Television ideas
I want to know how hard it is for an unknown writer to get a television show idea produced.
–Matthew Pizana
Almost impossible.
"Almost" is the key word here, because it could potentially happen if you were to partner up with a more experienced producer who would have the connections and clout to get the financing (i.e studio) and the distribution (i.e. network) to get the show made and aired.
Or, you could do it all by yourself.
Friends of mine who were not directly in the film/TV business had a very good idea for an unusual spin on the sitcom format. Knowing that words alone wouldn’t be able to convince someone to make the show, they went out and assembled a cast, a crew, and shot a sample episode of the show by themselves. It turned out fantastic. I took the finished tape around to a lot of different TV people, and my friends got many meetings from interested buyers.
But in the end, no one bought it, and my friends were out a lot of money.
I tell you this cautionary tale not to discourage you — hard work is often rewarded, and handsomely. But even the best ideas are very difficult to pull off.
Articles
February 28th, 2005 at 11:21 pm
Hello my name is Steve Ward and I live in Chattanooga TN. How would one go about purposing a revenue making propasition involving NFL TV broadcast. Had a idea that die hard football fans of teams would pay pay-per-view fees to get a different perseptive of the game. Possible millions of dollars to be made. So how would I propose the idea to network sport executives without getting my idea ripped off? Not trying to get rich but trying to set my daughters up for an easier life than I had. LOL Thanks
March 1st, 2005 at 9:08 am
Steve: I wouldn’t know where to start regarding your million dollar idea, but I’m pretty sure posting it in an open forum probably isn’t it. Lotta hungry writers here. One or two might even like a million dollar stipend. Good luck though :)
September 9th, 2005 at 11:30 am
The Toby Peters mystery series created by Stuart Kaminski would make an excellent television series (i.e., Showtime or USA). The series takes place in the Golden Age of Hollywood (which coincides with WWII) I picture Tony Shalhoub as Toby. His sidekicks include a Swiss dwarf, an incompetent fat dentist, a giant poet, and a deaf, daffy landlady. Each book features a movie star from 30’s and 40’s. Please check it out.
May 18th, 2006 at 11:53 am
How do you get your idea to a company like NBC. Agent makes contact with NBC, then NBC sends a submission release, then agent sends in proposal. I get confused and I want to submit an idea for a television show to NBC, but you can’t get anyone to listen. Do you know a good agent to help me out. George
September 27th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
I have what I feel is a great idea for a sit/com. How do you go about submitting an idea? Do I need to write a treatment? Can you point me in the right direction as to how a treatment is constructed? Is a treatment like a query letter or does the query letter proceed the treatment?
I would appreciate any guidance.
Thanks Lorraine L. Murphy
March 13th, 2007 at 6:38 am
I too have what I think would be a great idea for a sit-com. So far, all of my efforts to reach different networks or production companies have been in vain. I can’t afford to keep coughing up the money on these websites (i.e. TV Writers Vault), and seriously wonder if some of them aren’t bogus.
I would appreciate any and all guidance in this.
Thanks,
Mike Webber
July 20th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
I have a idea for tv show, i will like to create a show about rich people to switch places with ordinary people, they will go and live there lives for one week, there home, there job, take the bus to work. no fancy food or any thing else, the poor people will live the lives of the rich people. just and idea i have for a show
August 21st, 2007 at 2:31 am
I have written up some games that would be great gameshows in primetime and even some up in syndication. I want to protect my work because i sure don’t want it to get stolen. Most of the games i’ve created the entire family could sit down together and watch them in primetime.
August 24th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
I understand what Scott Meckley has said and I must agree.
My initial and main concern is the legal realm. How can one submit a possibly viable idea and protect themselves legally WITHOUT taking on the financial burden of hiring an attorney?
Is is possible to patent the idea? And, if so, how realistic is it that something like this would actually hold weight in a court of law, in the unfortunate event that the “pitch” was used without permission or compensation?
I suppose my main concern with patents is that the initial idea could be used and a something LITTLE here and there changed; just enough to get it to slide through the “loopholes” of the Judicial system, allowing the Television Network (or whatever recipient) to get away with it without any retribution.
I’d appreciate any help anyone can offer on this one. Thanks!
Nellie FRISKY FROCKS VINTAGE
January 31st, 2008 at 11:56 am
I have a can’t miss idea for a cooking program on the food network. How can I get in touch with the food network and how can I protect my great idea?
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:52 am
A show about people trying to find lost people relatives, lost loves, rescuers, war buddies etc. People would tune in to see if ssomeone is looking for them. They could respond positvely or negatively to the search. Some people left for a reason, but others are alwlays looking for each other, it would be fun.
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:11 am
Violent law breakers get off on technicalities, and go free. But an underground band of justice finders search out these people. The reason for finding them is to make them want to confess to their hideous crimes by confessing with telling the authorities of knowledge only they would know, or permanently getting rid of them.
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:17 am
I would like to see a story about a man who lost his kids in an awful accident. He turns to putting on clown makeup and traveling around the country visiting children in need and making them laugh. He has flashbacks about his kid’s laughter, and this makes his life fullfilled. He can get involved with the families and the staff at each hospital, orphanage, or special education class he comes upon. I personally can vouch to this being a semitrue event in my life, and could pull countless memories from my memory to keep such a series going for a long time.