The Real Car Share, a show created by NFTS Directing and Producing Television Entertainment MA students, has been optioned by Zig Zag Productions, one of the UK’s foremost independent television production companies. (Applications are open for the MA until July 6th - more at www.nfts.co.uk/tvent)
Directed by Anastazia Pieniazek and produced by Jules Braunstein, The Real Car Share was snapped up by Zig Zag Productions after they saw it at the NFTS TV Entertainment Showcase at Channel 4 in March 2017.
Ana and Jules wanted to come up with a ‘simple but effective and funny show that added a twist on existing formats we love like Gogglebox’ and Jules points out that they ‘had the idea before Peter Kay’s Car Share hit our screens!’
About The Real Car Share (Director, Anastazia Pieniazek; Producer, Jules Braunstein)
What happens if you shove a bunch of total strangers in a car together for the first time?
Watch the drama unfold in The Real Car Share as people journey across the UK, sharing petrol costs and personal space. There are 6 car share journeys, 3 drivers and plenty of banter. No subject is off limits. After 2 hours on the road, will they become car-sharing converts? Or are we about to witness a social car crash?
Andy Scott, Head of Entertainment, Zig Zag Productions says: “The mix of brilliant characters thrust together into a fast-paced, funny three car journey makes this show irresistible. We’re very pleased to have had the opportunity to see it first at the NTFS screening and to be able to take it to market.”
Jules: “The Real Car Share puts real people at the heart of entertainment. As programme-makers, we want to ensure high production values and measures are put in place in order to create quality entertainment. At the same time, there's little complex TV wizardry here – it’s the contributors on screen that viewers engage with. We are, as individuals, all unique in our personalities and, whatever our life story, we all have something interesting or witty to share. In making the show, we wanted to capture the moments when perfect strangers - from all walks of life and with different personalities - meet for the first time, open up about themselves and start to form relationships. And we wanted do this in a very ordinary and relatable setting. There’s magic in the simplicity of interesting people engaging with one another.”
The Tech
Using the latest in fixed-rig technology, this show is the first of its kind to be produced at the NFTS. Requiring specialist equipment, Ana & Jules had to source five Marshall CV502-M Mini Cams with lenses and suction mounts, and five portable 240 PIX Sound and Video Recorders. As this kind of hi-spec technology needed for The Real Car Share is used for broadcast television and is limited in number, they knew they’d be competing with TV production companies to get their hands on it in time (and with a nominal budget)! The team was able to agree a great deal with PROCAM, who were incredibly helpful by providing a few free extras and running through everything on a test day ahead of filming.
Where are they now?!
Following a successful work placement, Ana is now a junior researcher in Entertainment Formats at BBC studios. Jules is currently working in production as a researcher for Sky Arts' most popular show, Artist of the Year.
The NFTS Crew:
Production Manager, Sonia Hoogenstraaten; Camera, Del Nadjafi, Kartik Ralhan, Matt Murnaghan; Sound Recordist, Emilio Pascual; Graphic Designer, Jake Ferris; Sound Editors & Dubbing Mixers, Sam Boulton, Morgan Muse; Composer, Hollie Buhagiar; Colourist & Online Editor, Alex Davies
If you would like to follow in Ana and Jules’ footsteps, apply for the NFTS Directing and Producing Television Entertainment MA by 6th July - www.nfts.co.uk/TVEnt
