Making it Big is a Canadian reality television series produced by Force Four Entertainment in which young professionals compete for a chance to be mentored by a leader in the field they are interested in.
The series originally premiered in Canada on the Life network and in the USA on Oxygen in October 2006. There are 26 episodes in two seasons to date.
Making it Big premiered in South Africa on DStv's The Home Channel on Monday 19 May 2008, at 21h00. There are 13 hour-long episodes in the first season.
Repeats
Tuesdays: 09h00
Wednesdays: 13h00
Thursdays: 17h00
Synopsis
Shoot a music video ... pitch a multi-media advertising campaign ... front a half-hour daytime talk show ... plan a Grammy VIP cocktail party ...
These are just a few of the exciting tasks doled out to contestants on Making It Big, as groups of three vie for the chance to be mentored by icons in their respective fields.
In each episode, three hopefuls face the toughest challenge of their young lives as they vie for a reward money can't buy – mentoring by a high-profile leader in their industry.
Mentors include television host Phil Keoghan of The Amazing Race; renowned Manhattan event planner Preston Bailey; Academy Award-winning costume designer Angus Strathe; Madonna's creative director/choreographer, Jamie King; and Emmy Award-winner Dayna Devon, host of entertainment newsmagazine Extra.
From music video directors to fashion photographers, from pastry chefs to songwriters, Making It Big features the careers that everyone dreams about living - if only for an hour.
Episodes
Episode 1: Music Video Directors
Three up-and-coming music video directors vie for the career opportunity of a lifetime - the chance to be mentored by revolutionary music video director Floria Sigismondi (David Bowie, The White Stripes, The Cure).
In two hours, they must shoot 40 seconds of a music video for recording artist Melanie Dekker.
Judges include Sandy Alouete, Vice-President of VH1 and Kelly Norris Sarno, Executive Producer of Revolver Films in Los Angeles.
Episode 2: Floral Designers
Three up-and-coming floral designers must create elaborate floral design for a deluxe dinner party in just two hours, as they vie for the opportunity to be mentored by celebrity floral designer Preston Bailey in New York City.
Bailey's clients include Oprah, Donald Trump, and Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
The contenders are judged by Rich Salvaggio, publisher of "Flowers &" magazine and L.A. event planner Ruth Moyte. Special guest is floral design guru Hitomi Gilliam.
Episode 3: Fashion Photographers
Three up-and-coming fashion photographers take on the challenge of a lifetime, as they vie for the chance to be mentored by hot New York fashion photographer Joshua Jordan.
They are judged by Victoria Leonard, Director of Photography for the trendsetting magazine Surface, and by Boda, Senior Agent at Jed Root Inc., the NY agency that represents Joshua Jordan and other top fashion photographers.
Episode 4: Costume Designers
Oscar-winning costume designer Angus Strathie (Moulin Rouge, Catwoman) will mentor one of three up-and-coming costume designers who have to costume actors for a film scene in just two hours.
They are judged by Patrick Antosh, the costume designer best known for his work on Queer as Folk, and costume consultant Sandi Blackie.
Episode 5: Broadway Triple Threats
Three talented, young dancer/singer/actors vie for the chance to be mentored by the toast of Broadway, director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell. Mitchell won a 2005 Tony Award for La Cage aux Folles and is directing the Broadway version of Legally Blonde.
The triple threats are judged by Tony Selznick, one of North America's top dance and choreography agents, and Rachel Hoffman, Broadway casting director.
Episode 6: Pastry Chefs
Johnny Iuzzini is the super hot “Crown Prince of Pastry” at famed NY restaurant Jean-Georges, and winner of the food industry's top honour, the 2006 James Beard Award for Best Pastry Chef.
He will mentor one of three up-and-coming pastry chefs who prepare a multi-course dessert tasting menu for the judges - Thomas Haas, Iuzzini's mentor and one of North America's top pastry chefs, and Judiaann Woo, food writer and the muse behind pastryscoop.com.
Episode 7: Event Planners
Judges Branden Chapman from the Grammys and Cyd Wilson from InStyle Magazine set the Hollywood gold standard for deluxe parties. They critique the work of three up-and-coming event planners, who must plan a Grammy VIP cocktail party in just two hours.
The contenders are vying for a mentorship with event planner to the stars Barton G. Weiss of Miami, and behind-the-scenes access to both the Grammy and Golden Globe after-parties.
Episode 8: Visual Merchandisers
Deluxe fashion retailer Holt Renfrew sets the gold standard for excellence in visual merchandiising – including window displays, instore marketing and branding.
Judges Tracey Peters, National Visual Merchandising Manager for Holt Renfrew, and Steve Kaufman, Editor of top trade publication “VM+SD” scrutinize 3 up-and-coming visual merchandisers as they create a window display using pop art as their inspriation.
The icon is John Gerhardt, Director of Creative Services for Holt Renfrew.
Episode 9: Movie Makeup Effects
Multiple Oscar-winning makeup artist Ve Neill (Beetlejuice, Ed Wood, Mrs. Doubtfire) will mentor one of three up-and-coming movie makeup artists who have to transform a female actress into an 18th-century male pirate.
The judges are Emmy Award-winning makeup artists Michael Key and Charles Porlier.
Episode 10: Fashion Stylists
Hollywood's hottest celebrity fashion styling duo, Estee and Cristina, are the icons for this episode about dressing celebrities for red-carpet appearances.
Three up-and-coming fashion stylists are judged by Suzanne Marchese, fashion editor of Us Magazine, and New York fashion stylist Nick Steele.
Episode 11: Singer-Songwriters
It's the opportunity of a llifetime for three promising singer-songwriters, as they head into a recording studio with a top record producer and some of North America's best session musicians to record a demo.
Judging their work are Los Angeles record executive Scott Austin, and Tami Lester of EMI Music Publishing in LA. The icon is multi-platinum recording artist and producer Meredith Brooks.
Episode 12: Advertising Copywriters
Three up-and-coming advertising copywriters pitch a multi-media advertising campaign to two of the top creative directors in North America: Chris Staples of Rethink Advertising and Tiffany Kosel of Crispin Porter & Bogusky.
The copywriter with the best pitch will be mentored by renowned advertising guru Sally Hogshead.
Episode 13: TV Hosts
Emmy Award-winning TV host Phil Keoghan, host of The Amazing Race, will mentor one of three up-and-coming young TV hosts, whose challenge is to front their own half-hour daytime talk show.
They're judged by top talent agent Liz Sherwin and Emmy Award-winning producer Bradford Brillowski of The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.