How to Pitch a TV Show

Table of Contents

How To Pitch A Reality Show

This page will tell you everything you need to know about how to pitch a reality show, and more.

Are you looking to pitch:

Reality TV shows?
Documentary series?
Factual programming?
Unscripted television?

You’re in the right place. By the end of this guide, you will know how to pitch a reality show. Maybe you’ll even become one of our success stories.

You can read the entire guide “How to Pitch a Reality Show” below, or share this post to download the free ebook version.

How to Pitch a Reality Show in 5 Steps

Read this free guide
Fully understand how the unscripted television and film business works
Prepare your pitch for different TV networks and streaming platforms
Determine if you need to team with a third party approved production company
Take your pitch to buyers

This guide will teach you how to do all of that, and much more.

Why Take Our Advice?

How to Pitch a Reality Show

We’re a married team, pitching, selling, and making unscripted entertainment for a living. TV networks trust our documentary, true crime, and reality TV production company to deliver finished television series.

Realscreen Magazine covered our company in great depth. You can also read about our shows in Hollywood trades like Deadline Hollywood covering Unmasking a Killer, Variety reporting on Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne, or The Hollywood Reporter covering MTV’s Caged.

Joke Fincioen and Biagio Messina are named as executive producers (that’s us). You’ll find our production company, Joke Productions, listed as well. We’ve made over a hundred hours of unscripted television.

Every one of those shows began with a reality TV pitch of some kind. This free guide will help you create pitches for unscripted television that will get you noticed.

Why We Wrote This

The question we’re asked most is “how can I pitch a reality show?”

It’s no wonder…good advice on the unscripted television business is hard to come by.

A lot of the “reality TV advice” that litters the internet was written by people who’ve never sold or made a show, or don’t understand how the unscripted television business works. Much of the information about making documentaries looks it the subject in relation to theatrical releases, not making television series.

So we designed “How to Pitch a Reality Show” to be the web’s best, totally honest, and insanely helpful free resource about pitching factual entertainment.

All backed up by real world examples and experiences from TV shows we’ve both sold and produced, taking productions from beginning to end.

Our hope is that this guide saves you time and resources, and of course, that you consider pitching your shows to us.

The web’s best, totally honest & insanely helpful free resource about pitching reality TV shows.

This is Also a Companion Guide

This guide goes hand in hand with our site Producing Unscripted, which we built to teach you the ins and outs of making reality TV, documentary series, and true crime.

To stay up to date and get tips and info on pitching reality television, get our newsletter.

To hear us discuss many of these topics in depth (while having a blast doing it) be sure to check out our Make Reality TV Podcast. With over 100 episodes, there’s plenty to learn about unscripted television. It’s all there for the taking.

(It was not easy for Biagio to talk Joke into doing a podcast. But it was SO worth it!)

Ane be sure to follow and interact with us on Twitter to keep learning about unscripted television. We do get busy (especially in production) but we try to be responsive on twitter whenever possible. And, in the last ten years, we’ve met some great people there.

Table of Contents (clickable links)

How To Pitch a Reality Show

I What We’ll Cover in “How to Pitch a Reality Show”

There is A LOT here. If you spend the time to read, understand, and execute what we discuss, you’ll be miles ahead of most people who pitch reality ideas to us.

