We had our first official Producers meeting about the new Orlando Scene TV (background) this week. Michael showed us all a trailer based on footage he and I had put together, and something funny happened inside me:
I was overjoyed that this crappy video I shot was getting used in something so professional and awesome.
Then I realised that we can bring that feeling to dozens and dozens of people every time we release a half-hour show, and a whole bunch of pieces clicked together in my head.
In order to really have the community feel like they own this thing, we have to make a pointed effort to include their contributions in every single episode, and make a call for entries loud and clear.
This isn't about UGC. This is about something more real than that. Each community member has an equal chance of creating something that makes the final product better.
Then, they will want to call their mom and their friends and tell them "turn on channel 1, watch my video on this show!"
If I can call my mom, then we have succeeded.
When there are moms calling other moms, we have reached the tipping point.
If all those moms and their kids give us a few bucks, we can quit our jobs and make this full-time. We can rent a coworking space, train new filmmakers, buy them equipment, build a network and live the dream.