5 Tips: True Crime Series – Develop Deep Dives

“Deep Dive” True Crime Series – you’ve seen them. The Jinx. Making a Murderer. Our own upcoming CNN/HLN series, Unmasking a Killer, is also a deep dive. How do these series work? How can you develop true crime series like these? And why do these types of series come with far more responsibility than others? Today we share five crucial tips you need to know. Plus…where we’ve been for the last two months.   True Crime Series – Just What Is a Deep Dive? In terms of true crime series in unscripted television, a “deep dive” is an exploration of a single case over several…or many…episodes. As mentioned above, The Jinx and Making a Murderer are recent, popular examples of this style of TV. Also, our own upcoming CNN/HLN TV series Unmasking a Killer, is a true crime deep dive. (Proud to say this was just announced – and we’re thrilled to be working with CNN/HLN) However, there are some specific things you need to consider before developing any true crime series (and we go into FAR greater depth in today’s podcast episode, so be sure to listen.) [tweet_box]5 Tips to Develop Deep Dive True Crime Series for TV & Film[/tweet_box] True Crime Series: Not Just Entertainment. Not At All. The big thing you must remember about producing true crime series is that the people sharing their stories have been through something unspeakably awful. They are not reality TV contestants. They’re not big personalities who want their fifteen minutes of fame. These are human beings, and if they choose to trust you with their story, they have a reason. * Maybe they’re a survivor who wants to inspire other victims to pull through. * They may be family members who want to memorialize a loved one, while sharing a message to others in their situation. * Police who sit for an interview may do so in hopes that just one person, somewhere, will pick up a tip that could save their lives. * Or perhaps your story (like our new series) covers an active investigation, and the airing it could help provide victims with justice. If anyone sits for you, they’re not thinking about making entertainment. For them, a true crime series is about something much more. A true crime producer can never forget that. Yes, It’s Still TV and Film Of course your series still needs to be compelling. If people don’t watch, no message will be heard. No criminals will be apprehended. No good can be done. But more than any other genre of TV, we believe true crime comes with real responsibility. We go into this and so much more in this podcast episode. Just some of what we cover today: * The responsibility of true crime and dealing with real stories from real people * The gut check we’ve always used when making our shows * Why make a true crime series in the first place? * Your “why now” and what you need to share with TV networks * What attachments are necessary to pitch a deep dive true crime series? * What about cases that have a real time, active investigation angle? * Your second hook for a true crime series – how does it work? * And…where we’ve been for the last two months. Plus, the future of this podcast. True crime may seem like an exciting genre to new producers, but it has its own rules. More importantly, it comes with a lot of responsibility. If you’re passionate about producing true crime series — and in it for the right reasons — today’s podcast will help you immensely.

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.