- FIRST: We’ll give you the background info you need to know about the reality TV business. You’ll learn how different kinds of reality TV shows work. Plus, we’ll break down why you should avoid pitching certain kinds of shows when you’re just starting out.
- - NEXT: We’ll dispel some myths about reality TV “ideas.” We’ll explore why written descriptions have very little to do with how to pitch a reality show. You’ll learn to create pitch materials, and how to make yourself valuable when pitching reality TV.
  - FINALLY: We’ll talk about where and how to pitch a reality show once you’ve put together your pitch package. From pitch pits, to production companies, to networks, we’ll break down your options. And of course, we hope you’ll pitch to us, too.
  When you’re done, you’ll know how to pitch a reality show that excites professionals.
  We’d love it if your concept is something we can make together.
  1 Understanding How Reality TV Works
  In section 1, Understanding How Reality TV Works, we give you an overview of different types of reality TV shows.
  - What types of reality shows different networks program
  - How different kinds of shows are structured
  - What kind of pitches new producers are most likely to sell.
  Wrapping your head around the different genres, styles, and structures of unscripted television will give you a giant leg up on most new producers pitching reality TV.
  1a Different Types of Reality Shows
  People tend to lump all reality TV together in one giant bucket of “unscripted stew.”
  But there’s a wide range of reality TV shows out there, more properly called “unscripted programming.”
  When you start thinking about how to pitch a reality show, it’s important to recognize different reality TV genres and types of shows.
  Consider Movies…
  For simplicity’s sake, let’s talk about movies for a second.
  We’ve all seen plenty of films.
  The Notebook couldn’t be more different than Plan 9 from Outer Space, right? Some people enjoy Fincher flicks, some like The Farrelly Brothers.
  Go to the movies and you can catch a comedy, a drama, a VFX laden blockbuster. Totally different kinds of films.
  We all “get that.” Cinema’s over a century old.
  But reality TV is a young form of entertainment, and people are still wrapping their heads around it.
  Still Pretty New…
  Mainstream “reality” is less than 20 years old. “Unscripted television” and “factual programming” have been a staple of cable TV for a lot longer. Still, when it comes to teaching us its vocabulary, reality TV can’t compete with decades of film.
  Because of that, the differences in genres of unscripted entertainment are often lost on the casual viewer.
  If you’re going to learn how to pitch a reality show, you don’t have the luxury of being a casual viewer. You need to recognize what makes different types of reality shows work, and use that to your advantage when pitching.
  Unscripted Television Has Many Faces
  - - - The First 48
      - The Kardashians Franchise
      - Deadly Recall
      - Master Chef
      - The Bachelor
      - Ghost Inside My child
      - Deadliest Catch
      - Basketball Wives
      - Hack My Life
      - The Voice
      - Unmasking a Killer
      They’re wildly different, yet all fall in the unscripted television bucket. (Often referred to in a generic manner as “reality TV” – though we think unscripted television or factual programming are better terms for most kinds of shows.)
      More times than we care to count, new producers pitching us concepts assume they know what how reality shows work, but haven’t watched any recently (or ever).
      Don’t make that mistake.
      The truth is few people take the time to understand unscripted television basics.
      That’s why so many reality TV pitches fall apart…almost immediately.
      Nothing bugs industry pros more than someone who acts like they know how to pitch a reality show, but makes a ton of rookie mistakes.
      So, Don’t Do That
      Better to own that you’re a rookie right off the bat than try to “fake it.” We never mind when an enthusiastic person makes a few minor pitch mistakes. It bothers us when people over-compensate and act like a know-it-all (when that’s clearly not the case).
      Since you’re reading this article, you won’t make any of the most common pitch mistakes.
      Instead of seeming like a “clueless newbie” you’ll come across as an up-and-coming producer who’s done their homework. And you’ll get people’s attention.
      1b What Reality Show Pitches Do Networks Buy?
      Want to break into the reality TV business?
      Do your research. Understand what TV networks are programming.
      Those pitching to us will often say something like, “My show would be great for MTV, Spike, OWN, and Oxygen. Could also work at Lifetime, Nickelodeon, ESPN, The Food Network. Oh, and History, TLC, Discovery, and The Game Show Network.”
      You might laugh. But at least one or two pitches a week boldly state they would work on all these networks.
      That doesn’t make your show look more attractive to production companies. We don’t suddenly think, “Ooh, you mean I could sell this at ALL those networks? Wow!”
      Instead, you’ve just hoisted a big flag that says, “Newbie here.”
      Different Networks Buy Different Kinds of Shows
      TV networks pride themselves on being different from each other. And while a show that works on History might also work on Discovery, there’s no way that same show could work on Lifetime.
      We go into this in depth in Top Secret, What TV Networks Buy, and Why. For now, understand that different networks buy different kinds of shows. How to pitch a reality show changes with each network you target.
      1c Watching Television With a Critical Eye
      If you want to sell reality shows, watching a lot of TV is a must.
      Nothing is more disheartening than when people pitch us shows that would never be on TV today (or that are already on TV! That happens often and proves those pitching haven’t done their homework).
      There’s no sense in spending time on pitches networks will never buy.
      What often happens is people pitch what they “think” would sell, even if those shows have been out of style for a while.
      Often Pitched Reality Shows that Have No Chance
      For example, here are some often-pitched shows that aren’t going to launch your career or get producers excited about working with you.
      - arts and craft shows
      - kids’ shows
      - bland health and fitness shows
      - golf shows
      - info-tainment shows
      - old school, magazine style travel shows (i.e. “The 20 Best Hotels in St. Thomas”)
      - cooking shows (as in cooking over the stove one ingredient at a time).
      If you turn on the TV today and look at what most major broadcast and cable networks are airing, you’d be hard pressed to find a lot of shows from the list above.
      Yet these kinds of shows are some of the most pitched by people just starting out in the reality TV industry.
      Sure, some versions of these shows show up from time to time, but they’re not what most networks are programming today.
      They’re also not the kind of pitches that get production companies and networks excited about working with new producers.
      Too Unique? Maybe.
      In general, if there’s nothing like the show you’re pitching on major cable or broadcast networks, there’s a good reason.
      One of our goals with this guide is to save you from wasting time on reality show ideas that have very little chance of making it to air.
      The best way to do that is to watch reality TV. All of it.
      Before you ever start pitching shows, do your homework. Watch a lot of TV. Know what kinds of reality TV shows networks are making today.
      Understanding the market you’re selling to shapes how to pitch a reality show, and what kinds of shows you pitch.
      “My Pitch Is So Unique! It’s Not on TV Anywhere.”
      We hear that a lot.
      Guess what? There might be a very good reason your show isn’t on TV. For example, maybe networks don’t want that kind of programming.
      Maybe you’d love to binge watch a hundred episodes of a basket weaving show. That doesn’t mean enough of the general public would be into it to justify putting it on a TV network.
      Often times these shows are far too niche for the broad audience that looks to a TV network for programming.
      That’s not to say there’s NO audience for these kinds of shows, they just don’t belong on television.
      A lot of programming that is too niche, or is out of fashion on TV networks today (like step-by-step cooking shows and magazine-style reports) has moved on to YouTube, where it often does well. Don’t discount making a web series if there is no network for your passion project.
      For more on this topic, check out:
      1d The Five Magic Words of Pitching Reality TV
      Know these five words and phrases before you pitch your reality show to anyone:
      Use them right and we’ll know exactly what kind of show you’re pitching. As a big added bonus, you’ll sound like a total pro.
      Here’s a quick guide to these “magic words” to get you up and running.
      Reality TV Structure: Self-Contained or Arced?
      In broad strokes, reality TV structure falls into two main categories: Self-contained and Arced.
      Self-Contained
      An episode of a show stands on its own.
      - Intervention
      - Undercover Boss
      - The First 48
      - Bar Rescue
      - Ghost Inside My Child (one of our own shows).
      These shows are all self-contained, also referred to as “close-ended.” All parts of the story begin and end in one episode. You can play episodes in any order, it doesn’t matter. Self-contained shows are easy for networks to replay at any time.
      Arced
      (Pronounced ARKED) Continues storylines from one episode to the next. You can’t watch them out of order, it wouldn’t make sense.
      - The Bachelor
      - American Idol
      - The Amazing Race
      - Project Runway
      - Top Chef
      These are all arced.
      Imagine watching episode 7 of a season of Survivor, then episode 2, then 9. That would be weird, right?
      Arced reality TV shows are designed to be watched from beginning to end.
      Arced shows require a greater “buy in” from reality TV audiences. This makes arced reality shows a bigger gamble for networks.
      Someone misses the premiere. Will they really start watching four or five episodes down the line? Probably not.
      This means TV networks have to spend big marketing dollars to make sure an audience shows up on night one. Not all networks can afford that. Plus, if no one shows up to watch, the networks’ wasted a lot of marketing time and resources.
      So arced shows can be tough sells, especially to smaller networks.
      Reality Television Type: Format, Docu, or Hybrid?
      Format
      A format relies on tentpole moments that repeat every episode. A format can be either self-contained or arced.
      Any show that has elements that repeat every episode is considered a format.
      Myth Busters is a self-contained format. Survivor is an arced format.
      In Myth Busters, the guys introduce an urban legend, then run experiments to see if it has merit.
      On Survivor (though there are tweaks season to season) you see the same tentpole moments each episode:
      - There’s a reward challenge
      - An immunity challenge
      - Tribal council
      - The famous, “The tribe has spoken” tag as a torch is put out
      Audiences recognize these repeatable elements in a formatted show, and come to expect them. If a viewer tunes in late, they can guess what part of the show they’re watching. (For example, if you see the immunity challenge, you know the episode is more than half-way over.)
