OJA (Odd Job Agency)

TV SeRies concept comedy

About the project

Project Type: Comedy TV Concept

Role: Writer

Language: English

Completion Date: 2021 - 2022

About:

OJA is a comedy about GG, an ex-con who feels like she has no future. But her life is dramatically changed when she is hired to reveal an elderly man's secret at his funeral and this sets her on a journey of running an agency that does really odd 'odd jobs' for her clients. Watch the final episode here: https://www.mewatch.sg/watch/OJA-(Odd-Job-Agency)-E1-424273

Creative Problem:

As part of our final year project for my Diploma in Creative Writing for TV and New Media, we were tasked to create an original concept for a TV series.

Solution:

While thinking of ideas for my FYP, I was inspired by news articles of gig-workers doing odd jobs and my perennial existential dread towards having to look for a 'proper' job upon graduation. This feeling resonated with many of my teammates, which spurred us to create an original comedy series concept about a directionless young woman who does odd jobs for a living.

OJA began as an idea pitched by MAD School’s Story and Content Creation Specialisation students for their Final Year Project. It ended up winning Mediacorp Creative Assembly 2022's pitch, which helped to fund and produce a pilot episode for MeWatch.

Process & Development

ACT 1: CONQUERING FYP

Over the course of a year, I led a team of 7 writers to create an original TV concept which comprised of:

an original premise, characters, episode synopsis, and a season story arc. We wrote, shot and edited a pitch trailer. This eventually culminated in a 10 mins pitch to a panel of industry judges. Among the 7 groups, we were awarded best FYP.

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My very very very first internal pitch to friends and lecturers.

A long day in the writer's room, where we revised our concept for the gazillionth time.

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After a year's worth of work, view our winning pitch here.

We won best FYP! Was just glad the pitch was over, forgot to wear my shoes because I didn't think we would win. We were in disbelief when we won.

ACT 2: Running with the big dogs...More than just an FYP

After winning Best FYP, we had the privilege of pitching live at Mediacorp's Creative Assembly 2022. It was extremely nerve wrecking because we would be pitching against production houses and creatives who had been doing this for much longer than we were. Fun fact, I ended having to pitch against the same company I was an intern at. (Trying to take leave for this event was an extremely strange experience, and going back to work the next day was even more surreal.)

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Our pitch for Mediacorp Creative's Assembly 2022. Look at the full deck here.

Forgetting my lines on stage during the pitch.

Winning Mediacorp's Creatives Assembly 2022 and securing funding for a pilot episode.

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Our pitch script.

With the team that made this possible. We were filled with excitement but our story didn't end here...

Speaking to press.

ACT 3: Actually making the thing

With the money we won from Mediacorp, Singapore Polytechnic collaborated with Monochromatic Pictures to produce the pilot episode of OJA.

Before I had to leave OJA behind and start my university degree, I supported this production by helping with the organisation of an open casting event as part of the show's marketing efforts. I also helped with the drafting of the script for the pilot episode.