CONCEPT NOTE ; LEAN ON ME

CREATIVE CONCEPT:

Using “ dependable” as the core of the concept, the format uses a mix of entertainment and non fiction to deliver the message in a most evocative and persistent way.

The creative idea will utilize every possible moment to leverage the brand essence and take forward the platform in non linear , yet memorable ways .

In fact, the very name cues the core brand values .

The format will rely on the candid camera approach to extract maximum mileage from the program, rather than use the more easy solution of a canned show that will allow easy edits and an announcer.

Part of the charm of a reality show lies in the “grab” value . Does it excite enough to reach out of the box and grab you by throat ?

This program will use the strength of the idea and spin it beyond a narration.

Using kids is a surefire way to ensure eyeball. But what will make this more than just endearing is the big picture behind it.

The heart of the big idea is in the virtually unseen , yet very very strong relationship between kids and their fathers. This program will use every hook to highlight the delicate connection between the two.

In an everyday family , it is the mother who is the primary caregiver. But it is the father who is the enabler. Most

children are taught this early on, but often fail to make the connect between one who is mostly out of home to one who is usually the one who makes most things possible. Even in homes with working mothers , the scales still tip in favour of fathers as being seen as the provider.

This format will explore the true depth of the rapport between the two. And quite literally capture the non umbilical bond that exists , whilst simultaneously highlighting the “ dependable “ qualities of the father.

“My Dependable Dad” is a first time attempt to send off a child and his father to a new, unknown place where they will live for 30 days only with each other .No other family member, no mom, no sister, no brother, no nana, nani.. no one.

Using a pre marketing contest or write in idea, people all across the country will be invited to participate in the challenge. The tiebreaker could well be an essay written by the child who wants to be in the show , about why he thinks his dad is the most dependable.

From all the entries, will be whittled a semi final list of 20, then those too will have to be given a set of hurdles to cut down to the finalist that should not number more than 5 pairs; [one dad one kid ]who will co exist in the location.

Should the family that wins has more than one child, the dad gets to pick only one.The age of kids participating should be between the bands of 7 to 12 years. Any younger they are still almost babies, any older they don’t need parenting !!

The judges will be of paramount importance. Common sense dictates that there are at least 3 mothers in the panel of 6. Ideally celebrity moms who are known to be hands on: Hema, Dimple, Juhi Chawla. Other panelists should include a

child psychologist,[ maybe a head of dept in some medical school?] A head of an established NGO, known to be associated with children’s issues.. CRY ? And finally a dad who is a single parent. That would lend yet another facet to the views of child minders.

Given the fact that all kids are usually looked after by their mothers from the time they are born , and the father’s role is usually relegated to weekends and fun things, it will be a whole new world for the viewers and participants to live through.

How the dads will fare, how the kids will cope without mom, who will bully whom, who will learn from whom. Which one will lose his temper, which dad will be more of a child, and which child will have maturity to deal with the new circumstances will all play out in much more than entertainment.

The biggest worth of this will not be in the playout between kid and dad or dad vs dad or kid and dad vs kid and dad. That will be there. But what will underpin the whole show will be the live, unrelenting lessons learnt for the participant as well as the viewer, day after day.

In the screenplay we will build in hurdles and tests that will showcase the “dependable factor of each parent who will be in the final list.

Dependability will be gauged on several parameters: every day, all the time. There will be no let ups. Each episode will be designed to throw up challenges that will capture one or more of these characteristics in vivid ways.

The viewer will decide the winners. Via sms or phone ins. The audience buy in will be tangentially higher if they are participative in the process, that’s a given.

Parameters will include the obvious physical quotient, but will have built in truthmeters like, how well will the dad cope , physically if he has to wake up several times a night for a child with a tummy ache , and still be up early the next day to supervise the rest of the day.

Emotional quotient too. Does he handle emotions in a balanced way and help the child learn as he/ she goes along? Is the dad able to let the child lean when needed and walk away when needed?

Financial quotient: all kids know dad pays for most things. But given a situation where all dad have only a fixed amount for the month, then let’s watch what dad does to make the money go further. Can he be depended upon to wheedle money for extra chocolate or a toy , or will he echo the discipline usually wielded by the mom ? Will he pamper the child or will he teach life’s lessons about value for money ?

And of course the spiritual quotient. This has nothing to do with religion , but everything to do with human values. Will the dad teach about respect to others by being a role model, or in this highly competitive environment will he teach that winner gets all ?

ADD ONS :

The location will have a Timeout Room for the child. Where there will be a phone, the only phone in the entire location[ no cells allowed ] where the child who misses the mother has the freedom to call. As many times as he /she wants. The father however, will have no access to either the room or be privy to the conversation .

There will also be a Game Room , which will be stocked with games, toys, books etc that each dad will be allowed to

access every 3 days to pick out a selection of aids he may feel he needs to amuse / entertain/ educate his child.

The Steam Room will be for the dads only. They can meet there every night when their kids are asleep, to let off steam !! Chat with each other or exchange notes and views. This will not be mandatory.There will be a tuck shop on location, that will stock all the things kids and parents are used to, From chips to chocolates, to gum and soda. All of this can be bought for a child by his dad, but only with his money for the month. This will not only help viewers gauge how dads give in ,or not, to kid pressure , and what dads do about balanced meals and junk food habits.

