Hello everyone!

Apologies in advance if I'm posting this in the wrong group. My name is Sean and I'm a television producer with Ping Pong Productions in Los Angeles, CA. Not exactly the hub of back country piloting but bear with me.

We're working with a major network to develop a reality program about seaplane and bush pilots in Northern Maine and Southern New Brunswick (Canada). This will be an adventure program similar in vein to Ice Road Truckers, Ice Pilots and probably some other programs that don't have "ice" in the title. The show is in the very early stages of pre-production and we're looking for seaplane and bush pilots in Maine and New Brunswick who might potentially be interested in participating in the program.

Right now - I'm not going to qualify anything beyond that because I don't want to limit the responses I get. You can be a private pilot, work for an air taxi service, transport supplies into inaccessible or hard to reach places, be a competitive bush pilot - I'm interested in hearing about it all. If you are interested or know someone who is, feel free to either reply to this post or send me a private message. If you have any general questions about the production, go ahead and ask those as well. I'll do my best to answer them.

Thanks for reading and I hope to hear from some of you.

If you would like to make sure I'm not some nut job - or at least a nut job that is telling the truth about being a television producer - you can check out my linkedin profile here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-mantooth-3b74aa68

How about a private pilot with no sea plane time but wants quite his IT job to become a sea plane bush pilot and happens to have a hot wife that looks good in a skirt??

You know Bagarre, there are no bad ideas. I'm just not sure the viewing public is ready for you!! But I will keep it on the back burner. I did come up with a good tag line for your show though:

"He used to work in IT - but now he's programming the code for ADVENTURE!"

If you need sunburned Haole Boy that's a bit over weight PM me. I'm in-between jobs

"Ping Pong Productions." Sounds like a real serious outfit.

bigrenna wrote:"Ping Pong Productions." Sounds like a real serious outfit.

We're serious alright! About making television! Not much else though....

http://www.ppongproductions.com/Ping_Po ... shows.html

Hard to imagine that after pretty much every single "reality" show that's on has zero to do with reality and all to do with drama, ratings, and bullshit; that you will find anyone serious that's not just a wannabe, a glory hound, or looking to make a quick buck.
That's not to say you won't find exactly that tho. And then you could twist it into "reality".
Nothing against you personally. I know your just trying to make a buck and get known like everyone else.
This is not an attack on you, but an opportunity to voice an opinion that I'm sure will fall on deaf ears and be a waste of taking the time to type this.
In the past I thought it would be awesome to have a show on crop dusting , or "aerial application" to be politically correct. But since then from watching all the years of shows, I figured we'd just end up looking like complete idiots and douche bags.
Sea plane flying in and of itself would be more of a documentary or short show. Not a ton of excitement everyday.
What your really looking for is a group of people that run float planes but either argue a lot, cuss a lot, or have other dynamic personalities and personal issues that can create drama. With a plane taking off in the background every now and then. And of course making it appear like it's going to crash right before each commercial.
I hope I'm wrong. I hope your changing the world of "reality".
Sincerely hope for a badass show. It'd be the first.
Good luck to you!!

Give Ariel Tweto a call-- if he can hire her, you'll have a hit show for sure.

hotrod180 wrote:Give Ariel Tweto a call-- if he can hire her, you'll have a hit show for sure.

Your right, can't go wrong with her.

mantoothnation wrote: I'm just not sure the viewing public is ready for you!!

Truer words have never been spoken.

If I was a good actor I would quit my day job.

Did CC Pocock not work out for you guys?

If I was a good actor I would quit my day job.

I don't know about this gig, but in general they aren't looking for good actors and most "quick-win" reality shows don't pay. They are looking for guys who want bragging rights for the most part.

I'll attempt to answer everyone's questions / address comments in order they were posted:

Re: 55wagon

You've pretty much summed up the reality of "reality television" in your posting insomuch as it does not have very much to do with actual "reality". What I can tell you right now is that we are in such an early stage of production that there is not a clear format for the program as of yet. So I guess the best I could say is don't let existing programs about the same topic color you're perception of this one. I know that one of the things we want to focus on is modifications done to seaplanes / bush planes that help out in bad weather / rugged conditions. Dunno if anyone has focused on this yet or now. I certainly appreciate your opinion and I'd be hard pressed to say that you're wrong.

Re: Ariel Tweto

If only Ms. Tweto was a pilot in Northern Maine or New Brunswick. We're focusing on those areas as there are plenty of programs about Alaska out right now.

Re: CC Pocock

We're a different production company than the one who produces "Deadliest Job Interview" so I was unaware of Mr. Pocock until I looked him up after your comment. Interesting stuff for sure but, once again, we're limited our search to Maine and Eastern Canada.

Re: Wyomingiswindy

You're right. We're not looking for professional actors - far from it. We want real pilots who are comfortable being themselves on camera. While I'm not quite sure what you mean by a "quick win" show, I can say that anyone who went on to be a cast member on this program would absolutely get paid. As to how much and when - that's something worked out by the network and lawyers for both parties. I'm just the hired gun from a production company trying to find people interested in being on such a program. I will say that if someone is appearing on a show one time or something - you're right - usually they don't get paid although their expenses are typically covered. But if someone is a regular on a successful show - they're getting paid.

Thanks guys for your comments and questions and, once again, if you know of anyone who might be a good fit feel free to send them my way.

The weather in Maine and New Brunswick sucks. You'd have a lot more luck with weather filming in Colorado and Utah - and a bunch more yahoos that could respond to the casting call.

Do you have any experience with aviation? Filming related or other?

Most light aircraft pilots will try pretty hard to avoid bad weather, it usually easier to stay alive that way.

MountainFlyerN22 wrote:Do you have any experience with aviation? Filming related or other?
Most light aircraft pilots will try pretty hard to avoid bad weather, it usually easier to stay alive that way.

I know a coupke people who were involved with doingthe flying scenes for a TV show. They told me the directors etc pretty much didn't want to hear about what was safe or not-- they just wanted the shot.
Good way to get someone who has a hard time saying no killed.
There was a aviation fatality several years ago at a small airport in eastern WA, it was during the filming of an automobile commercial. Not saying it was the TV people's fault, but I have my suspicions.

In my world aviation is strictly a science and I personally would only promote the intellectual practices of aviation. Aviation/Aerospace is here to teach the next generation about the world. Glamrockers should stick to the "Whiskey A Go Go" on Sunset Blvd. Opinion more women too, than in the bush.

"Reality TV" is a billion dollar business around the Globe. I was in a remote area in Southern Indian during a monsoon. The village was knee deep in mud and cow manure. But, folks were watching American TV and knew all about the different shows. I will never forget how big the TV market is.

I actually learned a lot from the Alaska shows. But, it's painful watching guys/gals who need lots of attention and glory. I feel sorry for them. But, it sells to advertisers.

Maybe we should offer up one of our own, Steve Henry.

Hey Mantoothnation.

I showed this to a former co-worker of mine who is a Maine native, commercial floatplane driver, currently splitting his time flying Caravans for Hageland's out of St Marys AK and floats in Homer.

He's actually interested, and his personality is TV character enough that he may be a good fit. Drama is his fucking middle name...

The link you provided above doesn't work. Post a good one on here, or drop me an email to GumpAir @ aol.com and I'll pass it on.

Gump