      To use our own reality TV series as examples:
      - Scream Queens on VH1 was an arced format.
      - Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne on A&E was a self-contained format.
      Has its roots in documentary. More of a “follow real life as it happens” approach.
      - The Kardashians follows the family through their every day lives.
      - Duck Dynasty is a “docu-sitcom.”
      - The Housewives franchise is a “docu-soap.”
      - Hard Knocks on HBO is a true documentary series.
      For the most part, there are no overt tentpole moments or repeatable format elements in these shows. There may be recurring events (dinners, parties, etc.), however, those repeatable elements don’t drive story in the same way every episode.
      Hybrid
      Also known as “hidden format.” This is the workhorse of reality TV. It’s like a follow-doc in that you feel like you’re following peoples lives. However, there is a “soft format” element that returns every episode.
      - Dance Moms follows Abby Lee, her students, and their parents in a follow-doc fashion. On the surface, it would seem like a straight-up follow-doc series. But the “hidden format” element is that every episode leads up to a dance competition.
      - In our own show Caged on MTV, we followed a group of young adults living in small town USA. They all happened to be connected to the local mixed martial arts scene. The format element was that every episode ended in a cage match.
      How Does Your Show Fit In?
      Look closely at your own reality show concept.
      Is it an arced format? A docu-leaning hybrid?
      We get hundreds of pitches through our submission portal. The ones that arrive using pro terminology snag our attention immediately.
      So for instance, this description:
      “I got these hilarious friends who hunt and play jokes on each other and make duck calls. They also have long beards. They argue a lot. Lots of great drama there. Funny too. Sound cool?”
      …tells us much less than this log-line using reality TV lingo:
      “I’m pitching you a self-contained docu-sitcom. It follows a family who’s made a fortune selling duck calls. They spend a lot of that money playing jokes on each other. Every episode follows some hilarious family drama, but in the end they all come together as one.”
      For a spirited discussion and some cheesy Joke and Biagio moments, check out the podcast episode Pitch Reality TV Shows and Documentary Series with these Five Magic Words.
      1e What Reality TV Pitches are New Producers Most Likely to Sell?
      If you’re just starting out, avoid pitching arced competition shows. Unless you’ve got some incredible connections to a great piece of talent they’re just too hard to sell.
      What Reality TV Pitches are New Producers Most Likely to Sell? Here You Go:
      Self-Contained Hybrid
      You’re going to have the easiest time pitching a self-contained hybrid. It should be a show built around strong, real-life characters and have a repeatable story element.
      Good examples of this kind of pitch are family business reality shows that feature a “client of the week” like:
      - Pawn Stars (more format-leaning).
      - Flipping Out (more docu-leaning).
      Next best bet for an aspiring producer or filmmaker?
      Self-Contained Format
      A self-contained format built around a larger than life character. That person needs major credibility in whatever world the show lives.
      Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares and Tabitha’s Salon Takeover are perfect examples.
      Our own show Commercial Kings with Rhett and Link on IFC is another. (Each episode they wrote and directed wild local commercials for small businesses.)
      You can’t pitch those formats without Gordon or Tabitha, or Rhett and Link, because we’ve all heard them a hundred times. There’s really nothing new to the one-liners for those shows.
      “We’re going to give really bad restaurant kitchens a makeover” sounds lame. But walk in with Gordon Ramsay and you have a hit.
      You don’t have to attach someone who is already famous, by the way. Networks love new, fresh faces. But the people you pitch have to be experts at what they do. Plus, they have to be as good as or better than the characters already on TV right now.
      It’s totally doable for a new producer to find someone like this (now that you know what you’re looking for).
      Here’s a great guide to help you recognize great reality TV characters.
      Do You Have to Have Talent In Mind Before Pitching?
      It’s not a good idea to pitch reality concepts if you don’t have something or someone real attached.
      It’s not a good idea to pitch reality concepts if you don’t have something or someone real attached.
      2 Preparing to Pitch Reality Shows
      In section 2, Preparing to Pitch Reality Shows, we’ll cover how to:
      - Understand what makes for a good reality pitch
      - Avoid bad internet advice
      - Make yourself valuable in unscripted television
      - Create reality TV pitch materials
      - Protect your reality show concepts
      - Build your reality TV career
      Most aspiring producers waste hours, days, or even weeks preparing reality TV concepts that will never sell.
      After reading this section, you’ll know how to avoid these giant pot holes in the road to reality TV success.
      2a Reality TV Ideas, A.K.A. What Are You Actually Pitching?
      Okay, we’re about to burst a lot of bubbles out there. Let’s rip off the band-aid and get it done.
      You don’t just create a reality TV pitch on a piece of paper, send if off to Mr. or Ms. Important, and make a bundle of money.
      Pitching reality TV means pitching something real that you have access to film.
      Reality TV ideas are a dime a dozen, and ideas, in and of themselves, are pretty much worthless. Everybody has one. Many are identical or very similar to each other.
      Even if you take that idea and turn it into a fleshed out treatment, it’s still just a glorified reality TV idea. There’s no “real life” substance to it.
      Which means there’s an overwhelming number of people (who pitch to us every day) convinced that pitching:
      - American Idol for Bartenders/Rappers/Animal Trainers/You Name It
        Survivor set in the Arctic/On the Ocean/In Space/Wherever
        Cash Cab on a Train/Boat/Bus/Military Transport
        …are worthy of paper pitches that can be five to fifty (!) pages in length.
        Is That You?
        If you’re an aspiring producer guilty of “creating” these kinds of shows, it’s not your fault.
        There has long been a fallacy in Hollywood that “one big idea” can propel you to riches. It’s like a great fairy tale told over and over again.
        Many people pitch reality shows as if they are playing the lottery (usually with the same results). “Here’s an idea, I’ll take a shot at the big time.”
        A big part of this misconception is due to some…
        2b Bad Web Advice
        The web is a mixed bag. There’s some “okay” advice out there, but a lot of it is either:
        Out of date.
        Written by people who’ve never actually sold a reality TV show.
        Irrelevant or useless for aspiring, unestablished reality TV producers.
        Here’s what’s wrong with what’s out there:
        A LOT of the results focus on writing elaborate treatments. These articles give the impression that a “solid write up” and a friendly letter could launch your career.
        One site that has some otherwise nice info blows it big time with this quote:
        “Pitching a reality TV idea is as simple as communicating a Title, Logline, and Synopsis (format). This applies to all formats of reality-based ideas.”
        Someone please sound the Family Feud buzzer as long and loud as possible.
        The real shame here is that talented writers and creatives take advice like this and waste hours writing useless paper. (Especially since similar advice about reality TV treatments clutters sites all over the web.)
        It’s a writing-centric approach that stems from scripted TV. After all, in the scripted world, written treatments are very important.
        But people who give this advice to aspiring reality TV producers don’t understand this simple fact:
        New producers and undiscovered writers don’t bang out the next Amazing Race in five pages and two lattes at Starbucks.
        Undiscovered writers don’t bang out the next Amazing Race in five pages and two lattes at Starbucks.
        Good Web Advice
        One man you can trust is Troy Devolld, who literally wrote the book on structuring reality TV. Be sure to see Troy’s site for some great info, and pick up his book when you get a chance.
        2c Ideas versus Execution
        Selling a reality show is never about the idea itself…it’s about the execution of the idea — and whether you can get it done.
        Being able to “make it happen” is FAR more important than any elaborate write-up you can put together.
        Reality TV: Ideas vs Execution Example:
        You’ve got a music show concept you think is on par with The Voice.
        You planned out an entire season, sample episodes, the whole enchilada. (After all, you read how to do it in one of those web posts that made it seem easy.)
        Ten awesome pages filled with exciting format.
        Surprising twists and turns.
        Even a 360 marketing approach guaranteed to blow Hollywood’s mind.
        No one cares.
        Unless you’ve got CeeLo Green judging and a record company putting up a prize, you don’t have a show.
        Getting big names on board and someone to offer a phenomenal prize — well, that’s the hard part. That’s what producing a large-scale, network level reality show is all about.
        It’s cutting through the legal red tape, closing the big deals, and getting stars to say “yes” that matters.
        That’s what makes these giant blockbuster TV shows happen. That’s what producing is all about: putting together a great package (more on that below).
        It’s NOT about the write up any of us create in a vacuum somewhere. (Which will get re-thought and re-formatted a million times by the network anyway.)
        Don’t worry. None of this means new producers can’t break into the business.
        On the contrary, by following tips that come later in this guide, you can up your chances of success quite a bit.
        2d You Can’t Pitch What You Don’t Have
        Just starting out? Chances are you have no access to music superstars, big name talent, or the Hollywood clout to make headline deals.
        No power agent in your corner, no weekend parties at Clooney’s Italian villa.
        So why underline that by pitching the next “Big Celebrity Reality Show” or some other idea that requires all the might of showbiz to produce?
        We get piles of pitches that have “creative” celebrity hooks. But the people pitching them have never met a celebrity in their lives.
        By the way, we’ve worked on shows with celebrities ourselves. They’re hard to cast.
        We’re repped by CAA, a pretty big agency. Even with their help and giant networks on board, it’s not easy to get stars to say “yes.”
        So don’t fall in this trap of pitching shows driven by celebrity. You might think that makes your idea feel “special.” It doesn’t.
        It comes down to this:
        You can’t pitch what you don’t have access to film
        We’ve actually been pitched a reality show set at The White House several times. Unfortunately, no one pitching that particular concept had ever checked with P.O.T.U.S. first.