In fact all of the above add ons will help point out plusses and minuses of each dad. A child who calls his mom too often is not being able to depend on the dad too much.

What the dad chooses from the Game room will give clear indications of his value systems.

And of course the Steam Room will show how each dad gets along with others and what levels of pressures he is able to cope with .

TWIST IN THE TALE :

Every episode will have in built a high point that will of course occur just before every break. But each episode will also have tests devised that will be a part of the day’s curriculum. Each day will have different hurdles.

One day will see the place with no water. Will the dad teach about water conservation ?How will they cope with a man made calamity ?

Another day they will find no beds in their room. How will they handle hardship ?

No food another day, will the dad be enterprising enough to go out and get a job that will earn him money to feed themselves that day ?Or will he smart and hook up with another dad and do a barter number whilst simultaneously teaching about teamwork ? Maybe one dad can draw , and he can make portraits for money ?

Maybe we could do a rigged cop raid one day ? How will the dads cope ? will they try bribe their way out ?Or will they try gandhigiri ?No cells, no calls to highly placed friends and family, how will they cope ?

Even a pre planned sports contest, where each dad will get 3 weeks to prepare child for the event. How will the dad motivate the kid, how will he train, will he teach team work, or will his expectations be too competitive for the child, and would that in turn illustrate the pressures the parent forces onto his child theses days ?

One fine day, early enough, the knock on the door will turn out to be a famous actor, lost on his way to a shoot. He will opt to spend the day, and we will get to see how the dads will deal with having a live celebrity in their living room .. will they fawn and posture or will they be normal ? What will the kids learn from watching ?

Another day it would be announced that all cameras will be switched off 8pm to 8am. Of course they won’t be. And then we will see what lies under the skin.

In fact, the entry into the show for the finalist pairs will be in the spirit of a hunt. To reach the destination, [which will be a fairly isolated place, with no access to tv, movie halls, internet , malls and other modern day distractions,] each parent and child will be given the details on a slip of paper at

8 am of the first morning, with the caveat that they will all have to use 3 modes of transport to reach the place. What they use, for how long, how they avail of the facilities will be left to the father /child to decide.[Will it be a combination of auto, taxi, train, or rickshaw, bus, private cab…? Remember it is all within a monthly budget .

Even in this , so quickly into the beginning, there will be a hurdle: maybe the expected bus will not turn up ? Or the taxi will have a flat and no spares.

Will the father do a “life is beautiful” or will he start to show the cracks?

EMOTIONAL BURRS :

Genuine attempts will be made to incorporate a few pairs [i.e.: dad and kid] that will raise the emotional temperature of the program. For e.g.: we could try get onto the shortlist a dad with an adopted child. Then watch if the parenting dynamics are different , does he do and overdo , does he overcompensate?

Or for instance try getting a dad with a child who is on medication: either for diabetes or maybe asthma. Not only will it help dial up the heat , it will help get in co =sponsors.[ Pharma for diseases.]

COLLECTING POINTS :

There will be a daily point system given out by the audience via sms or ivrs call ins for each pair.

These “dependability” points will be given on the basis of strict parameters. These will be :

emotional quotientphysical Q financial Qmotivational QIndependence QTeambuilding Q

Not more than one sms per cell phone or call in will be accredited.

In the morning following the airing, the postman will deliver an envelope with the previous day’s ratings to each dad . The envelopes will be sponsor branded .It will be interesting to see how each dad copes with failure. And in doing so what signals is he sending to his child .

The same postman can be used as a contact point for children wishing to write to their mothers. Should any child write, then cutaways of the mother / family receiving the letter can be shot and played live or delayed at the appropriate time.

LANGUAGE .

Given that participants will be from all over and across the country, it must be a mandate that the national language be used by all when conversing with other participants. However between child and parent, the use of mother tongue is permitted.In fact it will add a bit of intrigue to the show, there are bound to be viewers who will know one language or another, and perhaps it will lead to discussions amongst viewers in their places of work, at schools, between moms etc.

SCHEDULING :

We see this as a daily, that will run for 30 days. Every summer and every winter. This will tie in with school holidays. And for fathers who all have jobs or businesses , it will be a call they will have to take. Being in the shortlist of 20 “dependable Dads” is an honour in a country of half a billion. Plus of course there is the end reward.

Perhaps it would be assessed whether there should be a pair eliminated every week? The advantage to that will be less logistics to deal with , but more narrative will be required.

THE LOOK OF THE SHOW :

In keeping with the spirit of the show, there will be no styling .It will have a documentary look and feel. Similar in style to a Natgeo or a Travel and Living or a BBC program .

The use of brand colours and subliminal branding will be done imaginatively. Definitely no brand placements : rather there will be unobtrusive use of logos on table linen, crockery , postman’s envelop etc.

PAYOFF:

The winner gets a 30 day vacation for the entire family to Disneyworld and Universal studios ,all expenses paid. A comprehensive Life insurance policy for the children of the family . And of course a silver trophy that says “THE MOST DEPENDABLE DAD”.