First of all, let me say what an honor it is to be accepted into the New York Television Festival. Last year, when I wrote The Hub, thinking it would be me and five friends with wigs and moustaches doing all the parts in my friend's basement, to this point writing this, it has been a surreal trip. I've never had enough money to fund what I wanted, and this was no different. But after contacting a local Boston casting agency, Color of Film, having the wonderful Lisa Simmons bring in all these amazing actors to audition my lines...well, things just happened. I didn't think where I would get the money or who would help. I had the script, I knew where I wanted to shoot, and I had the Coppola family mantra running through my head: "Just do it. Don't think how you will, just do it."
So I did it.

I've lived in Boston off-and-on for eight years now (and no matter how far away I get...Japan, LA...I always seem to come back to it.) I had no crew contacts, no one that I knew within the film community, but it didn't matter: the actors were ready, the project was ready; there was no stopping it.
And then I met Sharon, now my producing partner, and it all happened. We did it. Over five weekends, all around Boston and one in Brookline and one in Randolph. We used local Boston actors (and one was even an electrician and one an MBTA inspector.)
And then, on Sharon's behest, I re-edited the original 45 minute first episode into a 22-minute version, submitted it to the festival, and here we are, with a series written into five episodes and planned to the end with the pilot episode in the New York Television festival.
Truly amazing.


Submission Questions Answers:

Background:

The Hub was conceived one day as producer Brian
Neuls was reading an article in the Boston Globe.  A
police detective referring to the suspect in a criminal
case he had just lost vowed, “He will kill again.”
According to Neuls, the story evolved from that line. 
His interest broadened into creating a crime show set
in a city with a reputation for racial tension and
starring an undercover African-American FBI agent who
operates very closely with the element he is attempting
to infiltrate. The cast is composed of local actors all
very active in the Boston theater and independent film
scenes.

What advice would you give those making pilots
for the 2007 NYTVF?

I would say, first-and-foremost, just do it. Don't wait
for someone to help you or to tell you what to do.
Just start, and the rest will come.  Don't think about
your resources or what's available. Don't think anyone
won't let you shoot there or will force you to have
permission. With today's technology, if you have the
ability and enough passion, all you need is you and a
camera and actors.
                                – Brian Neuls