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POLO "A TICKET TO THE WORLD" A LAURENCE de MELLO / FRANK GRAVES PRODUCTION Heat, Sweat, Sex, Daring, Gambling & Money all go together Prince Charles, Jilly Cooper and the Rich Set are all fascinated by it What is it? ... POLO... "The Sport of Kings" and "The King of Sport" POLO has everything to intrigue the mere mortal into being there
However, this series is not just about POLO, the Sport
It is more about "What really goes on behind the bicycle sheds"
Join in the sport as a three part television spectacle
INTRODUCTORY STORY-LINE
Imagine a solid ball, hit so hard it is coming at you at a speed of over 115 miles per hour…So fast, that you can hardly track it. Your job is to stay at a gallop, get your horse in line with this flash of white and then either pass it to a team mate or carry the ball down the field for an attempt at goal…and that's only if you don’t get "Bumped" deliberately by any one of seven other galloping tons of thoroughbred horse flesh. They say a good "Bump" can loosen teeth and shatter vertebrae……. This is Polo! Not only "The Sport of Kings but The King of Sports".
What makes this program unique is that it is a program NOT about the sport itself but, what happens around the fringes and behind the bicycle shed. Today the game is played professionally in more than 60 countries and enjoyed by more than 50 million people each year alone. Countries such as Argentina, Australia, The U.S., Germany, France, Spain, Great Britain, Switzerland, South Africa, China and Brazil. Championship matches draw crowds rivalling and many times surpassing those of Basketball and football matches in the U.S. All of these countries mentioned except Great Britain have televised polo coverage as a sport on a regular basis. The UK has now over five hundred professional polo players. The Hurlingham Polo Association, the official world governing body for the sport. Say; there has been an annual increase of over 30%, for players registering as professionals over the past five years. Bear in mind that registration, as a professional is only possible after achieving a handicap. The H.P.A. believe these figures will increase for many years to come, as Polo becomes more and more accessible and popular with the non-rich.
Polo, Traditionally the "Sport of Kings" is now played by people from all backgrounds. Sir Winston Churchill said, "A polo handicap is a persons ticket to the world" and no statement, could be as true today as it was then. For Polo is not only a sport on the field but is also a way of life off the field. Its interesting to note that Cartier International Polo; held annually at Smiths Lawn, Windsor, is not only THE highlight of the British 'Season' but also the most desirable event to attend socially anywhere in the world. No other sport has the combination of speed, skill, danger, class, style, beauty and rampant sex appeal rolled up into One glorious British Summer
And that’s where our program takes place;
Project Schedule: 3X52minutes
Estimated Prod Cost: US$ 865,000 + 10%-15% Deferments
Production Period - May to October 2000
A three-hour fly on the wall mini series that will follow the trials and tribulations of a select group of real polo characters. The Characters will be followed from the start to finish of the official British polo season 2000 April-September inclusive.
There will be several "Base Camps" used throughout the program to give the viewer a sense of familiarity. e.g., A major Polo Club, Flemish farm (The Queen's horse yard in Windsor Great Park) and Luigi's the local pizza bar that also enables the program to have a 'canvas' for its character's stories to develop in a more natural way.
The main characters will be interspersed with other sub-characters, which will include; the very rich and eccentric, Royal's and titled, Celebrities, Horses (if all goes to plan a horse will become a lead character), snobs, wannabes and hangers on, fantastic cars, etc.
We must bear in mind that we are following the lives of everyday REAL people and horses not actors. In reality, people and horses have the habit of doing unexpected things. Therefore the producer and director will follow the hotter leads so location movements and filming can only be loosely scripted. We have already worked out the rough sequence of events and both real and imaginary characters will constantly weave in and out of this project.
BACKGROUND
- What makes this program so unique?
This Polo Program is a first of its kind; a mixture of Fly-on-the-Wall documentary enhanced with "high-brow" soap acting as the format. This is "NOT" a program on Polo, the sport but, broad demographic entertainment about "The World of Polo". The viewer gets to relate and wish to be part of this access to the Polo World which at this level has until now, been generally a closed door to the to the world's media.
- What has the program achieved?
The producer has spent some time cultivating and preparing the groundwork, not only gaining the necessary access to the hidden people and places but, participation commitments from within the Polo Fraternity where it "Counts" has been a difficult undertaking. Only by achieving these feats is it now possible to make this internationally appealing program.
- What will also be Included?
Charity Polo Day with The Prince of Wales. Footage will include intimate shots of Prince Charles playing polo with some of the world's best polo players. This match will be held at Hurtwood Park , The polo ground owned by ex-rock star polo fanatic/player, Kenny Jones (Of the WHO). This event will have an enormous celebrity presence.
- Who are involved in the Production Team
The producer is Laurence de Mello of varied television experience and a solid background in high-end entertainment, current affairs, documentary and drama. She is backed up by the team at imMEDIAte Movies who have written and directed countless films, television and advertising projects (Highlander Series, Stanley's Dragon, Judge Dredd etc..
Check Web-Site for massive credit list.) - Demographics
The type of viewer this program will appeal to are not only aimed at the massive numbers of international polo and horsy types, but to a much broader and wider mixed adult type audience coming from more traditional television viewing aspect because the program contains something for everybody: Exciting Sport, Beautiful and Richer People, Fast Cars, Sex, Drama, Travel etc..
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- Polo... Promises to be documentary in the vein of what "Dynasty" was to the "Soap Fraternity". - Polo... Will have legs enough to create demand for a further ongoing series or, even a film.
- Where can I find more imMEDIAte information
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