REALITY TV CASE STUDY LANGLEY PRODUCTIONS & Its Long-Running Success, “COPS” compiled by GREG RHEM [Reality TV Dossier Group, Producer’s Craft, Spring 2010] REALITY TV CASE STUDY: LANGLEY PRODUCTIONS & Its Long-Running Success, “COPS” By GREG RHEM [Reality TV Dossier Group, Producer’s Craft, Spring 2010] “How are you going to do a show with no narration, no host, no script? You’re mad. It’ll never work.” That was what John Langley heard over and over when he originally presented the idea for COPS to network executives. “COPS is an American documentary television series that follows police officers, constables, and sheriff's deputies during patrols and other police activities. It is one of the longest-running television programs in the United States and the second longest- running show on Fox and, along with America's Most Wanted, the first of the longest unchanged nightly schedule (Fox's Saturday night) currently on American broadcast television. Created by John Langley and Malcolm Barbour, it premiered on March 11, 1989, and has aired 750 episodes as of March 21, 2009. It won the American Television Award in 1993 and has earned four Emmy nominations. [1] COPS began its 22nd season on September 12, 2009. The series is currently one of only three remaining first-run primetime programs airing on Saturday nights on the four major U.S. broadcast television networks, along with America's Most Wanted, and CBS' 48 Hours Mystery.” [source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COPS_(TV_series)] That March 11, 1989. Twenty-one years later, that show made a television and motion success story… Langley Productions, Inc. 1111 Broadway Santa Monica, CA 90401 (310) 449-5300 [http://www.langleyproductions.com/] Staff Elie Cohn, Producer, Features Karen Hori, Executive VP, TV Production John Langley, Executive, President Morgan Langley, Film & TV Development Douglas Waterman, Producer, Supervising Producer [source: http://pro.imdb.com/company/co0070684/roster] 2 REALITY TV CASE STUDY: LANGLEY PRODUCTIONS & Its Long-Running Success, “COPS” By GREG RHEM [Reality TV Dossier Group, Producer’s Craft, Spring 2010] COMPANY HISTORY: [from http://www.langleyproductions.com/about.html] Best known as the production house behind the long running reality program COPS, Langley Productions is one of the U.S.‟s premiere independent non-fiction production companies. Originally founded in 1983 as Barbour-Langley Productions, the company produced the award-winning documentary feature COCAINE BLUES. The critical success of Cocaine Blues lead to a series of highly rated specials for network and first-run syndication, including the live Geraldo Rivera programs AMERICAN VICE, INNOCENCE LOST, SONS OF SCARFACE, DEVIL WORSHIP, MURDER: LIVE FROM DEATH ROW and MODERN LOVE and the AMERICAN EXPOSE series of specials with Jack Anderson, including WHO KILLED JFK? and TARGET USA, an inside look at terrorism. In 1988, after years of rejection, Langley finally found a home for COPS on the newly launched Fox Broadcasting network. The long-running “reality” program was truly groundbreaking at the time, and pioneered the often-emulated video verite technique. Other documentary-style projects soon followed including improv comedy series NIGHT PROWLERS and real life rescue series CODE 3. Following his partner‟s retirement in 1995, John Langley quickly expanded the company into multiple media enterprises: • Langley Productions would continue creating and producing non-fiction and scripted television series and specials, including true crime series COP FILES hosted by Richard Roundtree, 26 documentaries under the ANATOMY OF CRIME umbrella, clip-driven series VIDEO JUSTICE, and the verite style JAIL. • Langley Films was established to produce independent theatrical motion pictures. Films produced include TIPTOES, starring Matthew McConaughey, Kate Beckinsale, Gary Oldman and Patricia Arquette; WILD SIDE, with Anne Heche, Christopher Walken and Joan Chen; SEARCH & DESTROY with Martin Scorcese as executive producer and DOGWATCH, starring Sam Elliott, Esai Morales and Paul Sorvino, directed by John Langley. • Real Entertainment was launched as a new media company and direct-to-video producer and distributor. The company was a pioneer in the early days of “transactional” television and released over 40 home video titles including the successful “Too Hot for TV” series. In 1999, taking his relationships with law enforcement to the next level, Langley created and launched the pro-active internet destination www.crime.com, which offered users interactive crime-related information, news and entertainment. Crime.com also featured the world's first live video feed from prison: “jail-cam,” which allowed viewers to view the activity from the booking area and holding cells in the Phoenix, Arizona jail. The company was sold to the USA Network. Presently, Langley Productions continues to develop and produce original, independent projects, particularly in the crime genre. COPS is about to launch an unprecedented 22nd season on Fox, and the company has two other series currently airing – INSIDE AMERICAN JAIL (aka JAIL,) and STREET PATROL, as well as numerous projects in development. Langley Films has two features due out this year, BROOKLYN‟S FINEST starring Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke and Richard Gere, and LEAVES OF GRASS starring Ed Norton. In addition to both non-fiction and scripted projects, the company is also expanding into the mobile and video game markets. 