, freelance camera operator from Birmingham, AL
Mikki W., 39, filmmaker originally from Sacramento, currently living in Los Angeles, CA
Carolina Z., 36, commercial director, originally from Santander, Spain, currently living in Los Angeles, CA
“On the Lot” is produced by Mark Burnett Productions, DreamWorks Television and Amblin Television. Mark Burnett and Steven Spielberg are creators and executive producers. David Goffin serves as executive producer with Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey and Conrad Riggs co-executive producers.
Go to TheLot.com for exclusive access to contestant films and profiles, behind the scenes footage, entertainment news, blogs, professional networking opportunities and view thousands of films or share your own films with TheLot.com community.
