Page 2 of comments on Breaking Into Hollywood - How Do I Sell My Own Reality TV Show?
by Donna Michelle Anderson
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Diana, it is really important to remember three things: 1) there are very few original ideas, just original executions of them. Your idea can't be protected, but an developed treatment certainly can; 2) whatever your pitch is, someone just pitched it yesterday. What you add that is distinctive, such as a talent attachment, can be the difference between extraordinary shows like The Dog Whisperer and the-other-dozen-doggy-obedience-shows-that-didn't-sell; and 3) you cannot sell something no one sees. Far more help and info at my blog and book at Planet DMA.
Hi Donna, I have a unique reality show concept and a talented host as well with a 100,000 following of his own, and was told by a NY agent that they wanted us to produce a 5 minute reel of the show. Then maybe they would want a pilot, what is entailed with that on my part, are they looking to pay us for a pilot, and us to find a production company and how much do they pay? Do you suggest investing that initial reel time and money just to pitch the idea?? The agent said he wanted to see how the host related to other people on camera. Also how do I protect my idea?
Hi, it's DMA - good for you for starting with strong talent! Many of your questions are answered in great detail on my free blog at Planet DMA - please start there, and with my book, because a full explanation of reality pilots, reels, protection and more is beyond the scope of this brief comments section! For now, let me just remind you to put the idea of what you will be paid near the bottom of the list right now. There is not a lot of money (okay, "any money") - in the front end of this process. But you are making great choices to get started - keep working hard!Hi Donna. Your article answered most of my questions, but just out of curiosity I'd like to know what kind of money networks pay for 22 eps of shows like No Reservations, American Chopper or Little People, Big World. If I understand correctly, if I have a concept for a reality series, but DO NOT have the contacts or resources to develop it myself, the best I can do is bring it to a production company who will then cut me out of the process anyway which puts me right where I started minus my great concept. I won't get any credit or money, so essentially I'd be donating my concept so they can get rich. Remind me why anyone would want to get involved in this.Hi, it's DMA. The budget range for shows varies depending on the network, and your budget estimate will be impacted by your format, genre, shooting requirements and more. The trick from there is to find a network whose show range meets your estimate range - and to adapt your concept to work across multiple budget ranges. At the lowest in U.S. markets, you are looking at $60K for a half-hour episode or more than $2 mil for an hour. It completely depends, and that is what your professional reality line producer will bring to your pitch process. Remember, you do not keep that money as a fee! I think your understanding of some of the players is clear, and yes, it is a risky business if one is trying to break in with an idea rather than an executed show treatment with talent attached. Definitely read my blog thoroughly, and you will have a clearer view of the rules of the game. After that, the book walks you step-by-step through creating a sellable show and staying attached to it. You're right when you say "Why would anyone want to get involved" in the scenario you described, which absolutely does happen. What I want people to do is learn our business model first so they don't start tossing ideas at production companies and thinking that's the way to have a reality career or sell a show. There is a defined process in our business, just as in any others. And for everyone, I want to remind you that trying to open your reality career by selling a show is trying to start at the top of our business with no experience. Even if you get the opportunity due to a favor, it's a risky choice, and it could jeopardize your chance at a second shot. I say this consistently: there's little or no money up front in our world, so there's no reason to put all of your eggs in the "I'm going to sell a show" basket! That's why I blog and wrote the book - I think once people learn how our business does work, they'll be excited to give it a try. Fact beats fantasy for sure in reality TV. Thanks for the note, and be sure to post a comment when you read the blog at Planet DMA.
You guys are all nuts and destined to go round and round and never get anywhere. Here's a clue: Do the show yourself ! EVER THINK ABOUT THAT? Get an idea that is inexpensive and shoot it yourself and hire a couple guys to help. Hundred bucks a day each. You'll have five episode done in a week. Hire someone to help you edit on a budget. Do all five episodes for around $3,000. Put it on DVD, show it on the net, set up your own website, put ads on it to help pay for it. In short: become your own production company. Who the hell needs to grovel? With digital you can shoot it all yourself. Think 'Cops" costs alot? American Chopper? Dirty Jobs? HA ! Start out on a shoestring and if your show picks up, then worry about all the add ons like insurance, traveling and all that.The person suggesting that people finance and produce their own series does not understand the business model of television at all. This is not a college 'hey let's put on a show' kind of environment. Yes, there are models in which you can procure financing and produce and own your own show (buying time on Saturday morning for kids shows would be the best example). But putting up your own money to sell DVDs - likely all you will get for money is a lovely stack of DVDs to give away at Christmas.
First, cursing is neither necessary or welcome in this professional discussion. Rather than delete the post, I wanted to correct a few incorrect statements it contains in the event that others come along to this discussion and share the same misconceptions about how our business works.
1) What this poster has listed is a way to create a reel. What this is not good advice for is a way to create a sellable product. Not just to a network but to an audience. You know DIY when you see it, and you probably love it on YouTube (I certainly do!). But that doesn't mean it will make money or start a career for you, as most of the posters to video sites will attest.
