By Script…, Lots of the advice about selling scripts and advancing your screenwriting career says you need to live in L.A to…. Thanks for reaching out, and Happy New Year! I’ve written 4 original TV pilot scripts (one comedy, family comedy/drama and 2 crime drama’s) and have ideas for 2 more, one which would be a hit with youths, I also have a couple of ways to retain viewers, but know the Studios will not listen to someone outside the Industry. I’m going to assume it’s an exclusive agreement…so the producer should be controlling all aspects of development and bringing it to market. How it’s told. When your pitch connects with a producer and they want to commit their resources to develop and sell your show to a Network, they first must secure your project with an Option Agreement so they have the exclusive right to sell and produce the show. I have been working on and trying to “fine tune” my pitch. Focus on Film: Advice and strategies for meeting producers who are making the kind of thing you’re writing. Dark and naturalistic or bright, vibrant and heart-warming? I appreciate your blog so much.
But that doesn’t mean you want to reach at a specific show a Network or Studio owns, and try to sell something they already own. Do we need a showreel or is the logline, synopsis of each episode and the potential people/ cast enough? The most valuable thing you can leave with, outside of selling the pitch in the room or on the chat, is to make a new fan of your approach to projects.
I write, develop and create pitch decks for producers and writers if you care to reach out to me for specifics on that process. Hi Anthony- I have an idea for a docu-reality show, called [title redacted], (which I have submitted on TV Writers Vault) which I hope will inspire others to follow their passion. Thanks for the question.
It depends on the format. Obviously, I know what a synopsis is, but I’d love to do the best research possible and what approach tends to work on your website. One of the studio executives that I met via your site is very interested in one of my pitches. Pretoria (South Africa). Networking at industry events like NATPE or any screenwriting conferences are good venues. Thank you in advance.
Don’t count yourself out as a Writer so quickly. So you’ll want to be very clear and confident about that core idea so that as they peel the onion, it gets better and better. She smiled and said,”I love when that happens“. BUT we’re in one of the best times in ages to be pitching scripted projects.
Not generic stock ideas that aren’t fully developed, or that have already been explored fifty times over in the development hell of Hollywood. This is the first time of many that you should ask yourself, “what are we actually, specifically, watching?”. Check out the TV Writers Vault post on “Creating Loglines” to better understand the power of pitching ideas. There’s no way to predict the activity of the executives and producers (individuals) searching and soliciting pitches.
But YOU will help the universe when you put in the work to create something that inspires. It really tests the writer to see if they know their project well, and more often than not, if you can’t create a strong logline, then the idea itself isn’t strong enough. I’m glad you’re enjoying it, Daniel. The producers deal with the same frustrations as they try to develop fresh material, but often getting turned down at the network level because “we already tried to develop that three years ago, and here’s why its not as entertaining as it sounds”. Or does it? This is what fuels the storyline. If you’re feeling strong about the idea, and you work it out to a point of it being ready for market, the TV Writers Vault has a lot of producers who scout new ideas for TV game shows. You can find some great insight on creating and pitching reality TV show ideas at “How To Pitch A TV Show Idea“. Just to make sure you don’t take any of that the wrong way, I’m just stating what’s on my mind and my take on matters, and I do appreciate your response nonetheless. In the end, it comes down to the language in the agreement. Your tv series pitch bible is not that. Any tips would help immensely! I take joy in helping others navigate the TV/Film industry and develop their talent. Make it a paragraph. Its two or three sentences that help the producer reading the pitch understand the core agenda of your unique character(s) and the compelling plight they face.
So, to answer your question, rewriting can always help if the person doing the writing is a professional in the specific genre. Also, keep in mind that the original and core “idea” that you’re pitching is what fuels every step of the process.