Launching Pad

Hollywood Center Studios Provides a Landing Strip for "Pilots"

Traditionally, March through April has been the time when Hollywood has undergone the annual frenzy known as Pilot Season. More than 100 pilots are often produced during those months ahead of the May through June period when networks make their programming decisions for fall.

But like many other aspects of television production, the tradition of pilot season is changing. The rise of new networks and cable stations, and the trend toward year-round programming and mid-season replacements has caused studios to be in constant need of new shows. As a result, pilots are now being produced throughout the year.

The expansion of Pilot Season to a year-round activity has given rise to certain logistical problems for producers. It can be harder to find qualified crew and production gear for a short-term pilot when regular series are in production. Similarly, star talent may be otherwise engaged.

Shooting stage space may also be at a premium. In the past, producers had little trouble booking a stage in February as regular series were on hiatus. Today, with fewer shows following a traditional TV production calendar, stages large enough to accommodate sit-coms and reality series are often fully booked.

"Studios are coming up with novel ways meeting their shooting requirements for pilots," explains," Hollywood Center Studios executive v.p. Harvey Buchbinder. "In some instances, they are shooting pilots on the same stage as an ongoing series during a week when it may be dark, or they may hold onto a stage a week after a show wraps."

Shooting stages form only one aspect of the space crunch. Just like ongoing series, pilots need office space for writers, production staff and post operations. And whereas a pilot may only need a stage for a week, its need for office space could extend from four to eight weeks.

Finding space to accommodate everyone takes a lot of juggling, notes Buchbinder. "Sometimes we will arrange for a production that is winding down to move into smaller office space," he says. "That saves them money and it makes room for someone else who's gearing up."As challenging as it may be to fit in short-term productions, Hollywood Center Studios bends over backwards to accommodate pilots. "The producers are often people who've been clients of ours on other projects and we want to help them out," Buchbinder asserts. "Plus if the show goes to series, we want them to shoot with us."