Turn a Book Into a TV Show Part 2 – And Then Some

Chad Gervich (author, executive producer, TV writer and reality producer) is back for part 2 of how to turn a book into a TV show. Plus — for the first time EVER in public, we share how we accidentally fooled a former NBC president into giving us a career. This Episode Our very first guest, Chad Gervich, is back bringing more crazy good stuff. * Making a project work for a network — even when it’s wrong for them. * Why we were okay getting screwed over in our first network deal. * A great trick to get studio execs to approve edgy jokes. * An excellent reason to produce and shoot your own TV pilot — and it’s got nothing to do with selling it to a TV network. * How, with Chad’s help, we accidentally bamboozled a former NBC president into launching our career. Yes, the Insane Confession is in this Episode Never, ever, ever before have we publicly admitted how we inadvertantly tricked Warren Littlefield into launching the career we have today. Cat’s finally out of the bag. Enjoy! About the Amazing Chad Gervich Chad Gervich, award winning playwright, TV writer, book author, executive producer, and very funny man convinced his boss, Warren Littlefield, to take a chance on us many years ago. One of the few teachers in the world who actually has a career in the field he teaches in, Chad Gervich is the rare kind of guy anyone would be lucky to know. His new book How to Manage Your Agent is available now, and is probably the most practical approach to getting, keeping, and working with a Hollywood agent ever written. (Full podcast episode on getting and keeping a Hollywood agent featuring Chad’s advice coming in mid-January.) He also wrote the indispensable Small Screen, Big Picture (our post about it) that covers everything about working in television, both scripted and unscripted. Yes, we’re a little biased because he’s our friend, and we’re interviewed in both books, but trust us…this is good stuff. Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne Update As mentioned in the podcast, Variety broke the news that our new show Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne will premiere Monday, January 13, at 10pm on A&E. Here’s the official story. Our next podcast episode will feature Andrew Mayne and his producing partner Mary Jaras as we discuss building a series around an existing talent, something you MUST do to break into this business. Press the giant red “Play” button above for lots of usable advice — and our public confession! Transcript coming soon! Come Make a Show With Us! You know how to confidently approach an author or business owner who might be right for a TV show. So what’s next?

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*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.