An Airdrie-based production company is currently scouting for contestants and sponsors for a new locally filmed game show that will take viewers back in time to the bygone era of rental video stores.
Crooked Cinema Productions, a small venture film and photography service founded by Airdronian Mitchell George in 2012, has in past productions striven to involve as much Airdrie talent as possible.
Rental Rewind, “the game show with no late fees” designed for film buffs and lay-z-boy scholars alike, will be no different, according to project manager Brodie Parker.
“We know there’s a lot of talent in town and it’s time to get everyone out of their basements and out of their home studios,” Parker said of Crooked Cinema’s latest intent to showcase Airdrie talent.
As part of the game show, teams of three contestants will be required to complete trivia questions, mini-games, and wager points to collect the five VHS tapes necessary to win the game and showcase their movie trivia know-how.
Broken down, it’s essentially a game show that’s been designed around the nostalgia of going to the movie store on a Friday night, Parker said.
“We've designed a game around that theme,” he said.
Parker said points wagering will be a bonus for contestants who aren’t self-proclaimed movie buffs, though having some film finesse would be to a contestant’s advantage.
“Definitely, knowing your movies is going to be important, but we also want to make a really exciting game,” he said.
The project manager said as part of developing the game, there will be plenty of testing and trial runs underway to smooth out any kinks the game show creators uncover.
Rental Rewind will be filmed in Airdrie in a recently garnered short-term studio space, according to Parker.
“We just secured a space [to film] in Airdrie, so we are very excited about that,” he said. “One of the hardest parts of this has been finding available commercial bays or lease space because everyone wanted such long leases, and we weren’t able to do that.
“We were very thankful to find the situation we did – a realtor reached out and saw what we were trying to do and made it happen, so it was great.”
The production company has been given the go-ahead to film three pilot episodes in partnership with TELUS Optik TV for a tentative release early next year.
“We’re looking to show TELUS that we’re good stewards of their money and that Airdrie deserves to have this industry,” Parker said. “Right now, we’re the ones willing to deliver that so we’re hoping everything goes well.”
Rental Rewind will showcase local contestants and build the business case for a local film industry, added Parker.
“Airdrie is incredibly important to us, and so we’re really looking at doing this right and getting the right message out there,” he said. “We’re really hoping this project gives us the license to continue being the ones that can deliver this for everybody who wants to see it.”
He said so far, the response from the local corporate community has been positive, and there are sponsorship opportunities available for business owners who are interested in partnering with the show in the weeks and months to come.
“We want to showcase Airdrie in this because not only do we need sponsors for our show, but we need to show the community is behind this project – that's important to us,” Parker said.
Additionally, the project manager said Crooked Cinema is currently looking for product sponsors and sponsorship for the building of the game show’s set, including lumber and building materials.
“Whether they’re able to offer sponsorship, or work with us in some capacity, [there’s] a good chance of getting their name on this show, because as a game show, there’s a lot of opportunities for sponsorship, whether it be a full episode, a question, or a prize,” Parker said.
“We are going to be building a movie store within a commercial space, so as you can imagine, that requires a lot of walls and things like that to be put up.”
Parker said a larger goal for the project is to showcase the local film industry and to underline the fact that professional TV productions are coming out of Airdrie.
“This show is going to look good. It’s going to be engaging and it’s going to show that we can do this here,” he said.
Applicants for the game show will be considered in teams of three, with a requirement that each eligible contestant is over the age of 18. Parker said the show is targeting those who were around in the ‘80s, '90s, and early 2000s, during what he dubbed the “Blockbuster golden era.”
“We’re looking for people who look like they can have fun and work together – everyone is encouraged to apply,” Parker added. “I was looking through some submission videos – they’re hilarious, please keep sending them in, they’re so much fun.
“I just hope we get a chance to fit everyone in.”
Teams of three looking to apply to be on the game show are encouraged to do so by the end of November via Crooked Cinema’s website. Alternatively, businesses looking to partner with Crooked Cinema can also apply online.
“We want our show to be successful,” Parker said. “We want people to enjoy it. We want our participants to have so much fun on set, because it’s not actors, these are regular people.
“Any time someone’s on camera, you see their faces light up and it’s the best day of most people’s week or month."
