<p>I was thinking it would be a great dramatized tale…retold…lots of location shots, interestingly diverse personalities and talents…in other words, real life stuff.</p>
<p>It could be a collage-type story–different paths thru teen years & early adulthood. Could be a Disney-type or Turner Classic Movies special.</p>
<p>I have been working on developing an idea for a reality show, in the vein of The Amazing Race and Treasure Hunters (a one-time reality show during the summer of 06 - did anyone but me watch it?). Can’t spill all but it involves teams, and digital cameras, and finding the “owner” of a “found” digital camera (all clues are in the camera itself). I figure to get a camera manufacturer to sponsor (duh). I know someone who is connected to a producer of The Bachelor who I could pitch the idea to. I need to flesh out the idea (be able to answer any question about the idea), and I might shoot (using hand held home variety video camera & family/friends) an “episode” or two to show it in action (mini versions of course). The premise is based on an article I read in the newspaper. </p>
<p>I’m all for TV shows, movies, short films. All of it. There are more than 350,000 hours of television a month that need to be filled (really!). That’s a LOT of programming, and a LOT of creative ideas that need to keep viewers entertained.</p>
<p>The focus of the show will is not so much on the race to find clues, but on the actual solving of the puzzle instead.</p>
<p>LOL… It’s nice to meet a real-life weeble!</p>
<p>Your high school years make a heart-warming story. How about a film based upon your experiences?</p>
<p>It is definitely worth looking at which programming sectors don’t have enough product. I don’t know much about the film and TV production industry, but I’d guess that it is less recession-sensitive than many others – ad revenues will go down in recessions and the cable or network operators can pay less for shows but they still have to have shows. If you can hit a low cost niche (and reality TV was, at least, a low cost niche) and are good at delivering what a sufficiently large audience wants, your plan sounds like a good idea.</p>
<p>As in we wobble but we don’t fall down?</p>
<p>Them’s the one!</p>
<p>“justamom,” I love your attitude. You’ve got spunk. And you’ve apparently had it all your life, love your HS story. I have a feeling you’re going to be just fine. We should all have some of your foresight and positive spirit.</p>
<p>I’ve been laid off twice, and it totally colored my attitude toward work. I know now that you can do everything asked of you and more, and out of the blue can be told, “We’re closing your department.” Unfortunately, it colored my attitude toward a career pretty badly. I spent 8 years as a SAHM (which I don’t regret), then went back to work part-time, but never went for anything that would have used my full abilities, as it would have been full-time and I wanted to be home after school. I was <em>not</em> going to sacrifice my time with my kids for a company, especially after my layoff experinence! But now I kind of wish I’d gotten over the fear of changing my life and my kids’ lives and gone after a career I wanted. At the moment I’m stuck in a part-time job that does NOT challenge me, but I don’t feel I can change jobs right now (my mother’s health is failing and my boss is very understanding if I need to leave work. Also I am eligible for health insurance, and I feel like we need to have that as a back-up insurance plan in case DH gets laid off). My kids are growing up and I’m beginning to realize I need something more fulfilling to do than my current job. It’s hard to start over at 46. </p>
<p>But perhaps I just need a little of Justamom’s feisty can-do attitude!</p>
<p>With stories like that, I don’t think you live up to your username much justamom. I’d even go so far as to say you’re “cool” ;)</p>
<p>DramaPrincess, when I named myself here, I truly felt like I was “just” a mom. That was like a photograph. A single moment in time. Now I see my user name as tongue in cheek.</p>
<p>BTW, could you give my 20 yo D a call, and tell her I’m “cool”? I’ll owe you one!</p>
<p>Lafalum84, spunk I got. It runs in my family (really). I come by it honestly.</p>
<p>Lafalum84, one more thing…this job I just lost…it was my 3rd career. Now I seem to be heading towards my 4th. I also took 5 years off when I had my D (as a single parent). Went back to work PT until she was 8, then back to FT. Took time off again when she was in HS. She “hardly” needed me between 8 & 14 (well she did, but not like when she was tiny, and again in HS as we began the transition of her “leaving” - I wanted her to know I was here for her). The day after I dropped her off at college 3000 miles away I began a job (the one I just lost). </p>
<p>Maybe writing. As I sit here I am flooded with stories. Funny, sad, touching, bizarre, filled with philosophical discovery. Maybe a collection of short stories/essays.</p>
<p>I’m currently reading Nora Ephron’s I Feel Bad About My Neck (and other thoughts on being a woman)…it’s inspiring me.</p>
<p>You’re all inspiring me.</p>
<p>Maybe I missed it earlier, but what were your various careers so far? I’m always fascinated by people who redesign their lives (by force or by choice). You seem to be very flexible as well as thoughtful, both very valuable.</p>
<p>Wow, what an interesting life you’ve led. If you’re resourceful enough to be able to have a 24 month cushion put away and to have fanaggled your way into HS, I think you won’t have any problem pulling through these tough economic times. Keep us posted. I have a feeling that your jouney will make a good read!</p>
<p>kjofkw: my first career was in theater, specifically stand up comedy. Was a time when I mingled with some “names” in the business, and was making a “name” for myself as well (and I moonlighted as a food service worker, in every capacity that entailed…waitress, busser, bartender, cocktail server, barista, and even dabbled in reconciling the daily books to make extra money). Then I was turning 30, pregnant, and decided that beginning my day at 9 o’clock at night and ending it at 11 in the morning was no longer viable, so I went to one of my old restaurant bosses (who owned 4 thriving restaurants) and was put to work as a bookkeeper and was sent to Canada to train in a new form of inventory & accounting technique using computers (those were the DOS days, and one had to know all sorts of secret “codes” to get the damn things to spit out information). By the time my D arrived I was was working on call for the 4 restaurants and Hilton Hotel (who was the 2nd group to install these systems in their restaurants), and doing the “house account” accounting for the 4 restaurants from home. When I went back to work f/t I was embraced in the accounting world (this was my 2nd career), and worked my way up a ladder to finally end up on a high rung for a Fortune 100 company as a national revenue manager. Hated it. Was good at it, but hated it. Had no formal education in accounting, but found it came naturally to me. But hated it. After almost a dozen years doing that (and did I mention hating it?), I “retired” to finally finish college, studying film making and organizational leadership, made several short films that won awards (I even had one play at Graumanns Chinese in Hollywood), and eventually landed a p/t marketing position (career 3) with an architectural firm, bringing video production into their process (my goal was to make Power Point presentations obsolete in that company). </p>
<p>I had to laugh at myself yesterday, I got excited beyond belief when I received notification from the unemployment department…my weekly benefit is actually $90 a week higher than I’d calculated. It’s sad when THAT makes your day. But hey, that differential covers my health insurance premium.</p>
<p>Oy!</p>
<p>Let’s see what’s behind door number 4</p>
<p>Justamom- I used to love to read Erma Bombeck’s articles and books. We could use some laughs along her lines again.</p>
<p>Just a Mom, I want to share your story with a dear friend of mine - we are both MDs, and if there is anywhere a group of people that is the antithesis of what you describe, it would have to be docs!
Anywho, she has a daughter is is just finishing college, who could you be your kid, rather than my friend’s, LOL. my friend worries a lot about her DD’s potential for landing on her feet - I think your history will make her feel much better, what a story.</p>
<p>Justamom,
I’ve always loved Erma Bombeck too & love reading all that you’ve done–would love it if you were an author too. You do have quite a way with prose.</p>