This known weakness in their content hasn't stopped Silver Fin Productions from continually trying to make something that might actually find demand outside of the Crab Clan. They have opted to aim for quantity rather than quality, trying several ideas without focus to see what could potentially stick. There are a few shows that might see some success, but the same formula fails to be replicated with most of their shows only lasting one season. Some might point to a combination of factors, such as the Crab lacking in a strict acting school, or the Crab's preference for bold entertainment is an acquired taste.
"Silver Fin Chill" is the network's newest channel. They are taking the approach of manufacturing content that is specifically tailored to the Green Carp's island provinces. At the moment, the channel merely runs the same content found in its many other channels and lacks truly exclusive content. Originally, the channel promised that there would be content made and produced on the island provinces, in hopes that potentially the islands might bring a fresh perspective that might create some exportable content. However, in its quest to maintain its continual content grind with its many other channels, the network finds itself shorthanded on content ideas and has opened up its regional office to receiving some pitches. This gives the opportunity for amateur filmmakers, hobbiests, and guests to pitch their ideas in hopes of getting their 15 Seconds of Fame!
Magic: Yes, but please note that due to the lengthy process of formulating a pitch and all of the background work, all spells will need to have at least an hour duration to be used. 'Step Four: 15 Seconds of Fame', the target must be the talent.
Step One: The Pitch
The producers must formulate either a pitch for a new show, movie, or create a script for a pilot that will launch at least one season of a serial. There are a variety of means to create a pitch, but following them through with a solid idea might prove to be difficult. Producers may make a roll using either Perform: Storytelling/Awareness or Perform: Oratory/Awareness at TN15 to craft a novel idea. If they wish to lean into dry and technical scriptwriting, they may instead make a Calligraphy/Intelligence or Computer/Intelligence roll at TN20. On success, the producer receives 1 Show Point and an additional 1 Show Point for each Called Raise.
Alternatively, a producer might base their ideas entirely on a field of their expertise for a truly avant-garde idea. However, without knowing how to pitch to an audience or write a traditional script, this will be an uphill endeavour. A producer may make any skill roll with the paired trait as written in the Core Book at TN20. On success, the producer receives 1 Show Point and an additional 1 Show Point for each two Called Raises.
Step Two: The Role
The producer will next need to recruit a cast of actors to shoot either a pilot or a concept for their show to make a presentable pitch for the executives at Silver Fin Productions. Without a dedicated acting school, the traditional Crab Clan's means of recruitment is often through celebrities, athletes, decorated bushi, savvy couriers, relatives, or pretty neighbours. The recruitment and requirements are loose enough that many consider the process to be akin to a modern-day draw-lot play. Finding 'actors' is easy, but finding good ones is another challenge.
To find actors for their show, producers will need to make either an Etiquette(Bureaucracy)/Awareness roll to access the Silver Fin Production casting catalogue or an Investigation (Notice)/Perception roll to pluck potential actors off the streets, both are done at TN20. This is not contested but does qualify with Benten's Blessing.
If they are successful, they may choose any leading actor for their show and gain 1 Show Point with an additional 1 Show Point per Called Raise. On failure, they must roll 1d4 on the table to receive a random actor not of their choosing.
Leading Actor Choices Table
- Eager new talent: They are untested and have no prior experience in show business, but will do their darnest to succeed. This actor has a dice pool of 5k3. If the producer makes a successful roll in 'Step Four: 15 Seconds of Fame', whether or not they place in the event, they receive 1 Bid Point as Silver Fin Production sign a new talent to their catalogue.
- Established talent: They are experienced and established talent from Silver Fin Productions' catalogue of talents. They might have played a few secondary roles in the past, but have yet to headline their own show. This talent has a dice pool of 6k4.
- Problematic talent: They are talented and might have a few roles in their belt, but they have proven to be very difficult to work with in the past and are largely forgotten about. This talent has a dice pool of 7k5. However, upon selecting this talent, the producer must roll 3k3 at TN15 (as the talent). If the producer has Contrary, it is TN20 instead. On failure, the talent will refuse to take direction in 'Step Three: The Vision' and it is skipped with no benefits.
- Celebrity talent: They are a popular and renowned talent in the Crab Clan. Working this talent can be considered to be a great opportunity, albeit with some risks attached. This talent has a dice pool of 8k4. If the producer finds themselves in the bottom 5 in placement of the event, determined by the least amount of Show Points with no tiebreakers applied (only going by numbers and no placement), their pitch is considered to be an embarrassing flop and they owe the studio for borrowing their prized talent; this results in losing 1 Bid Point. This can go in the negatives for Crab Clan participants.
The producer will also act as the director, a pivotal role to ensure the talent does their best to fulfill the vision of the project, as well as cover up any potential flaws they might have. This will require the producer to utilize their skills in managing a set and a bit of their drama acumen. This is done with an Acting/Awareness roll at TN15. On success, the director gains 1 Direction Point and 1 Direction Point per Called Raise.
If the producer wishes to be direct and demanding, they may instead make a skill roll using either Battle(Mass Combat)/Perception, Courtier(Manipulation)/Awareness, or Intimidation(Control)/Willpower at TN20. On success, the producer receives 1 Direction Point and an additional 1 Direction Point for each Called Raise.
Each Direction Point earned here can be used to give +1k1 to the talent roll in the 'Step Four: 15 Seconds of Fame' portion of the event. 2 Direction Points can be converted to give a Free Raise or a Luck Reroll, please declare these on the roll description. Also, please remember the Corebook rules on roll and kept dice, no dice pool can ever be greater than 10 rolled dice.
Step Four: 15 Seconds of Fame
With the script/pitch and direction, it is up to the lead talent to fulfill their obligation of putting their best performance before the Silver Fin Productions executives! This is done using their talent dice pool with any Direct Point expeditures at TN30, as this will be a difficult audience, and they've already been exposed to many ideas throughout the day. It will take a lot of effort to stand out above the others.
Please assume that the talent dice pool is done with their void point contributions already applied; there will be no further dice given beyond their set dice pool and any Direction Point expenditures. This dice pool can be rolled as if the talent has Void 4, therefore, the limit is 4 Called Raises. On success, the producer is awarded 1 Show Point with an additional 1 Show Point per Called Raise.
Outcome
At the conclusion of the rolls, please total all the accumulated Show Points to determine the standing of their pitch with the entertainment executives and judges. Any Direction Points earned in this event and unspent do not contribute to the final score of the event. Out of all the contributions put forward, the executives will only select three of them to determine what they will move forward with full production to become a full-fledged series that will air on the Silver Fin Chilll channel.
The first-place submission will be given a primetime slot, awarding the producer with 7 Bid Points and +1.0 Glory.
The second-place submission will award the producer with 6 Bid Points and +0.5 Glory. Finally, the third-place submission will be given a late-night time slot, with the producer given 5 Bid Points and +0.3 Glory. Ties a broken by the show not using any Problematic Talent and then by the show using any Celebrity Talent. Tiebreakers will be further determined by the highest numeric roll in Step 4.
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