Just recently watched this series. There were major issues from the get go. 1. Effie had an agenda from the jump. It wasn't to make the best movie. That's not her job. 2. They never should have picked Mann. He wasn't interested in their movie. They certainly should have changed course after he did what he did the night they announced him. 3. The ongoing problems were completely related to their being zero adult decision makers involved. There were zero deadlines or guidelines for Mann...and he in turn acted like it. It should have been very clear: - You are not shooting on film. The films budget and schedule won't allow it. This is not negotiable. It's done. If it's a deal breaker than leave. - These are your location options. They must be selected by this date or we will select them for you. There are no other options. The budget won't allow it and these options are all fine. - No you cannot have a large car crash. The schedule and budget will not allow it. Here is the size car crash you can have. Take it or leave it. In the end these things fail because they give a directing novice a movie and then treat him like he isn't the directing novice that he is and this isn't the gifted opportunity that it is. Give the opportunity and then provide guidelines and deadlines that allow that director to both make a decent product and learn to do it correctly at the same time. You will still get reality show drama because the director will still make mistakes and struggle and there will be drama in that.
