Fwd: Makers Wanted

[Christopher Cprek]

Submitted for your consideration.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jesse Aitchison <Je...@propertelevision.com>
Date: Tue, Feb 14, 2012 at 3:20 PM
Subject: Makers Wanted
To: "webm...@lvl1.org" <webm...@lvl1.org>

Dear Lvl1,

Proper Television is developing a new series about Makers—people with
an intense passion for building all manner of contraptions for all
manner of purposes. We’re currently in the midst of casting characters
for the series, and have been reaching out to various groups in an
effort to build a Dream Team of Makers. Your organization seems pretty
dialled in to this community.

Without belabouring the details, the series will revolve around our
team of Makers facing off against other groups in maker-related
competitions. Competitions like:

-Modifying a lawnmower into a 70mph drag racer

-Designing catapults to hurl pumpkins across football fields

-Constructing Rube Goldberg machines

-Building human-powered submarines

Our goal is to find multifaceted individuals with aptitude in numerous
fields pertinent to these sorts of projects. People with experience in
things like engineering, electronics, physics, welding, pyrotechnics,
construction, engines and industrial design—these are the sorts we’re
looking to get in touch with.

Is this something that might interest you or your group? If so, we’d
love to hear from you! If not, we could very much use your help
spreading the message to as many Makers as possible.

Thank you for your time, keep up the great work!

Jesse Aitchison

Development Associate

PROPER TELEVISION INC.

409 King St. W Suite 201

Toronto, Ontario M5V 1K1

P: 416.598.2500 ext. 376

F: 416.598.2550

[Pat McCarthy]

If Lvl1 is planning to field a team, I'm in...

-----Original Message-----
From: lv...@googlegroups.com [mailto:lv...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Christopher Cprek
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 3:22 PM
To: lvl1
Subject: {LVL1} Fwd: Makers Wanted

Submitted for your consideration.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jesse Aitchison <Je...@propertelevision.com>
Date: Tue, Feb 14, 2012 at 3:20 PM
Subject: Makers Wanted
To: "webm...@lvl1.org" <webm...@lvl1.org>

Dear Lvl1,

Proper Television is developing a new series about Makers-people with an intense passion for building all manner of contraptions for all manner of purposes. We're currently in the midst of casting characters for the series, and have been reaching out to various groups in an effort to build a Dream Team of Makers. Your organization seems pretty dialled in to this community.

Without belabouring the details, the series will revolve around our team of Makers facing off against other groups in maker-related competitions. Competitions like:

-Modifying a lawnmower into a 70mph drag racer

-Designing catapults to hurl pumpkins across football fields

-Constructing Rube Goldberg machines

-Building human-powered submarines

Our goal is to find multifaceted individuals with aptitude in numerous fields pertinent to these sorts of projects. People with experience in things like engineering, electronics, physics, welding, pyrotechnics, construction, engines and industrial design-these are the sorts we're looking to get in touch with.

Is this something that might interest you or your group? If so, we'd love to hear from you! If not, we could very much use your help spreading the message to as many Makers as possible.

Thank you for your time, keep up the great work!

Jesse Aitchison

Development Associate

PROPER TELEVISION INC.

409 King St. W Suite 201

Toronto, Ontario M5V 1K1

P: 416.598.2500 ext. 376

F: 416.598.2550

The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain CONFIDENTIAL material. If you receive this material/information in error, please contact the sender and delete or destroy the material/information.

[Christopher Cprek]

I think they are looking for individuals specifically, not groups.

Chris

[Jeff Johnson]

I can already see them highlighting Pat's battle bot resume in the personal bios..... :-)

You need Brian.  His exuberance is perfect for the camera.  I would offer to volunteer, but my job makes it too difficult.

On Tue, Feb 14, 2012 at 4:02 PM, Pat McCarthy <pmcc...@humana.com> wrote:

[LiamP...@gmail.com]

This had to happen after I just landed a full-time job, (*censored*)!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Liam B

[Brian Wagner]

I have the face for radio, not tv

[Jeff Johnson]

Prison too.   :-)

[Pat McCarthy]

I am interested in forming a challenge team for the “Build Anything” TV Series. But we need to act pretty quickly.

