What Goes in a Pitch Tape? Should You Make One?

We’ve talked a lot in the past about making great tape — and how NOT to go broke producing it — but what goes in a pitch tape? How long should it be? What are the must have ingredients? More importantly, should you even make one? Your Questions Finally Answered Many, many of you have written and asked about making pitch tapes. Today’s episode will give you the answers you need (and remind you that a pitch tape is not the only way to make yourself valuable.) Have a listen to today’s podcast to find out * what other ingredients should go in a pitch tape * how a format tape is different than a docu tape * why you probably don’t want to make a format tape in the first place * why you might not want to make a pitch tape at all. * a lot more! Press the giant red “Play” button above for the answers. How About a Sample? As we mention in this week’s episode, you’re best off trying to break in with a docu-soap or hybrid pitch tape based on real characters. (Don’t know what these words mean? See Pitch Reality TV Shows and Documentary Series with These 5 Magic Words.) There’s probably no better example than this series trailer for the original season of Pawn Stars. We’d start here, then get the tape to the 3 to 6 minute range by adding extended interviews from the characters: Now have a listen to the podcast ep and fill in all the blanks. It will be 17 minutes well spent. Press the giant red “play” button above — and make the right decisions about your pitch tape. Transcript coming soon! Now you know what goes in a pitch tape. When you decide to make one, you’re gonna pitch it to us, right? Let’s make some TV togehter!

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.