2) Before you shoot one episode, and certainly five (in one week...why would anyone do that? What crew and participants and story could possibly benefit from that so you can save money?), there is a good deal of pre-production you have to do to prepare for the shoot days. From contracts to location deals to releases to accommodations for your participants and crew and more, as well as experienced staff, this costs money. NOT doing it will cost you more, trust me. If you hope to draw an audience, a professional editor will make a dramatic difference to your project. And lights and camera equipment matter - don't cheap out trying to make a buck.
3) If you don't know it, the budget numbers for what the writer is proposing are not realistic beyond producing 2-3 minute shorts with all crew and editing in as favors and no contracts on the table. Always include an experienced professional in your estimates so you don't get stuck with fees you can't cover based on a lack of familiarity with the true costs of production. Our Show Starter Scheduling & Budgeting Plus software is speedy and simple, even for estimates. Also, in the back of the book, I list a sample budget of what it will cost to pitch a show effectively.
4) Of course the listed shows cost far more than $3,000 for five episodes (that is approximately what an editor makes in a week). That is because they are professional productions that garner great ad dollars. Again, be mindful of your goal here. If you just want to have a product and don't care about gathering an audience or making money, that is fine. It's also a different business. This discussion is about reality television.
5) Um, please don't do any of this without insurance. Seriously. This is a business, and business cover themselves and their employees and property. Same goes for contracts/legal fees/lawyers; it is way more expensive to do things without them.
What I think is missing from the author's understanding is the actual business model of reality TV. If you shoot everything yourself and distribute it yourself, it gives you a great deal of control. But if you do not have the audience to watch your product or the considerable time and/or budget to find and retain that audience, you have no way of attracting advertising or even subscribers to pay for your expenses, including simple ad links that will generate meaningful income on your Web site. That is why people go to a third party, such as a network, and you work under that system in exchange for them funding the show, bringing their audience and selling it to advertisers.
I see that the general spirit of this article is "just do it yourself" - and as a new media advocate, I broadcast that spirit to all who will listen. But the product that you can do yourself if you know as little about production as the poster does is very different than what can ever be broadcast or sold to advertisers (unless you have substantial experience and connections in this field).
I really can't stress enough that coming into entertainment and thinking you can and should be successful without any experience or credentials is a waste of your time and the industry's. Rather than trying to figure out how much you can get for the least amount of effort, consider how much you can get for the most amount of effort. You don't get to do open heart surgery the day after you watch an E.R. episode, and you don't get to make quality product that audiences will enjoy the day after you watch Big Brother. There is a great deal of work and talent and brainpower that goes into this business. Underestimating that will only cost you money; it hurts no one else.
DIY videos are the heart and soul of YouTube and other terrific Web 2.0 sites. They are GREAT ways to express yourself. But they are difficult to launch a career with and make money from. If it is your goal to work professionally in reality television, and enjoy the perks that come with such a career, be prepared to work very hard indeed.
And in what career is that not an expectation anyway?I am in the process of selling my 13 episode tv show that I shot using my local TV Stations resources to a production/distribution company. I am being offered 500 per episode and 70% of comissions...what I am trying to find out (I do have a call into the company to find out but in the mean time) how much money on average I am going to make from one selling of the show...not to a major network or anythingany ideas?so it if the group of 13 shows sells to a station in china to air...how much on average would I make?Hi, Gina - a couple of distinctions I think you should make. First, is the buyer primarily a production company (which you do not need at this point) or a distribution company? If the latter, you are working out a syndication deal, and those points are to be hammered out between your attorney and theirs. It is not possible to determine what you will make, but you probably would want to contact other distributors before settling on this fee structure - or hire an attorney who has crafted such deals before.
I want a show about my life as a gay male with a gay mother and a gay sister very interesting dont you think.Reality is not about the characters, or even exclusively about their situation. It is about the change they undergo in the process of the show. What is missing from your inquiry is how you and your family member will change as a result of the environment and experience you are exposed to in the show. That is what you should privately structure to have a compelling pitch.
I am producing a tv series and have a small tv station that will air it, but I need to bring my own advertising. I have sent out marketing kit to potential advertisers and they forward it to there ad agencies. How do you approach ad agencies? They seem to hold all the cards.You are seeking the media planners or media buyers for the brands that are right for your particular project. Since you are dealing with one small TV station, I am guessing they have provided you with a list of their traditional advertisers or that you have watched enough of that station to see who is advertising.
Your next step is to prepare a "deck" or PowerPoint presentation including the audience you expect to reach by demographics, how you will retain them, your rates (even if provided by the station) and other necessary information for a buy. If this is entirely foreign to you, it is time to stop and hire a professional. There is no making money without spending money in this business, and if you have buy contingent on advertising, you should be able to find someone who will stick with you.I have a great idea for a reality tv show but it's a spin off of another show (american idol and canadian idol). What are the repercussions of having a show with a similar name? What are the first steps to put my idea into motion? I have a draft typed up with all show format and all the concepts, but what next? Can you help?This is going to be a big show!There is definitely room and excitement for new music-based competitive reality shows with an innovative twist, so good for you for considering a new format.