        This is why trying to “create” these types of reality show pitches when you’re just starting out is a total waste of time.
        We’re hammering on this point because it’s where the vast majority of pitches we receive go wrong.
        What To Do Instead?
        In the next section we’ll give you the secret of how to turn things around. Do this one thing and entertainment professionals will take you seriously.
        2e Make Yourself Valuable
        Step back and ask yourself how you can bring more to your pitch than just words on paper.
        What can you add to your idea so that it comes alive?
        Do you have access to:
        Some interesting people?
        An exciting, visual world?
        A book author?
        An edgy new business that’s taking your city by storm?
        Maybe you know about an amazing underground sub-culture. Could you film it? (Like Travis Bible and Steve Harris did after they first pitched us a log-line that became MTV’s CAGED.)
        Perhaps you’ve discovered a shocking world never before seen on TV. (Like Suzanne Stratford did when she brought us parents with a problem. Their children remembered living and dying in past lives. That became multiple seasons of Ghost Inside My Child.)
        You could be friends with the next Super Nanny or Gordon Ramsay. Can you convince them to make a show? (Our friend Andrew Mayne is an amazing magician. We sold a reality TV series to A&E starring him.)
        Fast Company’s FastCoCreate.com did a behind-the-scenes piece on producing that show. See this article from Susan Karlin on making Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne.)
        Notice in all three of these examples, there was something more to the pitch than just words on paper.
        Real people, real lives, and real stories were already along for the ride.
        What Else Makes You Valuable?
        Filmmaking skills of any kind.
        Are you a great shooter? Editor? A documentarian with several projects under your belt? Hard-core YouTuber? Terrific story teller?
        Wanna know what gets us excited? When a talented filmmaker walks in and says, “I found these amazing real-life characters and put them on tape.” (More on pitch tapes and sizzle reels below. Tip – don’t spend a lot of money on them. Ever.)
        Now, you don’t necessarily have to be a filmmaker to pitch reality shows, but it’s a nice bonus, and always gets our interest.
        Do this one thing and entertainment professionals will take you seriously: make yourself valuable.
        2f Pitching Reality TV: Five Ways to Make Yourself Valuable
        Here’s a simple list to get you thinking about how to add value to your pitches.
        Find a Great Real Life Character
        Provide access to a unique world
        Get the rights to an exciting property (like a book or a podcast).
        Bring useful filmmaking skills to the project.
        Have a great personality.
        The most important part of your reality pitch is the real assets you bring to it. Check off whatever you can from the above list.
        The reason is that when you find real-world assets to go along with your pitch you have more than an idea.
        You have the beginning of a “package.” More on “packaging things up” in our next section…
        The most important part of your reality pitch is the real assets you bring to it.
        Helpful Links on Adding Value to Your Reality Show Pitches
        Adding value by finding great real life people? Check out 6 Must Have Traits of Unscripted TV Characters
        Want to approach a book author, business owner, or any other entity about developing a show around them? Be sure to check out How to Turn a Book, or Any Property, into a TV Show.
        We talked about five ways to make yourself valuable (and more) with the awesome Stephanie Palmer over at Good In a Room.
        (By the way, Good in a Room is an amazing site to help you do better in Hollywood pitch meetings, especially if you’re also a screenwriter. Highly recommended.)
        2g All About Your Reality TV Pitch Package
        The number one thing you are pitching is a package — not an idea.
        A “package” consists of all the creative and real-world elements that come together in your reality TV or documentary series pitch.
        Creative assets are your pitch materials (see more below).
        Real-world elements are things like celebrities, books, businesses, families, or real people attached to your project.
        Don’t freak out if you’re thinking you have no access to anything of value.
        It doesn’t mean that if you live in the middle of nowhere you have no chance of putting together a great, pitch-able package.
        In fact, let’s say you live somewhere in middle America. Maybe you discover a terrific new fashion boutique. It’s run by sassy 20 somethings you think could play well on Bravo, MTV, or Netflix.
        The first step in putting together a pitch package could be a short tape you make yourself (doesn’t have to be perfect).
        What Goes in Your Initial Short Tape?
        That tape should do a few things:
        Show off the personalities of the young ladies you discovered.
        Give us a sense of their business.
        Hint at the kinds of stories we’d see each episode.
        Additionally put together some photos, and a SHORT write up of how the show would work.
        Now you’ve got a conversation starter. With this big piece of the puzzle, you’ve got something reality TV industry pros can take a look at.
        This Will Instantly Set Your Reality TV Pitch Apart. Why?
        Here’s how most other people would pitch the above show:
        “I have a write up of a reality TV idea here. What we’re gonna do is go find some interesting fashion businesses, and look for fun young women to follow around. It’s gonna be great! What do you think?”
        Here’s the conversation you’ll be having instead:
        “I found these terrific girls who started a new fashion boutique that caters to high-end prom dresses. They have great personalities which you can clearly see on this quick tape I put together. I also brought a short write-up about what they do, including a few sample story lines. I see it as a self-contained hybrid. We follow the drama of the boutique and the owners lives, but there’s a new prom dress delivered each episode.”
        Congrats. Your pitch is officially better than 80-90% of what we hear from people who pitch to us.
        2h Reality TV Pitch Materials
        In the last section we mentioned the idea of “shooting tape.” Far and away, the best way to get producers and networks excited is to walk in with a great video.
        The best way to get producers and networks excited is to walk in with a great video.
        If you only spent your time on one thing, it should be making a terrific tape for your reality show idea.
        That said, DON’T GO BROKE.
        There’s no good reason to spend thousands of dollars on a pitch tape or sizzle reel. It’s not necessary to hire a company who specializes in “sizzle reels.”
        If a production company is excited about your project, they will work with you to make a pitch tape or sizzle reel for your project at no cost to you. They may require your time, but never your money.
        You certainly shouldn’t waste months of time putting a sizzle reel together. That’s not how to pitch a reality show, either.
        Here’s the short list of things you want to have together to pitch any kind of reality show:
        Great Tape (2 to 5 minutes, shorter is better).
        On the down-and-dirty side, your pitch tape should at least show off your great characters and what they do. Doesn’t have to be perfect. We’ve sold shows using Skype footage taped off of a computer screen. After all, if your characters don’t pop on Skype, they won’t pop when you put a $20,000 camera in their face, either.
        On the high-end side, your tape should feel like a television promo for the main networks that make sense for your reality show pitch. Go to their websites and watch promos for new shows. Think of your tape as having that kind of energy, but longer interviews.
        You can also consider creating a ripomatic – an industry term for borrowing footage from other projects and re-editing it to present your new vision. While this is very commonly done in the entertainment industry, and has sold many shows, it’s important to keep copyright laws in mind. Technically, you need permission to use any borrowed footage (so no posting your ripomatics to public websites!)
        Short Write-Up
        (1 or 2 pages max.)
        No one’s going to read it at first. Probably won’t even give it a glance. Just make sure it’s a super tight, fun read. If people want more, they’ll ask you for it, and you can give them exactly what they need.
        Anything Extra That Brings Your Reality TV Show to Life.
        If you were pitching Duck Dynasty, give the people in your meeting a duck call. It’s fun and shows what these guys built their fortune on.
        Going out with a gold prospecting show? Might be cool to bring some real gold and fool’s gold to the meeting. See if the exec can guess which is which.
        Selling a magic show? Make sure your magician’s in the meeting with some great tricks ready to go. (Andrew did a whole routine for A&E execs after we showed them our pitch tape.)
        Should You Shoot Your Own Reality TV Pilot?
        You should NEVER film a full TV pilot if your intention is to sell a show. The only reason to produce a full pilot is because you can learn a lot doing it. But if selling a show is your end goal, a full pilot doesn’t help you (and usually hurts you.)
        We break it all down in this series of posts: Should I Produce My Own Reality TV Pilot?
        A few helpful resources related to this section:
        Check out What Goes In a Pitch Tape? Should You Make One? to learn more about pitch tapes and sizzle reels.
        We discuss editing tapes that feel like TV promos in Steal This Editing Secret.
        Here’s exactly what we like to see in reality TV and documentary series paper pitches (and it’s probably a lot less than you think you need).
        2i How To Protect Your Reality Idea While Building Your Career
        Many aspiring producers and filmmakers freak out about pitching their ideas. Why?
        Because they think those ideas will get stolen.
        Screenwriter John August’s Blog has a great post about this topic, and we followed up with Did My Idea Get Stolen? Focus on This Instead.
        Please understand we are not lawyers and are not offering reality TV legal advice.
        Our goal with this section is to explain the day to day reality of how our business works, especially when it comes to “ideas.”
        We hope these insights will give you a more practical approach to protecting yourself, while at the same time increasing your value to your own pitches.
        When in doubt, always consult a lawyer.
        Similar Reality Shows On TV at the Same Time
        First of all, consider this: Wife Swap and Trading Spouses. Pretty much the same show, right? Subtle differences, but essentially the same idea. They were on the air, at the same time, on two different networks.
        Another example:
        One of our mentors went around all over town pitching “Survivor set in the business world.” Instead of getting voted off the island, people would get fired. No one bought it. Mark Burnett sold the same idea, called The Apprentice, with Donald Trump a few months later.
