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If you believe you have a great idea for a Reality TV show, you can sell it even if you don't have any experience or contacts. Here is a brief guide.
Steps
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Create your basic idea. You need to be able to describe your idea in 30 words or less. This will be called your logline. It should tell the premise and agenda of the show.
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Create a format for your show. In other words, provide an outline of what will happen during the show. For example, in "Dancing with the Stars," celebrities are paired with ballroom dance professionals who then compete in live dance exhibitions where they are then judged by a panel of judges and the television audience. Write the specific and main events of each episode, including any elimination, also showing how it evolves over the course of the season to a final episode.Advertisement
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Increase your chances of success by getting professional TV advice. Avoiding this step can be like going to court without legal advice! Professional TV advisors are usually current or ex senior TV pros. They'll help you shape your idea so that it makes sense to the industry. The good ones will help you get funding and even walk it into the senior industry figures for you (google 'professional tv advisors' or similar)
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If you want to 'go it alone' you can develop a list of producers to pitch the show. There are industry directories such as the Hollywood Creative Directory that list most producers and what kind of shows or movies they produce. Using a reference book like this, you can build a contact list.
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Pitch the shows to producers. Almost all Production companies prohibit unsolicited pitches, so you'll have to call a lot of companies to find any development executives or producers who may take submissions. If they do, you will most likely be required to sign a release form. Be polite, but direct in your communications.
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Use the TV industry's online marketplace, such as the TV Writers Vault , to submit your Reality Show Idea. There you will receive protected exposure, with electronic record of any Producer reviewing your material. Producers will then contact you directly for any deal proposal. You do not need an Agent when using these types of services, but always use an Attorney to negotiate and close any deal proposed when you're selling your project.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat is a release form when selling a show idea?TVWV71Community AnswerIf you're submitting a TV show idea in treatment form or other method, you'll most likely be required to sign a Material Release form IF they're willing to take a pitch directly at all. In a standard release form, the production company will typically require you to agree that they may create and produce similar subjects or themes. The language is more specific, but the intention is to protect them due to their position in the industry, and the fact that they work on tons of concepts in-house and in collaboration with others. To not require that would be to tie their hands with blind exposure to anything that came in to them. In contrast, they should agree to non-disclosure of your pitch.
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QuestionI registered my reality show idea with the Writers Guild of America. Is that adequate protection for my idea?TVWV71Community AnswerIt's always a good idea to get proof of creation with time-stamped archival at a place like the WGA, but the second measure of protection you need is "proof of exposure" to any third party anytime you pitch the project. That way you have proof that you created the project prior to exposure to the third party in conflict, as they would also then have to prove independent creation by themselves prior to viewing your pitch.
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QuestionDoes TV Writer's Vault earn its revenue from the people who pitch the ideas or the industry?Community AnswerSince the industry is the draw, and executives would never pay to review ideas. People pitching at the TV Writer's Vault pay listing fees (membership). It's also important to point out that the TV Writer's Vault takes no financial participation in any deal or production, from either side. Not needing an Agent, and retaining 100% ownership of your project to negotiate any deal makes the TV Writer's Vault a good place to connect with producers and sell your reality show ideas.
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Tips
- Find ways to make your concept different and appealing. Take time to see what's already out in the market and what is missing.Thanks
- Find ways to make your concept different and take time to see what's already out in the market.Thanks
- Remember: An idea is not a commodity. A well-developed format or unique take on that idea is.Thanks
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Warnings
- It's very hard to protect your ideas for a reality show. But one thing that you can do is register your summary with the Writers Guild of America. You can find them easily with an internet search and register online for a modest fee of about $20. This at least establishes that you did create this idea and when. The TV Writers Vault provides proof-of-exposure to any Producers reviewing your material, which is the second measure of protection you need to have when selling your reality show idea.Thanks
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About This Article
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Reader Success Stories
- "This is awesome. I have a brilliant idea to create a new reality show, and it's really helping me to get the basics right. I'm not so good in documenting, but I think getting the formats and the right wording used in the industry can get me closer to getting my show on the screen. Thanks." ..." more
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"This is awesome. I have a brilliant idea to create a new reality show, and it's really helping me to get the basics right. I'm not so good in documenting, but I think getting the formats and the right wording used in the industry can get me closer to getting my show on the screen. Thanks."
..."
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"This is very helpful, also try searching for free templates online such as synopsis for scripts and the rest by name. That alone can save so much time, so you can focus on perfecting your creation."
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"You helped me decide that I could have an idea produced. Getting started now, thanks. If the idea does not get produced, the production of the idea will be the main reason the idea works."
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"I watch reality TV shows all the time. Thanks."
"I have an idea, and this article helped a lot."