For the show name, you will not be able to use the word "Idol" without facing infringement issues. Even if it is not trademarked, which is most likely is, it would probably be declared misleading for you to use it in a non-affiliated show. Don't worry about the title yet; remembering "Dancing with the Stars" is a hit because of the show, not a familiar or buzzworthy name. It says what it is and delivers!
Shopping a show is an established process that includes developing the show format, networking for contacts to shop it to (including networks, production companies and established show runners in that genre, etc.) and developing the content to create something a network is willing to place an order for.
For much more information, please read my many free reality TV-related posts at Planet DMA's "Work Faster, Simpler, Smarter" blog for entertainment industry professionals (easy to Google!). Thanks for your comment!Thanks for the info, very informative indeed. As for the infringement part, it's a spin off of ""So you think"" you can Dance". For example, if the show was based around knitting (humourous example of course) ...."So you think you can knit" would that cross the boarders of infringement?I see that making relationships with production and broadcast companies is a key start. I'm here in Ontario Canada and hoping to get some contacts up here.Do you have any advise on how to 'pitch' the show to those companies.There are two key areas that I need some clairity on.The first, and I believe the most important is making the idea and rights legally mine. Would a lawyer 'trademark' or 'copyright' my idea, and search to see if some one has already moved the idea forward?Secondly, the pitch! I want to paint the perfect picture, the perfect presentation, so not only will those broadcast/production companies see the my passion but the massive potential and market.I'll leave a blog in a three years, when the show premiers....it's that good!Thanks very much for the info. Your selfless knowledge is truely remarkable!
omg! I have been looking for a sight like this. I am living in a world of wonder i guess thinking my reality tv show idea is amazing and that it will go on to many seasons and spin off reality tv series? I have a friend that had an idea for a show and it was similar to another show on tv already he got in contact with the producer of that show by emailing her and she emailed him back and they sent him a contract and he signed it and he will be getting paid if it makes it onto air. Fairytales do come true .....so now i am hell bent on thinking up ideas and trying to sell them to the right people . Dont give up?
How do I actually give my idea into the hollywood industry?I pitched my idea to an agency and they loved it. However, they want a lot of money from me to to produce a dvd or cd that they will then shop to various production companys. Is this the way its done and if so then I am sunk. I will never have that kind of money to give anyone to shop my idea!
Donna Michelle Anderson,I very much appreciate this blog; I will likely read your book. First, I will see if my local library has it there. (;-)I have many years experience in video production (I have an animation program in distribution and a feature documentary financed and in post-production). I am very new to reality TV though I feel I could manage to leverage contacts and put together the team to shoot a pilot episode for a reasonable amount of money. That said, I’m certain I won’t maximize my costs and the quality of production quite like a seasoned production company with the experience. So, I’m considering now just selling the idea to either a production company or a network and trying to keep myself attached as a producer on the program for credit and experience and some pay.Steps moving forward/Questions:1. Should I try to attach (via letters of interest or intent) the talent to the project to make my concept “indefensible”? The project requires specific types of people (Subject Matter Experts) and I’ve done some research on some who would be great for the program. I figure this might demonstrate I’ve done the leg work, also that I’ve already tapped into the particular target market for the program concept and that I know something to contribute to the execution of the idea. What are your thoughts?2) Who is better to approach, the networks or the production companies with the idea/treatment/attachments/some video, maybe? I would imagine if I focus on a network they can have more flexibility with evaluating and deciding who would be perfect for the production. However, the production company could bring it to the networks and might be more likely to work with me.I know to answer this effectively you might need to know my overall career goals and my immediate goals with the sale, development and distribution of this reality TV program idea I have. So here it is:Career Goal: In short, be the next J.J.Abrams (sans his parental contacts). I’m not even a big fan of his work though I think he’s very talented. However, why I compare to him is because I’d like to sell a TV show idea and be a producer on it (I don’t have to be show runner) that is based upon a book I have written. However, I also want to continue to write and direct documentaries (I have one financed and in post right now). And, I want to write and direct feature films, eventually. I need to get an agent and manager but I have to see how well my documentary fairs first likely or get this reality TV show idea sold, or any number of other TV show specs, and feature script specs that I have written.That said, how best to proceed in the sale of my reality TV idea?Thank you for your note, and I would urge you to read my blog at Planet DMA for far more detail on getting started. I wrote the book specifically to lay out the process of selling a show, and it is too much to go into here. If your public library does not offer the book, do ask them to carry it! The most important thing to address immediately from your note is that you will not be paid for the sale of a show and that you will not need to produce a pilot to shop the pitch. A solid treatment and a talent reel go very far.Since you are excited about a career in the biz, if you are not already in Los Angeles, New York or even SF, Chicago, Philadelphia or Orlando, I would encourage you to check out conferences like NATPE and RealScreen Summit, network, keep learning, and join a professional organization wherever you are. All the best with your projects.
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