        Well, as you now know, it’s not about the idea. It’s about the execution of the idea.
        Our old mentor was pitching words on paper. Burnett was pitching Donald Trump hiring somebody for a dream job. See the difference?
        When people freak out about their idea getting stolen they’re missing the big picture.
        We go into great detail on this subject in Why Ideas Aren’t Enough, and the podcast ep that follows it up, Unscripted TV Success Secret.
        Bottom line — professionals don’t want to steal your idea. We have enough of our own ideas to worry about. But if all you’re pitching is words on paper, your reality TV pitch is not going to be that unique. Chances are someone else is pitching (or has pitched) the same thing.
        Skeptical?
        Remember, Survivor premiered in 2000. Amazing Race in 2001. American Idol in 2002.
        Well over a decade for each of those shows to seep into our brains.
        Over those years someone has already pitched permutations of every “big idea.”
        In fact, at RealScreen a few years back we visited a panel with network executives. The moderator asked if they’d received any truly unique ideas in the last year.
        Every executive said “no.”
        Every one of them.
        Over the course of a year, a handful of top network executives had not seen a single idea that was truly original.
        It’s all been pitched.
        Again, the only thing that makes your show different is how it’s packaged up. The base idea? It’s been around.
        So what’s the lesson here?
        The best way to make yourself valuable to a pitch is also the best way to protect yourself:
        Build your reality pitch around someone or something real.
        Fifty other people might pitch reality shows about restaurant makeovers. Only you are pitching a show following the wild restaurateur you connected with.
        Your good relationship with the talent or assets you bring to a project protects you. So do your own filmmaking abilities. That’s what makes you valuable.
        Those things are worth far more than any service you pay to “prove” you wrote something down on a piece of paper. (Use those services if they make you feel better, but be real about what you’re trying to “protect.”)
        Now, that’s our opinion. You need to do what’s right for you, but we believe worrying about ideas getting stolen is a waste of time.
        When it comes time to make a deal (after a production company or network is interested in your show), that’s different. You should have an entertainment attorney look things over.
        Just please…for heaven’s sake…hire a real entertainment attorney who specializes in unscripted television, documentary series, and reality TV.
        Do NOT hire a local general practice lawyer who’s never worked in reality TV.
        Nothing is more disheartening than having a deal fall apart because of an inexperienced attorney. They have no idea how the reality TV business works, what to ask for, or what’s standard practice in our industry.
        3 Where and How to Pitch a Reality Show
        In section 3, “Where and How to Pitch a Reality Show” we share:
        Overcoming challenges of pitching reality TV shows early in your career
        What a “soft pitch” is and when to use one
        What happens when a reality TV network says, “I want your show.”
        Pitfalls of pitching directly to networks
        How we broke into the unscripted television industry (you can take the same steps)
        How production companies can speed up your TV career plans
        Okay, so you’ve taken our advice. You’ve stopped focusing on simple reality TV ideas and started thinking about your reality TV pitch package.
        You’ve found some amazing real-life characters, and put them on tape (whether a rough video or elaborate promo).
        You’ve pulled some photos, written up a short treatment, and are aching to pitch your reality TV package.
        And you don’t know anyone in the TV industry. Now what?
        3a Pitching Reality Shows Early in Your Career
        Back in the day when VHS was still a thing and there was no Twitter or Facebook, the two of us, Joke and Biagio, had no one to pitch to. (That’s about the same time our diet consisted almost exclusively of Ramen noodles.)
        So we told a lot of white lies (more like stretching the truth). Snuck into some places where we shouldn’t have been allowed. Accidentally fooled a former president of NBC into giving us a job.
        It all turned out okay because we worked our butts off and made sure we delivered on the big promises we made.
        Today’s World Is Different.
        You’re not going to lie your way into a production company or a big agency. (Social media and the web have pretty much killed that. Too easy to find out who you really are!)
        So what are your options?
        3b Should You Ever Pay to Pitch?
        The common way new producers and filmmakers pitch their projects is at pitch pits, classes, and seminars.
        There’s nothing inherently wrong with going to these types of events. You just have to prepare to do your best, and make sure you get your money’s worth.
        The problem with paying to pitch is that it’s like speed dating. The people hearing the pitches are slammed with one meeting after the next. By the end, they’re bleary-eyed, and even good projects can be forgotten.
        We’ve Been on Both Sides of the “Speed Pitch” Table
        At times it can be disheartening.
        When you’re pitching it’s fast and furious and exciting in the moment. Later, when you don’t hear anything back, it’s frustrating.
        Receiving pitches at a pitch pit is also hard. There’s no real time to course-correct somebody if their pitch is off. Certainly no real time to build a relationship. Later, it’s hard to remember who exactly pitched what.
        So it’s not ideal for people on either side of the table. Still, there are success stories that com out of pitch pits, so we’d never say, “don’t do it.” Just know what you’re getting into.
        Our solution was to start this site, Producing Unscripted. It allows you to pitch to us here for free, instead of paying to pitch to us at a seminar somewhere. It also gives us time to really think about a pitch before deciding if we can be helpful. You can access our free members only pitch-portal by signing up for our newsletter and following the directions.
        3c The Soft Pitch
        NOTE: Only “soft pitch” to those buyers and sellers with whom you have a relationship.That means network execs and production companies you know well.
        Do not soft pitch agents, managers, or the guy who does craft service on Master Chef. They won’t be helpful in this stage.
        You can soft pitch us through our portal (learn how to pitch to us here), but please read this entire section before you do, or check out our podcast episode Soft Pitch Blueprint.
        A soft pitch is probably different than what you imagine.
        Most soft pitches we get are no more than the seed of an idea. As you’re about to see, a simple idea never qualifies as a soft pitch.
        What Is A Soft Pitch
        A soft pitch is a conversation about a project you’re thinking of investing more time into.
        A soft pitch works best after you’ve discovered a great asset to build your show around, but before you film with them.
        Why Give a Soft Pitch?
        The reason you soft pitch is to gather important information. You want to find out if there’s any reason that your show would be impossible to sell.
        For instance, you might have discovered great characters in a world that recently bombed on TV — no one will buy that. (Has happened to us more than once.)
        Or your idea might be a M.O.P. (Most Often Pitched.) For instance, right now ghost hunting shows are a M.O.P. (There are so many being pitched that networks sent out word they don’t want to see them right now. It would take some pretty amazing ghost hunters to overcome this issue.)
        Soft Pitches: Before and After
        Here are some examples of good and bad soft pitches:
        Bad:
        “We’re going to travel the country and find real life witches. We’re not just looking in the spookiest corners, but in every day places, too. We’ll even see that witches are normal people. How’s that sound?”
        Good:
        “I discovered these young witches who run a shop selling witchcraft products. They’re up for doing a show. Here are some photos I pulled off Facebook. Would you like to see some tape?”
        Bad:
        “How about an extreme survival show starring people who insist on living like cave men? What do you think?”
        Good:
        “I met this crazy survival dude who insists on living naked and eating only what he kills. But he lives the middle of New York City. Here’s a YouTube video of a news story done on him. Should I put together some more tape?”
        Bad:
        “What about a show that follows a public defender working gang crimes?”
        Good:
        “My brother-in-law is a public defender specializing in gang-related crime. Here’s a letter saying we have permission to film with him and his department, and a list of cases he’s working on. What do you think?”
        Notice how the bad soft pitches are nothing more than ideas, whereas the good versions have real people and places in mind.
        This is a common mistake
        Fact is most soft pitches we get are like this:
        “How about a show in an Italian restaurant?”
        “I want to make a weight loss show that’s really, really real.”
        “We get a bunch of guys who are friends and follow them from city to city doing interesting things.”
        “It’s a cooking show about healthy food that tastes great.”
        “A reality show set at The White House — I’m sure if we can get a network on board we can make this happen.”
        Throwing out a bunch of reality TV ideas to see what happens is not soft pitching — it’s a rookie mistake.
        It’s definitely NOT how to pitch a reality show.
        So instead base your soft pitch on something or someone you’ve already connected with. By doing so you instantly make yourself valuable. After all, you’ve made a discovery and connection with something that might be a show (way better than a simple idea).
        Plus, it allows us (or other pros) to give you better advice on how to proceed. No matter how great the characters or the world you discover, there’s no sense spending all your resources packaging it up if no TV network wants it.
        3d What Happens When A Network Wants Your Reality TV Show?
        Are you a third-party approved reality TV production company (like us?) Or are you teamed up with a production company?
        Then the network usually starts a multi-step deal, under the umbrella of a “development phase.”
        Development Phase
        Development can involve any one or several of the following stages.
        There can be a lot of overlap between these phases as well. But here’s a general breakdown of the steps we go through once a network is interested.
        Paper Phase
        The network likes the show in general, but wants to develop a more specific take for their air. This phase could involve delivering:
        series budgets
        a series bible (document explaining how a show works).
        Casting Phase
        Casting periods can exist for several kinds of shows.
        For instance, say your show is a self-contained format built around a big character, like Kitchen Nightmares. Then you would need to find potential kitchens to go in and fix.
