How to Create and Pitch an Idea for a Reality TV Show
Identify the category of reality series you want to create., Create the unique "hook" for your show., After you've decided on your show's premise and unique hook, you'll be able to create a captivating Title for your reality show that supports the...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Identify the category of reality series you want to create.
This may be a "Docu-Style" series that shows viewers a unique world, family, lifestyle or business.
Or it may be a competition series with a structured format, leading to an ultimate winner or specific result. -
Step 2: Create the unique "hook" for your show.
This will be the unique premise and agenda that fuels the events in the series, and the ultimate result that we witness. , A title should be clever, clear, have impact, and tell us what we're essentially watching. ,, This may involve the elimination of contestants based on competition or choices by judges or other person, or it may involve points or votes awarded that lead to a single winner each episode or at season end. ,, This provides third party proof that you created this specific and unique expression of a TV format at a specific date and time. , Never send your pitch unsolicited, but DO send a direct query requesting permission to submit your reality show pitch for their consideration. , Production Companies scouting online at websites like the TV Writers Vault are required to agree to a "Non Disclosure" agreement, and are tracked electronically by the database as they access materials, reading your TV show pitch.
Although most companies do not take unsolicited pitches, it is still critical that you make efforts to find direct connections to Development Executives and Producers at Production Companies.
Some will take a pitch submission, and most will require you to sign a "Material Release Form" which acknowledges their role within the creative TV Industry and the fact that they may already be working on a similar or identical project, and therefore have the right to Produce such. , Follow that with specific descriptions of what we're potentially seeing unfold in the show.
But don't get bogged down in too much detail.
You want to give the powerful highlights in very efficient beats.
This may include the specific challenges, or ultimatums and contestants or subjects face. , This is gives the production company exclusive rights, for a limited time period (typically 12 months) to sell your TV show idea to a Network. , A standard producing deal for a TV show idea created, should include an on-screen "Created by" credit, some form of Producing credit, a Per Episode Fee (usually a percentage of the show's per episode budget), and small percentage of the production company's profits. -
Step 3: After you've decided on your show's premise and unique hook
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Step 4: you'll be able to create a captivating Title for your reality show that supports the core concept.
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Step 5: If you're creating a "Docu-Style" series idea
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Step 6: you'll want to focus on writing a synopsis including these three things; describing the specific people involved and their relationships
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Step 7: describing the unique world the show takes place in
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Step 8: and describing the potential events that will unfold.
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Step 9: If you're creating a competition format
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Step 10: focus on writing a synopsis of the "arc" of the series that describes how the competition works and progresses over the course of the season.
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Step 11: Once you create and write your Title
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Step 12: Logline
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Step 13: and Synopsis
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Step 14: you should ideally have a very brief but impactful pitch between 1 and 4 pages.
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Step 15: Prior to any exposure in the marketplace (Production Companies
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Step 16: Agents
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Step 17: Networks
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Step 18: or Marketing Services) get proof-of-creation by researching online archival services for your reality TV show pitch.
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Step 19: Research Production Companies that produce similar shows within the same genre as yours.
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Step 20: Use TV Industry Websites that Producers use for scouting new TV show ideas and formats.
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Step 21: When pitching Producers in person
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Step 22: be very direct by immediately communicating the unique agenda of the show.
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Step 23: When a Production Company is interested
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Step 24: they will propose an "Option Agreement" to you
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Step 25: for your project.
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Step 26: Be sure to consult with an Attorney before signing any deal.
Detailed Guide
This may be a "Docu-Style" series that shows viewers a unique world, family, lifestyle or business.
Or it may be a competition series with a structured format, leading to an ultimate winner or specific result.
This will be the unique premise and agenda that fuels the events in the series, and the ultimate result that we witness. , A title should be clever, clear, have impact, and tell us what we're essentially watching. ,, This may involve the elimination of contestants based on competition or choices by judges or other person, or it may involve points or votes awarded that lead to a single winner each episode or at season end. ,, This provides third party proof that you created this specific and unique expression of a TV format at a specific date and time. , Never send your pitch unsolicited, but DO send a direct query requesting permission to submit your reality show pitch for their consideration. , Production Companies scouting online at websites like the TV Writers Vault are required to agree to a "Non Disclosure" agreement, and are tracked electronically by the database as they access materials, reading your TV show pitch.
Although most companies do not take unsolicited pitches, it is still critical that you make efforts to find direct connections to Development Executives and Producers at Production Companies.
Some will take a pitch submission, and most will require you to sign a "Material Release Form" which acknowledges their role within the creative TV Industry and the fact that they may already be working on a similar or identical project, and therefore have the right to Produce such. , Follow that with specific descriptions of what we're potentially seeing unfold in the show.
But don't get bogged down in too much detail.
You want to give the powerful highlights in very efficient beats.
This may include the specific challenges, or ultimatums and contestants or subjects face. , This is gives the production company exclusive rights, for a limited time period (typically 12 months) to sell your TV show idea to a Network. , A standard producing deal for a TV show idea created, should include an on-screen "Created by" credit, some form of Producing credit, a Per Episode Fee (usually a percentage of the show's per episode budget), and small percentage of the production company's profits.
About the Author
Kenneth Hill
Specializes in breaking down complex organization topics into simple steps.
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