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Making a pitch to a TV Network
Lucascraft
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Just curious if anyone has any experience or advice with this.
My brother and I have a really good idea that we'd like to shop around to the various TV networks with the hopes that they'd like our idea and want to buy it from us and actually produce the show.
However, I don't really know the first thing about how to even begin making a pitch.
I know that this is usually handled through agents. Agents are the people with the connections, and they use their connections for a price and a cut. But I don't like the idea of leeches, which are basically what agents are. They take a cut of the profits for something they have nothing to do with, other than making a few phone calls. Just wondering if there's a way around it or if there are any sorts of methods to use which would be safer for the guys with the ideas.
My brother and I have a really good idea that we'd like to shop around to the various TV networks with the hopes that they'd like our idea and want to buy it from us and actually produce the show.
However, I don't really know the first thing about how to even begin making a pitch.
I know that this is usually handled through agents. Agents are the people with the connections, and they use their connections for a price and a cut. But I don't like the idea of leeches, which are basically what agents are. They take a cut of the profits for something they have nothing to do with, other than making a few phone calls. Just wondering if there's a way around it or if there are any sorts of methods to use which would be safer for the guys with the ideas.
Lucascraft on
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An agent is paid based on a cut of the deal he gets you, right?
So if an agents cut is 10%, you'd have to make a deal for 90% of what he'd get you to break even.
An agent is going to know the industry, so he'll know what your show is worth and not price your idea too high and lose any studio interest.
I don't know what you know about pricing for ideas, but judging by the tone of your post, you're not likely to know the upper and lower limits for what you're proposing, meaning getting 90% using an agent would probably be better than 100% of what you get trying to sell it yourself.
OTOH, if you have an idea of what you want to be paid for what you're proposing, and don't care if that's half of what you could get for it, then by all means. Money isn't the most important thing in the world unless you literally have none.
Sorry, I know it's not really the advice you were asking for.
You will have to get someone to help you get your foot in the door.
I want to say to be careful about getting your Idea stolen, but I have no idea how true this paranoid idea is.
Good luck on getting a shot at pitching your Idea. Im interested in hearing what your Idea is, maybe you can kind of tell us what other shows it would be like, if it is a cartoon/sitcom/drama/mini-series or anything else.
And don't be discouraged if you are told your Idea sucks, but if you are told that it sucks from multiple sources do not be delusional about it. Get feedback and improve on the idea.
An agent provides a service, in that s/he has knowledge and experience you lack entirely. Odds are, they're going to get you way more money than you'd get on your own (especially since without an agent, odds are the amount you'll get is "zero"), and yeah, they'll take a cut of it, but they work for it; they shop your idea around, spend time on the phone, have been going out and schmoozing with the people you want to shop your script to just in case something comes up, etc. Don't they deserve to get paid for their time?
The only way you could go about this without an agent involves sending portions of the script for people to read to pique their interest. I imagine that is not something you want to do.
As for intellectual theft - you need to see a lawyer or something too. Who is a leech. And will take money off you for telling you stuff that agent could also probably have told you for free....
Anyway, good luck either way, and post the pilot details if something good comes out of it.
Most likely an entertainment lawyer.
...
I'm hoping at least a story arc, character profiles and some scenes written.
My TV writing teacher told me that you don't pitch ideas. He said you start by writing a spec script for an existing show, using that to get an agent who then uses that to get you a job writing for that show or another like it, and then eventually someday when you have enough clout, you can pitch the higher ups your fabulous new idea for a TV show. And typically you'd want to have the treatment with you and the pilot script standing by.
Alternately, you'd approach it from the development side and work your way up as an assistant and then eventually as a producer you would pitch the idea and then get a writer to write the script for you. For money.
I myself have taken a screenwriting class in college. I'm familiar with spec scripts and that angle. But that is unfortunately not what is needed in this case.
Have you considered that your idea alone isn't really that novel or world-changing and that instead you're having a little attack of wishful thinking or a few delusions of grandeur?
Feel free to share it here and maybe we can help you figure out where to go with it (i.e., the staggering amount of work and luck between you and a TV show).
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Do you know people in the industry? Do you know who (like, the specific person not just the position) to talk to to get the right eyes and ears on your idea? Do you know writers, producers, editors etc.? Do these people know you and are willing to take your calls?
An Agent does.
Like someone else said, they are the waiter who brings you your food. They are the financial advisor who puts your money in the right place, the guy who makes sure you get the most money possible for your idea (because that gets them paid too!), and the best part about all that is they will take care of all that stuff so you can focus on your "idea."
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My 10 commandments of game reviewing
7 Great Games Playing Watch_Dogs will remind you of/url]
Far Cry 4: 10 Essential Features it Must Have
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In the interest of being helpful, maybe this avenue will work for you. But frankly, everyone has ideas. I'm sure you think yours is really super special (and maybe it is!) but ideas are seriously a dime a dozen. People don't get paid to have ideas.
Now, how does one become somebody? You need to get on people's radar. You can do that by either, A: following the above advice of writing spec scripts and getting a job and experience. Or you can actually create something, get people interested, and maybe land a deal (still a 1 to 10000 chance).
I run a company based inside some space in a TV production/studio in the UK and I've become friendly with the engineers, crew and managers.
Some of whats been said is true, some is rubbish. Its true you need to meet the right people, they need to like you and you need a sound well thought out concept. But as for not being accpeted because you are "a nobody" thats complete rubbish.
Ive seen and sat in on meetings with people off the street who have had the balls to walk into the studio and pictch their idea to the management (after arranging a chat over lunch) and get their ideas made into pilots within months.
Now 60-70% of these will never be taken on but there is always a chance they might be bought by TV channels in the UK or might even get sold abroad.
My advise (if you were in the UK) would be to find a local production house and find someone to talk to, they often will make it for free but use some kind of rights deal where if its commisioned they will take a % of all profits.
So like the guild but minus the script? I'd watch that.
@gamefacts - Totally and utterly true gaming facts on the regular!
That being said, you can't just hire an agent. They have to decide whether or not you would make a viable client. Beyond that you might need money as a lot of agents require a retainer much like a lawyer.
They always say in the game industry that ideas are a dime a dozen - everyone has ideas. What matters is the skill to get the ideas made. I imagine it is the same on TV.
If you don't want to pay your dues working up the TV industry, try to make your idea on the cheap as an internet show. If it does well, you can build up reputation and expertise that way.
edit: Also local network affiliates.
Shogun Streams Vidya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvICsV6bHZg&feature=channel
For that matter, don't be afraid to try new things and post them, you never know what can catch on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_eFvKtSMV8&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fuser%2FANTVGM64&feature=player_profilepage
Spike Lee said something to the effect that it's easier now than ever to make it into the industry, with Youtube, cameras being so cheap, and so on.
I'm not saying those videos are particularly good, nor am I saying that posting them on the internet will have Aaron Sorkin and Steven Bochco knocking at your door, but it's worth trying, and not particularly expensive - I shot those on a HD flip cam.
Facebook: MeekinOnMovies
Twitter: Twitter.com/MeekinOnMovies
My 10 commandments of game reviewing
7 Great Games Playing Watch_Dogs will remind you of/url]
Far Cry 4: 10 Essential Features it Must Have
10 Videogames Ruined By The Hype
Honestly, your best fucking bet is to make the show yourself, get an internet audience, and then approach an agent. An agent will not help you unless they think they can sell you. Also, writing mock scripts for pre-exisiting shows and getting them produced (comedy clubs will sometimes do readings of scripts) will help get you out there.