As everyone knows, Oprah’s new network OWN recently hosted a contest to win your own TV show.
You’ve been asked by about 10,000 friends to vote on their show, yes? And you did vote, because you are such a good friend.
Actually, I believe the contest was to win a chance to compete on a reality show. If you win that, ala American Idol, the prize is 5 episodes of your own TV show.
I’m not actually sure because I’m terrible at reading rules and instructions.
Which I proved by recording a video with my daughter, which was promptly disqualified because you are not allowed to have two people in your video – which is not in the rules.
I went back and checked.
What is in the rules, front and center, is you have to be 21 to enter.
Oh.
Lilly and I were momentarily bummed to be rejected but doing the video was really about showing Lilly you can take steps to make things happen.
Because we’ve been talking about doing a mom-daughter show for 4 years. When I was still married to Lilly’s dad, who is a cinematographer, I imagined it as a way we could all travel and work together.
Here’s the thing: It’s a great idea, even an important one.
Watch the video and give me your thoughts on how we might do this on our own – not in a big scale, “get a TV show way” but in no gatekeeper small fun way that could help teenagers and parents unite in a conversation of how people find, and stay, passionate, about what they do.
Or maybe there is someone already doing this and I could point people toward their work?
I can hear Seth telling me:
There are no gatekeepers anymore Jen.” (Note: imaginary conversation.)
All thoughts on playing with this idea welcome!
Links: Oprah audition, Seth
12 responses so far ↓
1 The Other Laura Jul 12, 2010
Oh! You two are so cute.
What about a web series?
2 Holly Hunt Jul 12, 2010
I’m not sure if you are interested in the technical know how of producing your own show, but here are a few ideas.
For something like this, I would do an online show. Many consumer-level camcorders are good enough that you’d get a decent picture, but I’d say go with finding some amateur-enthusists in the area who are interested in film making. You could check out things like the local school or a 48-hour Film Project for people who might be interested in helping you and have the technical know-how and equipment.
3 Kelly Salasin Jul 12, 2010
Love it!
The world certainly needs examples, role models, of mother-daughter relationship and mother-daughter exploration. Great idea!
4 Mahala Mazerov Jul 12, 2010
Oh my, you are darling together!
I love Lilly’s interview choices (and yours.)
You could do a web series, push it to YouTube and other video sites. Set up your own comfortqueen.tv. Jenlilly.tv?
5 Sarah Tieck Jul 12, 2010
Jen and Lilly,
I loved your warmth and energy. It came right off the screen
When I read your idea, I thought of a local radio station that had a mom-daughter show on called “Good-Enough Moms” …. the mother was a parenting expert and the daughter was a mom with young kids … so, the idea of a talk radio show a la satellite sisters, etc., could be cool.
The other thing I thought of is that you guys could just produce small pieces and find a station (or more) to run them … little segments that you produce. You could even air them here … a web series, like Mahala says! There’s a guy in Minneapolis who does this arts thing he calls Three-Minute Egg … and it is a series of arts journalism pieces. All three-minute videos on his website, which has quite a following now
So … just a couple ideas. YAY you for at least taking the step to put your video and your idea out there in the world!!
Hugs, Sarah
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7 living savvy Jul 13, 2010
Jen, I have been creating online TV and webisodes. Online TV is great for people to snack on and suits mobile devices so people can “snack” on the run. I have visions of creating something with my daughter (she is only 6 so a few years away yet) for now I have to be content with her telling all her mates at school that “Mummy has a TV show that she has on her website”..thinking of putting her in charge of marketing & PR!
8 Helen Jul 13, 2010
Loved it! Both the concept and the two of you are great. Hope “the show” can find its way into our homes soon.
9 Catherine Jul 13, 2010
Hi Jen & Lilly,
Thanks so much for sharing your fun video. It was really heart-warming to see you two together – and I think we need more examples of great mother-daughter pairs like you two!
Jen, your ideas about who to interview sound so fun. And Lilly, it would be great to hear the questions you have for people like Queen Latifah. I would love to see that interview. Webisodes/YouTube all sound good. I’d watch your network!
Catherine
10 Char Jul 13, 2010
my sound wasn’t working so i couldn’t hear you but i could see the chemistry between you.
blog talk radio has lots of opportunities for things like this.
i think real and positive mother daughter relationships is something that the world needs to see more of
11 David Emerald Jul 15, 2010
How wonderful, genuine and warm! I LOVE the idea. It took me back to (OK, I am about to “date” myself) a year in my life (1975-76) when I traveled throughout the Desert Southwest visiting intentional communities and interviewed people to find out how they had come to choose that particular lifestyle. The stories were AMAZING.
Exploring the idea of “calling” and vison and purpose with both “everyday” people and (for Lilly) better-known names would serve as inspiring to others who are in the throes of seeking to answer such questions for themselves.
Since it won’t be Oprah’s network (for now) perhaps another venue will emerge.
Thanks for following YOUR Calling, neighbor!
To the Creator in you!
David
12 Karen Talavera Jul 22, 2010
I loved your idea, sorry about the disqualifier. You’d be great on TV. Oh Oprah, Schmoprah!
I adored getting to meet Lilly – she’s pretty awesome for only 15! My daughter turned 13 this week (gasp! I’m officially the mother of a teen) and I think she’d rather do algebra than be in a video for mom’s “work”. What a difference a few years can make, huh?
Great question – how do you stay passionate about something? For me, with spirituality and writing it comes naturally and you can’t shut me up if you try (trust me, certain family members that don’t resonate – don’t you love them? – have tried!). I think the ONLY things people stay passionate about long term are those they love and have always loved – probably because they were born to do them.
For me, life’s great lesson boils down to “do what you love”; *just* what you love and as often as possible. Dump the rest as much and as fast as you can. What I’d tell Lilly, and do tell my own daughter, is follow your bliss. If they and others in their generation learn this young enough, they’ll hopefully never take anything on that needs dumping.