Project Greenlight

This film rates an "8" for the pleasure it was to watch this mess. What happens when a cocky first time director (Jason Mann) pushes around Mentor/Producer's Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and the big wigs at HBO - "The Leisure Class". Mann, a Columbia University student director in the MFA program, beat out several other qualified student directors for the opportunity to direct a $3 million HBO film, working along side Affleck, Damon, the Farrelly brothers (Peter and Bobby - "There's Something About Mary"), Season 1 Winner Pete Jones and HBO movie exec Len Amato. Over the season of the show, the audience watched as Mann stomped his feet and held his breath regarding his demands. What should have been a season about a first time direct making a large film, instead turned out to be season on what it takes to be a Line Producer, as Jeff Balis and Effie Brown fought tooth and nail to hold the production together. When all the dust settled and "The Leisure Class" aired, neither Mann, Affleck, Damon or HBO came out winners.

The peer-voting method of picking the top scripts and directors ensures that anything/anybody really good will not be selected. Would you really give someone high marks if you were competing against them? I read each of the top ten scripts in the first PGL and found that the winner, Stolen Summer, was the only one that was not full of typos and grammatical errors. The plots weren't great either.

I entered the second PGL and had one voter who gave me top marks in each category and one who gave me top marks in all but one category and that was just one down. What killed me were the other three voters who gave me marks close to the bottom. Yes, I'm bitter.

I watched the train wreck that was and obviously is Jason Mann Season (2??) and was HORRIFIED at this "young" man's ARROGANCE and total lack of empathy toward anyone but HIMSELF. What was even sadder was seeing the hosts (Matt and Ben) bend to his "artistic" whims and, quite frankly, childish tantrums.

I just looked up what he's been doing and, obviously, he took enough rope to hobble himself in the world of film. Somehow, with this invaluable and unique opportunity - he's remained highly unproductive and totally forgettable in his work.

All THAT said! It was fascinating watching "The Process".

And am looking forward to the next season - which will have a female director. Fingers crossed that this one is fun to watch! And gives us someone to CHEER for!

Edit - OMG! Am finishing up Episode 2. The director they chose is very "in her head" with zero sense of urgency, so everything is pulling teeth - I AM BORED. Also, she doesn't seem to have views of her own and needs a lot of hand holding. Yeah. No. Have taken away 2 stars. Will give it one more episode.

Watching this one-disaster-after-another reality show, I can't help but wonder if Pete Jones realizes just how lucky he is and how much scrutiny he's under. I mean, he's been pushy, demanding and silly on the set. He's not following a shot schedule or taking advice from anyone, particularly Chris Moore (who comes off in this show as a sort of wiseass, common-sense-spouting hero).

Incidentally, did you count how many drinks Ben Affleck had in the first episode? No wonder they sent him to rehab.

"Stolen Summer," which had a script that Matt Damon said sounded too much like an afterschool special, looks like it's going to be painful to sit through, but this show makes me want to suffer through it.

Ok, maybe not so glamorous - but then that's a useful thing to learn, no?. This multi-part docudrama takes a fascinating look at making movies by following the making of a movie by a first-time director.

I only hope they put this on DVD so others can learn from their mistakes. ;-)