Trend: User-Created: Web Video Reality Show

The New York Times reports that Steven Spielberg will join forces with Mark Burnett to find the "American Idol" of unknown movie directors.

According to Burnett, the FOX reality TV show, “In the Lot,” will “take advantage of the enormous number of self-made video and film shorts all over the Internet.”

The prize for the winner will be a studio deal at DreamWorks; all the partners in the show, including Fox, will retain a stake in whatever is produced, Mr. Burnett said.

AKI COMMENT: Once again, I refer you to "jumping the shark". Yeah, I get it, lots of web directors, lots of creativity unbound. I am the User-Created cheerleader if there is one. BUT THE FLAWS HERE:

1) Web movies are an interesting couple minutes of refreshing diversion and humour (or even insight) from hundreds (millions) of alternative voices. I know all these tools have created so much transparancy and empowerment...but a webclip about a guy flipping a bird at the McD's wearing a BK mask is sorta-kinda the extent of the message - GOING "BEHIND THE SCENES" FOR THIS IS LIKE VIEWING A POWERPOINT DECK FOR YOUR KID'S KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE.

2)THE PRIZE. Let's be real...awarding what will be a TRADITIONAL STUDIO DEAL AT DREAMWORKS is lofty and all, but DREAMWORKS IS JUST NOT EQUIPPED TO MANAGE OR EXPLOIT WEB MOVIE ENTERTAINMENT NOR DEVELOP THESE TYPES OF CREATIVES. Sure, they know how to put excerpts of Shrek on the internet (maybe some behind-the-scenes clips?) BUT THIS DON'T MAKE ONE FLUENT AT BEING A WEB-DIRECTED STUDIO. THE MERE FACT THAT THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD EVEN THINK TO BROADCAST A SHOW ABOUT PIONEERING WEB MOVIE PRODUCTION IS ON PRIMETIME TV IS OUR FIRST WARNING SIGN! THERE IS LITTLE TO SUGGEST THIS KID CAN DIRECT A TRADITIONAL STUDIO MOVIE (NOR SHOULD HE), AND DREAMWORKS DOES NOTHING SMALLER THAN PUSH BIG STUDIO LEVEL WORK...so why create a misalignment when we know better? Everyone, Stay In Your Lanes!

THE LEAPS AT TRYING TO EXPLOIT SOMETHING THAT IS ORGANICALLY BLOOMING IS CLEARLY VERY SEDUCTIVE - AND POTENTIALLY DOOMING ITSELF TO FAILURE. BUT IMPORTING TRADITIONAL FILTERS AND METHODS ON TOP OF SOMETHING THAT CLEARLY DON'T FIT IS JUST DUMB. Let's use users responsibly!