worldsfunniestoptometrist

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Step 10: What is it all about, really?

What the series is really about is the question, “What if you could do the job you really want to do?” Would you risk everything to do your dream job? Rachel has done years of education, spent time and money completing an optometry degree that she pretty much hates. Her job is boring and dull. She would like to pursue her passion of stand-up comedy but she is afraid. Afraid that it is too late, disappointing her parents, being ostracized and ridiculed by her colleagues, losing her friends and being de-registered from her career.

[worldsfunniestoptometrist]

Step 9.5: Side ideas

Other cool things the web series could have:

A soundtrack made by optometrists. Here is the link to Sophie Koh, my fav optometrist musician.https://www.sophiekoh.com/#bookofsongs

Interactive material could include: Rachel answering Q&A’s; being interviewed by a child who just asks her what she had for lunch; Rachel gives her opinion on your glasses; viewers suggest an eye problem for Rachel; Rachel recommending products

A blog written by the character of Rachel

People could hire Rachel to MC their event/perform stand-up

Celebrity patients as guests

A side blog of actual optometrists with passions outside the field

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Step 9 (forgot I was doing the whole ‘Steps’ things - sorry continuity people): Monetization

There is definitely an opportunity for brand involvement. My husband and I actually have our own optometry practice which could help sponsor the web series. The optical industry also has numerous lens companies, frame companies, equipment manufacturers and contact lens companies who could be approached for sponsorship/brand opportunities. The series could also have potential to be sponsored by an optometry association due to the potential creation of awareness to common eye problems.

[worldsfunniestoptometrist]

Audience

My audience is most likely women; aged 20-55 who like to laugh and are fans of comedy, romantic comedies and quirky medical shows. My audience could also be people who are optometrists, in the optical profession or any medical/health care related field. My audience would probably watch 30 Rock, The Mindy Project, Modern Family, Scrubs, The Office, Web Therapy, Easy to Assemble, The Katering Show, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee and No Activity.

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Shows that I like

I love how No Activity feels like it’s about nothing, but is about something. Clever, funny and super entertaining. https://www.stan.com.au/watch/no-activity

I love The Katering Show. They have combined my love of cooking shows and comedy so beautifully. From their awkward on screen presence to their terrible food, I am laughing the whole time.  thekateringshow.com

I think Stand Up Guy is hilarious. I watched the first episode about him writing comedy and instantly related. Really well done and funny. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in1AQkp7oDU

I also thought I could do Rachel’s imaginary comedy world as a series of off camera quips or interviews as seen in The Office. Loved that show and loved the ‘interviews’ with the office staff. http://www.nbc.com/the-office

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Step 8: Inspiration

I am an optometrist who performs stand-up comedy and people are fascinated with how the two worlds juxtapose. They are very interested in how optometry can be funny or how an optometrist fits into the comedy world. And, how I even started in comedy.

I’m hoping the HINDSIGHT web series would be quirky, clever, funny and different and hopefully people will want to see it to laugh about what eye problem Rachel makes fun of next.

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I could also create Rachel’s imaginary world by having the patient ‘freeze’ in time as Rachel figures out her comedy routine based on their eye problem.

[worldsfunniestoptometrist]

For Rachel’s imaginary/fantasy comedy world, it could be like JD’s fantasy world in Scrubs.

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Slightly cheesy, nerdy but entertaining optometry song.

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Funny optometry song. Watch out, it’s super catchy.

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Step 7: Episode Story Outlines

The web series consists of single self-contained episodes that have Rachel and a patient in her consult room. As the patient describes their eye issue (and each episode will have a new eye problem), Rachel drifts off into her imaginary world where she creates a stand-up routine based on the patient’s eye problem. The skit’s jokes would be based on my actual stand-up comedy routines. Each episode would have their own theme like astigmatism, allergies, cataracts, contact lenses, etc. I also imagine a great theme song which contrasts the dull optometry career and her dream of a stand-up comedy career. There may also be episodes of her confronting her parents, co-workers and best friend with the news that she wants to try stand-up comedy. These episodes would also occur in her optometry practice.

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HINDSIGHT visual for Pinterest

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In the HINDSIGHT TV show concept, this was Rachel’s love interest. In the web series version of HINDSIGHT, there will also be a ‘hot’ optometrist in the office. Perhaps we could look at casting Liam Hemsworth? I know, I’ve set my goals really low.

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In the HINDSIGHT TV show concept, this was Rachel’s BFF.

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Step 6: Characters

Besides Rachel, there would be an antagonist character (her arrogant co-worker), her BFF ( non optometrist), her parents and other work colleagues. They would not all be in the same episode but just feature in certain ones. The main character opposite Rachel would be her new patient/comedy muse each episode.

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Another hilarious commercial we made about optometrists wearing white coats in the consult room. On a side note, I was probably about 7-8 months pregnant in this clip. Nothing like leaving filming to the last minute. Luckily, this didn’t turn into a birthing video. However, if it did, I am fully confident that Big Daddy Tazz (seen in video) could get the job done.

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This is actually me at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival doing jokes about my patients and optometry. It was aired nationally on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) in 2015. Backstage I ate a steak and had a mini-massage. Good times!