Reality, Encinitas style

Encinitas may soon be the star in a new TV show. A pilot for a proposed “reality” series, entitled “Life on the Lot,” follows the lives of Gene and Karen Ventura; owners of EZ Cars 101, a car dealership on Coast Highway 101 that specializes in classic and muscle cars.

A customer of the Venturas said one day, while watching the coming and going of the cars and company’s staff, “This place is like a reality show.” Gene, having been in business for two years, said he realized he had some interesting stories. That got him to thinking about doing a TV show.

Filmed over a three-day period last November, the hired crew of camera persons, sound engineers, grips, make-up artists, and even a drone pilot, follows the day in the life of the Ventura family. Gene disappears to go surfing, almost misses his teenage daughter’s equestrian tryouts for college, still manages to host a charity event planned with pro skateboarders, all while trying to get a $37,000, 1968 Chevy Chevelle SS repaired and detailed for a buyer flying in from Seattle.

With the pilot’s episode entitled “Mondays Are Slow Days,” chaos ensues.

Produced by the Venturas (at a cost Gene preferred not to disclose), the production came together with Hollywood director Kevin Reem, who has done projects for Disney. L.A.-based TV writer Bobbi Fagone wrote the script. (The dialogue may be ad-libbed, but in most reality shows, direction is given as to what is supposed to happen in scenes.)

The 22½-minute episode includes scenes at the reef at Cardiff State Beach, the Leucadia Boulevard roundabouts, Coast Highway 101, and a horse arena in Rancho Santa Fe.

Gene will soon take the pilot to the annual National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) conference, where he says 80 percent of new television programming for the upcoming season gets attention. “It’s like Cannes for TV,” said Gene.

He thinks he has a good chance of signing with a major cable network.

“While most [pilots] have a three-and-a-half minute ‘sizzle reel’ to show, we have a real show, with real people and real stories,” said Gene. “It’s something the whole family can enjoy. It's about goodness and gratitude. I am grateful every day to have ended up in Encinitas.”

The premiere viewing of the pilot was held on January 10 at the reserved La Paloma Theatre, to hoots and hollers from the standing room only crowd of invited guests, city officials, and the “stars” — all customers and employees of EZ Cars 101.