        If you’re doing a big competition show you might have to find the contestants before the show gets picked up.
        On our show Scream Queens, for instance, casting the competing actresses was crucial to the show’s pick-up.
        Reality TV Presentation Tape
        Non-Airing Reality TV Pilot
        Full length reality TV pilot. About 22 minutes for a half hour show. About 44 minutes for an hour show.
        Since it’s non-airing, you can skip expensive “quality control.” (Broadcast standard color correction and sound mixing. Though you should still do what you can in-house to make your pilot look and sound great.)
        An Airable Documentary Series or Reality TV Pilot
        If all of the above goes right, you get…
        A Series Order
        Yay! You made it. Your reality TV pitch is now a reality television series.
        And now the excitement really begins.
        3e
        What If You’re Not Third Party Approved?
        Then the network will pair you with a third party approved reality TV show company.
        Sometimes, they’ll introduce you to several, and let you choose which one you like the best. Sometimes they’ll pair you with just one company and say, “go.”
        For example, many networks bring us shows that producers have pitched to them.
        Recently, we’ve been brought shows by VH1, Oxygen, MTV, and Lifetime.
        All are in various stages of the “road to series” cycle. Some will make it all the way, some won’t. That’s how the game works.
        It took us a long time to get to the point where networks would also bring projects directly to us (as opposed to us always pitching them).
        3f Will Networks Meet With You?
        If you’re a new producer and don’t have an agent, probably not.
        If you do pay to pitch at a seminar or pitch fest, you might be pitching to lower-level execs. They may or may not have the power to move your show up the ladder. However, that is one way to get a network “face to face.”
        Also, if you pitch to a network first, you might have less choice over which production company you end up with. (Network politics can be crazy.)
        3g The Problem With Pitching to Networks Directly
        If you don’t have an agent and can’t just pick up the phone and get a network on the line, your options are limited. You’ll be “hacking” your way into whatever meeting you can manage to land.
        So say you get a meeting with someone at History, but your show is also right for Discovery, NatGeo, and Spike.
        You don’t have anyone in your corner to call those networks and make sure they’re also seeing your reality show pitch at the same time.
        This eliminates any chance that there will be a competitive bidding situation on your show.
        It also means the single network you met with won’t be in a hurry to get back to you. They know you’re not pitching anywhere else.
        Finally, all things being equal, you’re at a disadvantage. Networks choose projects from established production companies over pitches from new producers.
        This was the dilemma we faced when we were starting out.
        3h How We Broke In
        What finally opened the doors for us was teaming up with bigger reality television production companies we trusted to take care of us.
        Some production companies want you involved in the production of the show. Some don’t.
        We wanted to team up with those reality TV production companies who would let us work on the shows, learn, and grow. We were lucky enough to do that.
        That’s how we got to where we are today:
        TV Shows On Air
        A Powerhouse Agent
        Relationships with networks who both buy our shows and bring us shows
        Clearly, we benefited from teaming up with seasoned professionals along the way.
        It’s good for everyone.
        3i Benefits of Pitching to a Production Company First
        Are you looking to build your career, stay involved with your show as much as possible, or learn the unscripted TV business from the inside out?
        Nothing beats teaming up with an established production company who is willing to mentor you along. (Again, that’s how we came up.)
        True, not every production company is the same, and we wouldn’t want to represent that. But speaking for us, a big part of the reason we team up with aspiring producers on shows is because we like the people pitching to us.
        We love sharing the thrill and excitement of someone’s first show with them. (As well as being there to console them during the times things inevitably go wrong.)
        Every time we team up with an aspiring producer, our goal is for them to learn as much as possible, and feel that their creative input is valued along the way.
        Why Do We Care?
        It’s not just that we’re “great people” (though we try!) Of course, we get something out of doing this, too.
        When producers have a good experience with us, they pitch us more shows. Plus, they tell other aspiring producers we’re great to work with, and that brings even more potential shows our way.
        It’s a win-win for everyone.
        When you consider that we’re making ourselves so easy to find on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube you can bet we want to protect our reputation.
        Our goal is always to be fair, easy to work with, and an open book about the process of making a TV show.
        So at Joke Productions, it’s a simple conversation when we do team up with someone who pitches us.
        We want you to be as involved in the production of your show as you want to be. We want you to take on as much responsibility as your experience allows.
        You should learn a lot, enjoy the process, and come out the other side a much better and more experienced producer, able to handle even more responsibility on your next show.
        If you have a look at our testimonials page, we think you’ll see that we live up to that statement.
        4 Pitch Your Ideas To Us
        In section 4, “Pitch Your Ideas To Us” we discuss:
        The value of mentorship
        Working on the shows you pitch
        What happens if you don’t want to work on your reality shows
        How to pitch yourself to star in your own reality show
        We started this outreach so aspiring producers had a legitimate place to pitch their reality TV concepts without having to lie to people or pay to pitch.
        We remember how impossible it was to get our pitches heard. But why did it have to be so hard? We were talented back then.
        If we could find the Joke and Biagio of ten years ago walking around today, we’d snap them up in a heartbeat.
        That’s why we love discovering talented new producers.
        Maybe you’re one of them.
        4a We Believe in Mentorship
        The reason we started Producing Unscripted is to teach you the right way to create, pitch, sell, and make unscripted television, documentary series, and reality TV shows, and to encourage you to pitch to us.
        No, we won’t team up with everyone who pitches to us. And not everyone who reads this will want to pitch to us.
        When things do work out, we’ll be working in hand with those new producers. “How to Pitch a Reality Show” is just the beginning of the journey. We like to help aspiring producers build their careers.
        Over the years we were lucky to have had great mentors. They were the rare producers secure enough in their own talent to share their knowledge.
        Working with them was invaluable. Those experiences allowed us to launch our own production company. Today, those mentors are still in business, making plenty of TV shows. We’re thrilled to be their colleagues in the unscripted television industry.
        It’s their example we’d like to follow as we help new producers come into their own.
        4b What if You Don’t Want to Work On Reality Shows You Pitch?
        This guide, “How to Pitch a Reality Show” is aimed at people who want to pitch and also make reality TV shows and documentary series.
        But not everyone wants a full-time career in reality TV. Some people want to take a credit and a small check and keep on living their lives.
        We discuss how to do that in 5 Ways You Can Break Into Unscripted Television. You guessed it — five different ways to team up with us, some of which are part-time.
        4c How to Get Your Own Reality Show
        What if you want to star in your own reality show?
        Are you an expert in an unusual field?
        Do you have a TV friendly life packed with drama, comedy, action, adventure? (Or any other descriptive word that would make your life a TV show?)
        Do you think you’re the next Gordon Ramsay, or that your family is even better TV than the Kardashians?
        Good news: If you want to be in front of the camera, not behind it, no one expects you to put together a pitch tape.
        To pitch to us, just sign up for our newsletter, and follow the instructions on how to pitch us a show. When you get to the submission portal, at some point you’ll get a question. “Are you submitting as a Producer (behind the camera) or Talent (in front of the camera)?” Choose Talent.
        Submit links to some short video clips telling us about you, your family and/or business. Make sure to tell us why you think you’d be great TV. (If you post these on YouTube, be sure to make it either a Public video or Unlisted video, not a Private video.)
        These can be shot on any camera that’s handy, including your mobile phone or web cam. Just make sure we can see and hear you.
        You can still follow our tips on putting together your short paper pitch, but your short videos are what matter most.
        5
        What Have You Learned About How to Pitch a Reality Show?
        Okay, you’re over 9000 words into this article…good for you!
        It’s a lot to process, we know. But making it this far has put you miles ahead of most who pitch to us and other industry professionals.
        5a
        15 Things to Remember about How to Pitch a Reality Show
        Your Checklist
        In a nutshell, here’s what you now know about how to pitch a reality show
        Watch TV so you understand what kind of reality show you’re pitching.
        Use the Five Magic Words of Pitching Reality TV.
        Starting out? You want to pitch a self-contained hybrid or self-contained format built around a real person or people.
        Avoid pitching arced competition. Too hard unless you have major connections to some incredible talent and assets.
        Ideas are never enough, you always have to attach someone or something real that you have access to film.
        Ditch all that bad advice from the web that tells you to waste time writing in-depth treatments. They will never make it to air the way your write them up anyway (the network will change it all).
        You can’t pitch what you don’t have, so no more shows set at The White House (unless the First Lady and her husband are on board).
        Make yourself valuable by bringing assets and filmmaking skills to the table.
        You’re never pitching a simple reality idea, you’re always pitching a reality television package.
        Your most useful pitch material is great tape. Everything else is secondary.
        The best time to soft pitch is after you discover a great reality TV asset and before you decide to film. If you’re going to soft pitch a reality TV idea, it has to be based on something real you’ve already found.
        That said, if you’re just starting out, you might as well make some great tape anyway. You’re going to need the practice.