If you have expertise in any of the areas below(ESPECIALLY the highlighted ones)

Please reply to this thread

 

 

The areas of expertise that the producers say are needed:

-engineering

-physics/math

-automotive/engine

-materials

-computers (programming languages)

-electronics

-robotics

-chemistry

-building/construction (various materials)

-carpentry

-mechanics (automotive)

-welding

-soldering

-electrical

-tools/machine shop

-industrial design

-pyrotechnics

 

The initial challenge: “Describe how you would construct a device to launch a laptop SAFELY across a football field, such that it is operational after landing.”

 

 

Patrick McCarthy

 

T 502.476.9878

C 502.939.1756

pmcc...@humana.com

[Ben Hibben]

I've got automotive and materials and fabrication pretty down, not too bad at some of the others...  The time requirement is my main worry; when would we be doing this and for how long?

I've got limited experience welding but I did pretty decent my first try; it's not terribly dissimilar to soldering in that you have to manage your heat and your materials and make everything "flow" just right.

I can make and repair a lot of random stuff; years of practice.

Blenster

[Raj]

The Discovery Channel is also looking for individuals for a new show called "Top Engineer".  http://pilgrimstudios.com/casting/topengineer/ Before you consider applying to this or the other show, I *highly* recommend you listen to The Amp Hour podcast episode #60, http://www.theamphour.com/2011/09/12/the-amp-hour-60-pancyclopaedic-prototyping-polymath/ It has Joe Grand, an original member of The L0pht, talking about his experiences being on the Discovery Channel show "Prototype This", and his experiences were not as fun as you might think.  Keep in mind the producers are trying to make an entertaining show, and that they don't agree with, care for, or like the notion that you usually can't design and build something functional quickly, like in a day.  The end results are usually entertaining, but the process of getting there can be soul-crushing and far from fun, according to Joe's experience.

Also, Pat, you may not be eligible for "Top Engineer", since in the fine print they say that they require a psychological examination.  ;-)

---

From: Christopher Cprek <paxti...@gmail.com>
To: lv...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 4:13 PM
Subject: Re: {LVL1} Fwd: Makers Wanted

[Pat McCarthy]

Hey! I resemble that remark………

 

Patrick McCarthy

 

T 502.476.9878

C 502.939.1756

pmcc...@humana.com

 

[Jeff Johnson]

Damn, There goes Jose's chances too.  

[Everseeker]

Besides, I have a wee bit of experience playing a role for TV (battlebots) my team had 6 months to build THOD, and only 6 hours to rebuild it after it was torn apart...

[Pat McCarthy]

Last call… If no one is interested, I will be dropping this (But I think it could be REALLY COOL…)

--- ------ --- ------ --- ------ --- ------ --- ------ --- ------ --- ------ --- ------ --- ------ --- ------ --- ------ --- ------ --- ------

I am interested in forming a challenge team for the “Build Anything” TV Series. But we need to act pretty quickly.

If you have expertise in any of the areas below(ESPECIALLY the highlighted ones)

Please reply to this thread

 

 

The areas of expertise that the producers say are needed:

-engineering

-physics/math

-automotive/engine

-materials

-computers (programming languages)

-electronics

-robotics

-chemistry

-building/construction (various materials)

-carpentry

-mechanics (automotive)

-welding

-soldering

-electrical

-tools/machine shop

-industrial design

-pyrotechnics

 

The initial challenge: “Describe how you would construct a device to launch a laptop SAFELY across a football field, such that it is operational after landing.”

 

[Pat McCarthy]

FYI, So far, it’s Ben and I

[Jonathan Clark]

Pat, I'm definitely interested in any type of competition that pushes creative solutions and making in general.  I am concerned about the time constraints.  Do you know what's being requested time wise, and what level of commitment it needed?