3 REALITY TV CASE STUDY: LANGLEY PRODUCTIONS & Its Long-Running Success, “COPS” By GREG RHEM [Reality TV Dossier Group, Producer’s Craft, Spring 2010] NATURE OF THEIR WORK: ci·ne·ma ve·ri·té: The art or technique of filming so as to convey candid realism. As a television company with strong roots in documentary filmmaking, Langley Productions has had a history of transforming the ethos and aesthetics of so-called “cinema verite” into TV fare for a wider audience. That tradition continues today, with all of our TV programming being reality-based but also driven by strong stories and characters. While our goal has always been first and foremost to entertain as wide an audience as possible, we also remain true to the documentarian‟s ideal of informing the public about the world around us. At the root of our mandate is the idea that truth is not only stranger, but often more compelling than fiction, and also that the most inspiring stories and characters can often be found in real-world situations. Whether it‟s COPS, JAIL/Inside American Jail, Video Justice, or one of our upcoming releases, Langley Productions thrives on offering vivid portrayals of raw reality and of human beings in extremis. The success of COPS has propelled Langley Productions into the entertainment stratosphere, allowing the company to produce a wide range of reality fare for network and cable TV, as well as distinctive feature films and new media projects. With three network prime time series currently airing (COPS, JAIL, and Street Patrol) and several films slated for upcoming release (Brooklyn's Finest, Leaves of Grass, and others) as well as a COPS video game in the works along with other new-media ventures, and, of course, feature documentaries -- the company is poised to remain a dominant force in the entertainment industry for many years to come. 4 REALITY TV CASE STUDY: LANGLEY PRODUCTIONS & Its Long-Running Success, “COPS” By GREG RHEM [Reality TV Dossier Group, Producer’s Craft, Spring 2010] SAMPLE PROJECTS: LANGLEY TELEVISION 5 REALITY TV CASE STUDY: LANGLEY PRODUCTIONS & Its Long-Running Success, “COPS” By GREG RHEM [Reality TV Dossier Group, Producer’s Craft, Spring 2010] LANGLEY FILMS Domestic Total as of May. 13, 2010: $27,138,854 “SPOTLIGHT PREMIERE” SXSW 2010 [www.boxofficemojo.com] [www.sxsw.com] 6 REALITY TV CASE STUDY: LANGLEY PRODUCTIONS & Its Long-Running Success, “COPS” By GREG RHEM [Reality TV Dossier Group, Producer’s Craft, Spring 2010] & THEIR CLIENTS: 7 REALITY TV CASE STUDY: LANGLEY PRODUCTIONS & Its Long-Running Success, “COPS” By GREG RHEM [Reality TV Dossier Group, Producer’s Craft, Spring 2010] JOB OPPORTUNITIES: Langley Productions maintains an ongoing search for qualified applicants in the following positions: CAMERA OPERATOR EMAIL YOUR RESUME FOR THE CAMERA OPERATOR POSITION HERE: [email protected]?subject=CAMERA OPERATOR We are looking for seasoned applicants with experience shooting in the high intensity, adrenaline-pumping, run-and-gun „Cinéma-vérité‟ style of COPS. Applicants must possess both technical expertise with current High Definition technology as well the ability to tell a powerful and compelling visual story with no field director calling the shots. Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to work in high stress, unpredictable situations with no hand holding required. 8 REALITY TV CASE STUDY: LANGLEY PRODUCTIONS & Its Long-Running Success, “COPS” By GREG RHEM [Reality TV Dossier Group, Producer’s Craft, Spring 2010] Must have a minimum of three years experience shooting breaking news and/or nationally broadcast unscripted/documentary series. Previous experience on unscripted/documentary series working with law enforcement or military personnel a plus. Must be willing to travel for extended periods of time. Experience shooting with the Sony XDCAM also a plus. Applicants will be required to pass background checks and/or drug tests prior to and during employment. To apply: Please submit a resume and reel containing relevant examples of your work. Reels with raw footage given special consideration. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. Interviews will be conducted in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Applicants must be able to travel to the interview location on your own. FIELD SOUND MIXER EMAIL YOUR RESUME FOR THE EMAIL YOUR RESUME FOR THE SOUND MIXER POSITION HERE: [email protected]?subject=FIELD SOUND MIXER We are looking for seasoned applicants with experience working in the high intensity, adrenaline-pumping, run-and-gun „Cinéma-vérité‟ style of COPS. Must be able to mix boom mike and lav on the fly in various environments and situations – from inside a police car to outside on urban streets to running down a suspect.