Warner Brothers will now develop his game show pilot

Chiswick resident Sean O'Riordan has beaten off competiton from major television producers to have his ‘psychological game show’ chosen for development by Warner Brothers.

Sean (24) who has lived in Chiswick with his girlfriend Amanda for the past nine months, is the first student ever to win the New York Television Festival’s independent 'pilot' competition.

His idea for a television entertainment show, ‘Newton’s Law’ involves one half of a couple enduring punishment to help their partner win a prize.

The gyroscope ride, featured in the show

The show was his graduation project at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, and has now secured him a deal with Warner Brothers television department to go into development.

Sean, who is originally from Templemore, County Tipperary, told ChiswickW4.com that he was still in shock at the “fantastic news”.

“I was at the Cannes Film Festival when I got a call from New York telling me I had been chosen as the UK winner. It was a great night of celebration”.

He came to London two years ago to study for an MA at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield and said the course had provided very specific skills for his ambition to work in television entertainment.

The idea for the show came about partly as a result of his interest in psychology and the idea of applying those principles to entertainment shows which involve physical and psychological challenges, similar to those employed in the popular Channel 4 show, ‘Crystal Maze’ or by TV hypnotist Derren Brown.

Prior to studying in the UK , Sean had worked as a camera operator and edtor in an independant production company in Ireland but left to fulfil his ambition to pursue the creative and development side of the television entertainment industry.

Sean’s lecturer David Croft, head of the MA course in Producing and Directing TV Entertainment said;

“We’re very proud of Sean winning this award at the New York TV Festival. It not only validates the teaching the course has to offer but proves that talented young people can make entertainment programmes to rival anything on broadcast tv."

Andrew Zein, Senior Vice President (Creative Format Development and Sales) of Warner Brothers said;

“ Newton’s Law was the standout format for the competition ths year. The pilot was well produced and the idea was hghly original. We look forward to working with Sean in the future”.

July 20, 2012