From Pitch, to Pilot, to Millions…or at least enough to pay your studio apartment rent.

With my last post focusing on landing an agent and having that unique proprietary element to get you ahead in the rat race that is reality television, I thought I would point in the direction of some tools I have found helpful in getting one step further to producing great reality television. An interesting website I came across last year is videojug.com. Videojug.com is an assorted jungle of wonderful information whether you’re learning how to cook, date, or most importantly ;-), learn how to produce reality television.  

Here you’ll find some great videos featuring interviews with some very successful reality television executives, giving their inside scoop on how to “make it happen”. Mark Cronin, a reality television executive producer and owner of 51 Minds, takes some time and explains what happens after the pitch and a network actually does like your idea. If a network does indeed bite on your idea they may give you a small amount of money for a treatment, which is usually about a 1-5 page outline of what the show will be. It includes a short logline, a several paragraph synopsis, and then a short breakdown of each episode. From there they may give you money to shoot a pilot, and if they like what they see from there, they may fork out some additional cash to produce the entire series to hopefully air in the “big leagues”.

Cronin gives some simple advice for those looking to pitch. First and foremost, be entertaining. Whatever your show is, make it that way in the pitch. If it’s incredible high energy, make it high energy. If it’s thought provoking and serious, make it just that. Either way, leave your audience looking wanting to know more.

Hopefully this brief post will be at least a little helpful for those who are in the beginning stages of getting their show produced and distributed. Though it may take quite a few years to have the clout to pitch to executives, the time in between is incredibly valuable. Make the most of whatever opportunities come your way, no matter how big or small. Don’t despise the small beginnings; they could one day lead to a big wide open door.