        The best way to protect your idea is also the best way to make yourself valuable. Attach something real to your reality TV project and forget about leaning on “paper” so much.
        Pitch pits and seminars are places you can pay to pitch your projects…
        But remember, you can pitch your shows to us for free – and we will seriously consider them.
        5b
        5 Step Action Plan: Pitch a Reality Show The Smart Way
        Find a real person, place, or thing to attach to your show
        Develop that concept into a self-contained hybrid or self-contained format
        Shoot some video to give a sense of the characters and their world
        Write a short paper pitch to describe how the show works
        Team up with a production company (like ours) and begin building your career.
        5c
        7 Steps: How to Pitch a Reality Show to Us
        Check out this seven step cheat sheet on how to pitch a reality show to us.
        That’s a Wrap
        Congratulations! We know this was a long guide, and you’ve made it to the end.
        You now have a great understanding of how to pitch a reality show the smart way, and how to greatly increase your odds of standing out from the crowd.
        We hope you enjoyed reading “How to Pitch a Reality Show” and we’d love to get to work together with you soon.
        If you enjoyed this guide, would you do us a favor? Click to tweet this:
        This is the ultimate guide on how to pitch a reality show:
        Joke and Biagio
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        “Joke & Biagio met with us when no one else would, developed our show, and together we made it for MTV.” – Travis Bible, Co-Executive Producer, Caged
        How to Pitch a TV Show
        A successful TV show pitch determines if a TV series will move from an initial idea into development and production.
        When you’re screenwriting a TV show, creating the TV script is only half the job. TV writers also need to be able to sell their show’s concept and craft a compelling pitch for a successful television series.
        We’ll explain the details of a TV show pitch to screenwriters and delve into the important elements of a solid pitch document. You’ll also improve your TV show pitching with our practical tips and can learn from famous pitch examples.
        All great films start with a storyboard. Try the #1 Storyboard Software built for Filmmakers.
        What is a TV show pitch?
        The Hollywood cliche of a pitch is a young upstart convincing a hotshot producer of their vision for a television show during a short elevator ride–hence the name “elevator pitch”. In the form of a logline, it gives a brief one-sentence summary of the TV series to hook the reader and generate interest.
        The entertainment industry can be formulaic: just like screenwriting follows an established format, a TV show pitch is a presentation varying in length but based on a comprehensive document; the pitch document. This contains the following elements:
        The goal of a television show pitch
        The purpose of a pitch (in the form of a pitch document, verbal pitch, or a presentation including both) is to sell the core idea of your TV show. It’s a proof of concept that includes the unique selling points, draws the big picture of the who and what, as well as the defining details.
        When you’re crafting your pitch, think of the audience to whom you’re selling your television series. TV producers, development executives, executive producers, and studio execs tend to think in categories and in terms of what’s been done before, so they’ll want to classify your core concept and compare it to others. Because of this, you’ll need to include format details. Are you screenwriting a sitcom, docu-series, an unscripted reality TV show or a reality series, possibly with contestants? Is your TV script a half-hour or hour-long?
        Parts of the pitch document like the pilot script, the main characters and the show bible are likely to change throughout the development process. But if these format details are not clear, it stands less of a chance with Netflix and co.
        Elements of a television show pitch
        A TV show pitch consists of a pitch document and you, the author of the core idea or scriptwriter, who pitches it. Your target audience can be a production company, an executive producer or studio execs, a cable network or a streaming platform such as Netflix, Bravo TV, or HBO. In the following, we’ll explain the contents or elements of a pitch document.
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        Find the emotional hook
        You have a personal connection to your story and the concept for your TV show. Your pitch should demonstrate that it comes from you, that you are the right person to write it, and that the audience will care. To achieve this, make it personal and universal at the same time by appealing to the audience’s emotions.
        The emotional hook is what draws your audience in. Feelings are universal, we all have them, yet we experience them as something deeply personal. Give your story a strong emotional foundation and let the emotional core of your television show shine through.
        In pitch meetings, you can come from the angle of your personal connection to get to the emotional part, but in a pitch document, you’ll have to evoke feelings through the written word. Connect the emotional hook to your main characters, their arc and the show’s themes: love, acceptance, forgiveness, trust, faith, greed, selflessness, responsibility, remorse, blame, redemption–don’t be afraid to draw with broad strokes here!
        The logline
        The logline or log line is the elevator pitch of Hollywood: it encapsulates the core concept of your TV show and summarizes the story in one or two sentences. Writing killer loglines might appear to be an art form, but in practical terms, it’s a skill you can learn and perfect. Take existing shows you know and come up with lines to answer the following questions:
        Consider this logline:
        A young boy mysteriously disappears from a quiet suburban town in the 1980s and his friends, his mother, and the police chief have to work together to fight horrifying creatures from another dimension to bring him back.
        This description of Stranger Things contains the who and what, where and when, and sets the show apart as a sci-fi mystery horror drama playing on our emotions through fear, horror, loss, team spirit, and overcoming mysterious adversaries.
        Note that it’s good to know the audience of your pitch: you can expand your logline to include details on the genre and format because development executives or network representatives might want to hear those buzz words to categorise the show: sitcom, docu-series, web series, half-hour, reality tv show, horizontal or vertical. All of these can be placed as prefixes in your logline:
        The show is a horizontal, prime-time, hour-long sci-fi mystery comedy-drama about…
        One-sheet
        The one-sheet is precisely that: one sheet of paper, sometimes printed double-sided, with a condensed pitch for your TV show. Think of it as a handout for a pitch meeting or a calling card for your project as part of your pitch document, something by which executives can remember your core idea with all relevant information.
        What should the one-sheet include? For a TV show pitch, you should list the following:
        Series bible and summary
        A show bible used to be a document with all the essential details to bring newcomers up to speed. The series bible still serves that function, but screenwriters also produce it as marketing material to pitch a TV show. The bible addresses these questions:
        Although show bibles can be long and include a comprehensive overview of complete episodes, try to be succinct and limit the number of pages. Repeat the title and logline of your show, then give a synopsis covering the entire series or first season: what and who, where and when, what is the main point.
        The next section lists and describes the main characters, so the audience will learn what drives them, followed by a TV pilot breakdown and an overview of future episodes. For a short pitch, two to three sentences for each episode is enough, though comprehensive bibles might take an entire page per episode.
        Here’s a brief TV show bible template:
        Pilot Script
        A TV pilot is a jargon term for the first episode of a TV show, and your pitch should include a TV script for this pilot episode. Your pilot script transfers the core idea that your title and logline suggest into a real thing that network executives can evaluate. Your script allows them to get to know your writing style, to visualize the main characters with their quirks and interactions, to get a feel for the tone and style, as well as possible audience reactions.
        It’s part of the goal of your pitch to have decision-makers read your pilot script so you can win them over with your screenwriting skills. It’s unlikely that your script alone will make or break a deal, but once your pilot script is in front of someone, it should be able to stand on its own.
        Development: Where Will The Series Go?
        Once a network or executive producer expresses interest in your TV show, the development will still be back and forth. Although there are cases in the entertainment industry where a writer sells a nearly completed show, a producer or a network will usually want to align a show with existing programming or otherwise change a few details.
        The exact runtime or number of seasons is generally not predetermined when production on a first season or TV pilot starts, so expect some development over the course of events. For a successful pitch, it may be necessary to communicate that you’re flexible and open to changes as well as collaboration.
        This can include willingness to work on your TV show with other writers or a writers’ room, development executives and other professionals, even though you might not have envisioned them when your core idea first came to you. The same goes for casting: actor suggestions can come across as amateur since networks work with casting directors. However, you can flip it around and ask for casting suggestions if the matter comes up during a pitch.
        What Is A Sizzle Reel?
        A sizzle reel is a “sizzling hot” showreel showcasing your previous work. In the context of a pitch, it can be a video of three to five-minute length summarizing your TV show’s story and plot points, narrative approach or core concept, as well as the main characters. It’s not a trailer or promotional video, but a very clear look at the show, the idea and the style.
        The target audience is the executive producer or the decision-makers to whom you’re pitching. Showing the sizzle reel can be part of your presentation, or you can submit a copy or link with your pitch document.
        Tips for pitching a TV show
        As you’ll see below from our examples, repeated rejections are common, even for shows which go on to become smashing hits. Nonetheless, tackle each pitch meeting individually, give it your all and crush it with the following tips!
        Be brief
        Executive producers and network executives dread the nightmare of a long pitch. Don’t give a play-by-play, don’t simply read or narrate your pitch document, and don’t make your audience wonder when it’s going to end. Show your personal connection, employ the emotional hook to draw them in, succinctly talk them through the main characters and storyline, and leave them wanting more!
