Secret Studio, an exciting new high stakes hidden camera game show format created by the TV Entertainment department of the NFTS, is to be developed by Warner Bros. International Television Production as part of a first look deal.
In the format, one contestant answers tough questions and faces their deepest fears in order to walk away with life-changing money – or so they think! The real game is one of psychology, perception and prediction. Each week an unsuspecting ‘mark’ plays an entirely hoaxed game show within a game show called Hell to Pay. Their family and friends secretly watch their loved one from a secret studio and have to predict the ‘mark’s’ behavior in order to win the grand prize. The format was created by students on the NFTS Producing and Directing TV Entertainment MA course James Spokoini (Co-Producer/Format) and Sipho Sondiyazi (Co-Director/Format).
The school has a first look option deal with Warner Bros. International Television Production who viewed all of the students’ graduation game shows before selecting Secret Studio.
“The NFTS course delivers some of the most creative and brightest minds into the TV world. The chance to work with them and their ideas from the earliest stages, taps into Warner Bros.’ ethos of partnering with great talent. Secret Studio showed the most exciting potential from this year’s entries. It is original, well-structured and we feel it’s a concept that will travel well internationally,” said Andrew Zein, SVP, Creative, Format Development and Sales WBITVP.
James Spokoini, Secret Studio Producer and format co-creator, said: “Sipho and I are delighted that Warner Bros. has shown such enormous faith in the pilot and this is fitting testament to the hard work of the production team, crew and department staff who assisted with it. We are confident that in their hands there is every chance for this witty & innovative format to be delivered to air."
James Spokoini graduated from the NFTS in 2014 and has since formed a production company - Bad Accent Television - alongside fellow NFTS graduate Max Bulgheroni.
The NFTS’ Televisions Entertainment department is headed by David G Croft (Shooting Stars, Baddiel's Syndrome, Live Aid, Top of The Pops & Crystal Maze) and enjoys close links with the Television industry. Its graduates have previously been commissioned to make an entertainment documentary (Sexters) that was broadcast on Channel 5, won the Critics Award and the Unscripted Pilot Awards at the New York Television Festival 2013 and have this year the Royal Television Society Student Award for a post graduate TV Entertainment production (Killer Moves).
Warner Bros. and Zodiak Media both offer scholarships for TV Entertainment courses.
David G Croft said: “The industry is taking the work that TV students are making seriously and considering it with a professional sensibility that recognises the quality and execution of ideas is up there with professional production companies.”
Read David G Croft's Blog on why TV industry is starting to sit up and take notice of post graduate's productions.
Read James Spokioni's Blog on how he got his 'big break' in TV here.
Apply by June 5th deadline for Producing and Directing Television Entertainment MA course here