[Pat McCarthy]

Absolutely NO idea…

 

At the moment, it’s just getting together, noodling thru a demo tape, and pushing it to you tube

 

I PRESUME the actual event is something like junkyard wars…

1 challenge, 1 “day”, lots of raw “parts”, and a butt zillion cameras

(Suspect the 1 “day” would be spread over 2 days of taping…)

And yeah, I bet that there will not be enough “time” to do anything well… we’ll need to move from conceive to implement in a matter of hours

 

Patrick McCarthy

 

T 502.476.9878

C 502.939.1756

pmcc...@humana.com

 

From: lv...@googlegroups.com [mailto:lv...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jonathan Clark
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 2:39 PM
To: lv...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: {LVL1} Fwd: Makers Wanted

 

Pat, I'm definitely interested in any type of competition that pushes creative solutions and making in general.  I am concerned about the time constraints.  Do you know what's being requested time wise, and what level of commitment it needed?

[Raj]

Keep in mind that for a TV show, if you're being considered you're going to fly out to where ever they do casting (probably California) for at least a few days for test shoots.  Then, if you're selected, you're going to be staying there for an extended period of time, as in weeks.  They're not going to work around your schedule.  Your "job" is the TV show, as in however long they decide to shoot each day.  And, in a competition type show there will be several rounds of projects or challenges, so this is a full-time gig for an extended period of time away from home.  Keep in mind they're trying to film an entire season's worth of a show in one go.  If you guys are serious about this I really recommend you listen to the podcast I linked to.

---

From: Pat McCarthy <pmcc...@humana.com>
To: "lv...@googlegroups.com" <lv...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 2:43 PM
Subject: RE: {LVL1} Fwd: Makers Wanted

[Pat McCarthy]

I agree, and yet, I disagree…

1.       Flight is to Canada…

2.       If we are the “dream team” then Yes, it’s about a month or 2 of shooting, long days, LOTS of money, and you can apply for a SAG card

If you are a challenger, then the time commitment is ~ < a week (They need to push as many teams thru as possible, so each team is in & out) and I am not sure on “pay” (Possibly, prize for winning, hand shake for loosing, but they pick up the tab for room/board/travel/incidentals)

 

 

 

Patrick McCarthy

 

T 502.476.9878

C 502.939.1756

pmcc...@humana.com

 

[Jonathan Clark]

Hey Pat,

I thought those were some valid questions so I shot an email over to Jesse, (the representative that originally posted the information), and he immediately responded back with some details.  I'll paste them below.  My only issue after viewing the application is the requirements to be an "Expert" in at least two of the outlined fields. I don't know If I would classify myself as anything close to an expert in those fields.  But I think if we wanted to we could prove our worth :)

As far as a submission video, I say the only proper way to make a submission video is dedicate a 24 hour times period, and take on one of the challenges for real.  We got plenty of laptops to spare for launching across the parking lot.  I don't know if there's any reason to NOT apply.  We can always say NO if the details don't pan out.

Here's the response from Jesse:

We're still in the early stages of development so it's very difficult to offer you any exact time frame, but we'll likely be looking at between 10 and 20 competitions spanning all across North America, taking place over a period of roughly six months. 

I'm attaching a document that we've been passing on to groups we're interested in. It gives a bit more detail about how we envision the show and what particular skill sets we're looking for from candidates. It also gives details on how to apply to be on the show, including a link to the online questionnaire and instructions for completing a casting video.

 

Take a look, see what you think. If you or any of your crew are interested, we look forward to seeing your casting video! If for some reason you can’t make the casting video, let me know and we’ll see if we can work out something else.

Jesse Aitchison 

[John Hicks]

Jon,
Didn't you mean to attach the document that Jesse sent?
John

[Jonathan Clark]

Sorry, Here you go.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=1FSiTXFVkKGGByahVTag66VkcEQbEoHrmPwQID51c2nyERtggw51vo5juP8J0