On the Lot: The Steven Spielberg & Mark Burnett Filmmaker Competition That Sought the Next Big Director
In 2007, FOX aired On the Lot, a bold reality TV experiment designed to find the next great Hollywood director. Produced by Steven Spielberg, Mark Burnett, and David Goffin, the series combined the drama of a reality competition with the creativity of a film festival. The ultimate prize? A $1 million development deal with DreamWorks.
The Premise: A Filmmaking Show Like No Other
On the Lot began as a global talent search, with over 12,000 submissions from aspiring filmmakers around the world. Fifty semi-finalists were invited to Los Angeles, where they were put through a series of creative challenges, including writing and pitching original stories on a tight deadline and producing short films under pressure.
Eventually, the competition narrowed to 18 finalists who faced weekly challenges to create short films across genres — comedy, horror, action, romance — that aired on FOX and were voted on by viewers. The lowest vote-getters were eliminated until a winner emerged.
Hosts & Judges
The show was initially hosted by Chelsea Handler, who famously quit early in production, later saying she “smelled the disaster happening before it did.” She was replaced by Adrianna Costa.
Judges included Carrie Fisher, Garry Marshall, and Brett Ratner during auditions, with guest judges such as Michael Bay, Wes Craven, Gary Ross, and Antoine Fuqua appearing during weekly episodes. Their commentary guided contestants as they refined their storytelling skills.
Contestants & Winners
The finalists represented a wide range of filmmakers, from film school graduates to self-taught directors. Notable contestants included Shalini Kantayya (later known for directing documentaries) and Zach Lipovsky (who went on to direct for Disney and Netflix).
Will Bigham, a film editor from Texas, was crowned the winner of On the Lot in the season finale, meeting Spielberg at the gates of DreamWorks.
The show also ran an online competition, called the Movie Video Making Challenge, where international filmmakers could submit short films. Justin Gullett, a Memphis native, won the online edition.
Challenges & Weekly Themes
Each week, the contestants had to produce short films in just a few days. Challenges included:
- One-Minute Comedies
- Horror Shorts
- Romantic Comedies
- Action Films
- Films Inspired by Contest-Winning Loglines
The format mixed production footage, film premieres, and audience voting, which took place online, by phone, and even via text message.
Ratings & Reception
Despite its big-name producers and American Idol lead-in, On the Lot struggled to find an audience. Ratings fell steadily after the premiere, with critics noting that the show spent too much time on contestant drama and not enough on the filmmaking process.
Variety described it as “an awkward mish-mash,” while The Boston Globe called it a generic reality contest that failed to deliver on its promise. Viewership never recovered, and FOX canceled the show after its first season.
Meet the Casting Directors of On the Lot
The success of On the Lot hinged not just on the contestants but also on the talented casting directors who hand-selected the filmmakers competing for their shot at a DreamWorks deal.
Key casting professionals who worked on On the Lot include:
- Julianna “Jules” Brudek – An accomplished director, producer, and writer, known for Phrogging: Hider in My House and the documentary Disarm Hate (2020).
- Holly Dale – Known for The Voice, The Contender (2005), and On the Lot.
- Kendra Patterson Heintz – Known for High School Musical 3: Senior Year and The Learning Curve.
- Melissa Moss – Casting director for The Big Wedding and Annie (2014).
- Mark Townsend – With credits including The Invasion (2007) and Veracity (2006).
Additionally, Alessi Hartigan Casting contributed to the project, bringing their reputation for discovering hard-to-find talent for both principal and background roles.
Current Casting Opportunity
Steven Spielberg’s ‘On The Lot’ Open Casting Call for Background Actors
Job Description
A major television series is seeking background actors to portray pedestrians, crew members, and actors on set for an upcoming episode. This is an exciting opportunity to work on a professional lot in Burbank, CA, and be a part of a hit series.
Job Responsibilities
- Portray background characters including pedestrians and crew
- Follow direction from the production team during filming
- Maintain professionalism on set and be camera-ready
Requirements
- Must be a new face to the series
- Open to SAG and Non-Union performers
- Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. and provide valid I-9 documentation
Compensation
- $224/8 hours (SAG)
- $144/8 hours (Non-Union)
The Legacy of On the Lot
Although On the Lot lasted just one season, it paved the way for future filmmaking competitions and inspired many contestants to continue pursuing careers in Hollywood. Today, fans look back at it as an ambitious, if flawed, attempt to bring the art of filmmaking to network television.
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