Project Runway
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 9:04PM 
Project Runway Season 9 just started, and I will be rabidly watching every episode. I think you should too. Here’s why.
A few years back, I did a talk at NAB about one of the fundamental ideas in The DV Rebel’s Guide: production value. Specifically, that your film’s production value is not coupled to your budget. The example I gave is Project Runway, a show where designers compete to create beautiful clothing. Each designer is given the same budget to shop for fabric. They all have the same tools and the same amount of time. But often, when the finished garments are judged by Heidi Klum and her panel of fashionistas, only one or two of them earn this praise:
“That looks expensive.”
Project Runway is inspirational and good fun no matter what. It’s a weekly art contest, and unlike cooking shows, we viewers can actually appreciate the work. Watching people succeed and fail under pressure can be invaluable education for the director, who ultimately does their most important creative work on a tight timeline and in front of dozens of people. The show is downright classy by reality TV standards, and can even be supremely touching — I defy you not to cry watching last season’s custom patterns episode. But through all the laughter and tears and boobs, the show is also a great, ongoing reminder that it’s not what you spend. It’s not what tools you have. It’s what you do with what you got.
Reader Comments (5)
Geez, and I thought I was the only straight male who thought that Project Runway was the best show documenting the creative process on television.
Courageous post Stu! Ive watched 2-3 episodes with my wife and I can safely say I still have my manhood working so to those thinking they might get fluffy just remember you still get to see gorgeous models in skimpy outfits.
Now if you watch the dynamics in detail, you can see the enormous pressure and time constraints that they are put under, which mimics very much that of the film making and VFX process. Problem solving, arguments and heavy criticism. Its not very different from what us creatives have to put up with day in and day out.
I probably watch more of it in the future, and It will never be the same due to this post!
Hi Stu
This is all wonderful.....but when are we gonna see some field testing results from your GH2?
Wow. Double coincidence, Stu.
First, been thinking of finding Michael Costello from Project Runway Season 8. Thinking of finding/approaching him to make a particular dress for my film... visualize what Athena would wear in the desert. My daughters and I were cheering for him or Mondo to win... I yelled at the TV like a World Cup soccer match...
Second, Stu, you have a GH2? Cool! If you need to scratch your anamorphic itch you're welcome to borrow my PL, OCT19, and OCT18 to M4/3 adapters. Love to see your tests and workflow--particularly if it involves InstantHD/Resizer.
Great post, Stu.
The template for the "make-something-creative-with-a-fixed-budget-and-time-constraint" reality show has been applied to so many disciplines in the past couple years - fashion design, cooking, desserts, room makeovers, to name a few. (The was even the short-lived "Face-Off", applying the template to scary monster makeup and effects.)
I always wanted to see a video production version of this format. Each person/team gets an identical script, identical budget, same time constraints, and has to produce a short film for the judges. Lots of potential for BTS drama and conflict, to be sure.