5 Steps to Develop Shows Without Going Broke

Want to develop shows for unscripted television, whether documentary series, reality TV, or documentary specials? There’s one thing you just can’t get around.You need great tape. Unless your plan to develop shows for our industry involves shooting and editing a terrific piece of video along the way, you risk being thought of as an idea person, someone who doesn’t know how to make yourself valuable. UPDATE: Since this post we’ve built a submission portal, so you can submit your submission agreement and initial materials together. Learn more in this cheat sheet on pitching to us. However, the advice in today’s podcast ep still stands and is CRUCIAL…so be sure to listen. Because, as we know first hand… It Costs Money, Time, and Resources to Develop Shows With Great Tape That’s why here in episode 004 of Producing Unscripted we discuss: * 5 bullet proof steps to develop shows without going broke when pitching to us * Step-by-step process of connecting with us to take your concept from idea to finished video pitch * How we used the same process to get our new documentary on the air at MTV We Constantly Develop Shows… …but it’s not always easy. With every idea we come up with on our own, and every pitch we receive, we have to ask ourselves: * Are there any networks that would make this show right now? * Do we want to make this show? * Would it be a good show? * How hard would it be to make a great tape to sell this show? * Who’s life will be changed for the better if we got this show on TV? * Is this show possible to produce, or a pie in the sky idea (i.e. reality show at the White House.) * Do we want to team up with the people pitching us this show? * Will we still want to develop shows when this is all over? 🙂 That’s why… To Develop Shows is to Play a Numbers Game Simply put, the more shows you develop, the more shows you’ll sell. However, as we talk about in this week’s Producing Unscripted podcast episode, there has to be a “weed out” process at some point in the development pipeline. Just because an idea pops into your head doesn’t mean you should rush out and make a tape to try to sell it. You have to make educated guesses about where to put your money, time, and resources when you develop shows. How Do We Know When to Further Develop Shows? After more than a decade in the business, we can tell you the old Hollywood axiom is true: Nobody knows nothin’. An idea we pass on today might be a smash hit tomorrow. The show we take a chance on that goes against everything our agents tell us should work might end up lighting the world on fire. That said, we’ve been in unscripted TV for a while. We’re no longer the new kids on the block, begging networks to meet with us.

Om Podcasten

*Named "New and Noteworthy" across all podcasts, as well as TV & Film, Arts, and Education. Subscribe now. Ready to create, pitch, and sell documentary series, unscripted TV shows or reality series and specials? From creating pitch tapes to meeting with TV networks, developing your ideas to discovering reality TV stars, this podcast features tips on working in unscripted film and television that you won't find anywhere else. Get top-industry secrets and even pitch your shows to Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers and Unscripted Television Producers Joke Fincioen and Biagio Messina. Recently, the duo have helped both new and experienced producers bring projects to television on MTV, BIOGRAPHY CHANNEL, INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY, A&E, and CNN/HLN. Your show could be next. Subscribe now. ABOUT JOKE AND BIAGIO: With over a decade of experience in unscripted film and television, this married couple has made TV shows, specials, and pilots for CNN, HLN, A&E, The CW, Biography Channel, NBC, CBS, Discovery, Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, E!, IFC, Logo, Oxygen, Style Network, VH1 and MTV. Their feature length documentary DYING TO DO LETTERMAN played in theaters across America, was invited by the International Documentary Association to qualify for Academy Award® consideration, and named “New and Noteworthy” on iTunes alongside The Dark Knight Rises, Brave, and Beasts of the Southern Wild. Subscribers to this podcast will learn the secrets of the Unscripted TV and Film worlds, and how to apply them toward career success. Subscribe today.