        Be Confident
        You know you’re the one to tell your story, so go and convince your pitch audience of it! You can begin and end your pitch on the theme of your story, which is particularly effective if you can demonstrate why you relate to it, and why it engages the emotions of the audience. Speak with passion and enthusiasm about the big picture. Don’t be afraid to ask questions yourself. A pitch meeting is also a chance to interview the network or production company on why they would be the best fit for your project.
        Practice
        Eliminate pauses, gaps and filler expressions from your presentation. Memorize your pitch, time it, and polish it. Seemingly contrary to that advice, you shouldn’t come across as if you’re reciting something by heart, or are pitching this for the umpteenth time. Keep it conversational and colloquial and treat the pitch as if it was happening as a spontaneous meeting instead of something you’ve planned to perfection. Anticipate common questions, so you don’t choke when being asked about details.
        TV show pitch examples
        Breaking Bad
        Vince Gilligan made his name working on The X-Files, but found himself unemployed for a stretch when that show was canceled. He joked with a friend about “a guy who’d put a meth lab in the back of a Winnebago and drove around the south-west.” That guy became Walter White, and the story of Breaking Bad became his transformation “from Mr Chips into Scarface”. The networks didn’t see it though, and Gilligan struggled with producing his TV show. Showtime passed on the pitch, which included an outline and written TV pilot, because they already had Weeds. HBO and TNT didn’t like the idea of a meth dealer as the main character. FX became interested in 2005 but committed to the drama Dirt instead. Gilligan’s pitch eventually won over AMC’s execs, and the network acquired the rights from FX.
        The Sopranos
        The Sopranos spanned over six seasons and had an eight-year run on HBO. The mob drama that revolves around relatable crook, Tony Soprano, is a darling of TV audiences and critics alike. Creator, David Chase, originally envisioned a feature comedy about a mafia boss, played by Robert De Niro, and his strained relationship with his mother. Yet, his agent rejected the pitch, calling mob comedies “out of date.” Chase adapted his vision for TV and crafted strong female leads during the transition, which the network execs hated. Every major network rejected his pitch for The Sopranos! The notes from CBS said all psychiatry scenes would have to go. HBO eventually accepted the mafia and psychodrama mashup pitch and produced a pilot. By then, Chase seemed to have lost faith in the project, expecting a cancelled show after the pilot. When it aired, the network drew record viewers.
        Stranger Things
        After more than twenty rejections by TV networks, the Duffer brothers sold their TV show, originally titled Montauk, to Netflix. The love the Duffer brothers have for all things 80s shows in the cryptic Montauk show bible, which pays homage to all its inspirations. They designed and styled their bible like a Stephen King paperback and relied more on an introduction and focus on the themes than a synopsis and logline-because the Montauk / Stranger Things pitch consisted of a written spec pilot. In a mere 23 pages and without an episode breakdown, the series bible establishes the mythos, the story and its structure, genre, tone and style, and the main characters. Everything’s there, it just took Netflix to realize the potential.
        The Wire
        David Simon’s original series bible of The Wire, a dramatic series written for HBO, has been floating around online for quite a while. It consists of a two-page overview, a one-page setting, a comprehensive list of the show’s many characters, and quite detailed sketches of all episodes in the first season, which make up the largest chunk of the 79 pages. It is in the introduction, however, that Simon brings out the big guns, calling the show a drama of “multiple meanings and arguments” with themes such as national existentialism and culture, the human condition, and the nature of the American city. He also outlines the structure, story arc for each episode and season, and the hyper-realistic style. Yet David Simon ends almost essayistic: “But more than an exercise is realism for its own sake, the verisimilitude of The Wire exists to serve something larger.”
        Mr. Robot
        Mr Robot isn’t a TV show typical for the USA network. In the words of USA development chief Alex Sepiol, Mr Robot is a “very unique show” and “like nothing else on television.” Esmail’s core idea came to USA when the network was ready to change up its programming and further evolve its brand. Executives were looking for dramas with unlikely, flawed heroes, darker themes, and extraordinary circumstances. Sam Esmail, on the other hand, was convinced by the USA’s promise of a successful launch and series despite his lack of TV experience. His pitch accomplished its goal because Esmail had a long-term plan for the show with completed character arcs and several seasons figured out.
        How to Pitch a TV Show to Any Network or Streamer (Free Checklist)
        Do you have a great TV show idea? How can you get it in the right hands? It might be time for you to master the TV show pitch and to write your pitch treatment to get it ready for the room.
        You’ve probably heard someone say that we’re in a “golden age” for television. There are 400+ shows on the air right now, and more are added each year as digital and streaming channels begin to dominate the airwaves. If you’re a writer or director, your best chance to break in and to form a long career is no longer just in movies. Now people are talking about television.
        This rise of TV has to do with lots of different factors, from the sheer size of the unit in your house to the prevalence of access, to the diversity and uniqueness of the form. There are also a few key decisions you need to make initially. Like is your story a single-cam or multi-cam?
        In addition to creating a tv show bible, learning how to pitch a TV show is super important to your chances at breaking into Hollywood.
        Today we’ll go over all the aspects of television pitches, give you a free pitch template, and discuss how to get your ideas into the right hands.
        Table of Contents
        What is a TV show pitch?
        A television show pitch is a comprehensive document or presentation that outlines your idea from logline to full season for executives who are in control of a network. This presentation could last anywhere from ten minutes to an hour and should detail all the events that happen in your pilot, explain the characters and how they arc, and let the executives know why the show could last for multiple seasons.
        You want to make sure your tone, the core idea, and the heart of the story come across.
        What are the parts of a TV pitch packet?
        A television pitch packet differs from the aural pitch you’d give in a room full of executives. A pitch packet contains your bible, pilot script, and any other documentation you want executives to have that reflects your TV show. Sometimes those other docs can be a look book, novel, intellectual property the show will be based on, or even a sizzle reel you cut together or shot yourself that reveals the tone and story you want on the screen.
        Pitch packets and sizzle reels are much more prevalent in reality television because they’re usually selling a family or storefront or something else that will be the star, not the writing.
        We cover how to write a TV pilot here and also cover how to write a television bible in other articles on the site!
        The TV Show Pitch Template
        We covered a lot of pitch tips in our elevator pitch post and our process on how to pitch a movie, but I want to really shine a light on what makes pitching TV so special.
        When you sit across from development executives, your pitch should take them on a great journey. You want them hanging on the edge of their seats because you also want them to see the viability of your tv pitch in the open market. This pitch will help you get producers, and then you’ll take the producers out to snag a network or a streamer.
        So what should be in your television pitch?
        A great checklist if you want to learn how to pitch a tv show.
        The TV Pitch Checklist
        A personal connection to the story
        The way you came up with the idea
        The events of the pilot
        A summary of season one of the series
        An explanation of where the television show will go in future seasons
        So what do each of these headers mean? Let’s break them down.
        1. A personal connection to the story
        This is so important and cannot be understated. Your story needs to come from you. Why are you the right person to write it and why will other people care. Your personal connection to the story also needs to get executives to find their personal connection too. So try to make your story universal in a way that draws others in, but specific enough that they’ll see the audience who could become die-hard fans.
        2. The way you came up with the idea
        Everyone loves an origin story. So while making your personal connection, get us involved in the spark that took your idea to the next level. That spark should light a fire in the executives. Remember, you’re trying to get people on your bandwagon.
        3. The events of the pilot
        Sure, at this point they might have the pilot to read, but you want to take them through the character arc and development within the pilot. Who are we following? What’s their world like, and how will the pilot shake things up? This is applicable to both dramas and comedies. Once you’re done describing the pilot, I want to know where we are going.
        4. A summary of season one of the series
        This can be quick, but we have to know the show has legs. Where are we going in season one? How do the events of the pilot cause a ripple effect in the character’s lives? Here’s where you can listen too. Executives love having a hand in helping craft seasons. See where they think it’s going, subvert their expectations, and use their best ideas. This is all about collaboration.
        5. An explanation of where the television show will go in future seasons
        After season one, where can we go? This is where you can explore the major themes of your story as well as the way you see it ending. How big can the conspiracy get? Will people fall in and out of love? Cook meth for a white supremacist and die next to their creation? The choices are yours, but always have an idea where your story map leads.
        Tips on how to pitch a TV show
        Now that we’ve covered the “how to,” let’s look at some tips on pitching television shows to networks and streamers. Masterclass put together a few pitch tips from Shonda Rhimes and Judd Apatow, two of the best in their fields. Apatow’s main advice is to keep it short. He says.
        ” The worst pitches are long pitches. When someone comes in and starts giving a play-by-play and you think, this is going to take 20 to 45 minutes. First of all, I think they’re crazy. I think they’ve lost their minds. And I want to escape the room. Sometimes I will tunnel and I will crawl out through the floor. “
        Rhimes takes her advice and spells out the process for you.
        ” If you can’t take me from plot A point to plot B to plot C point, and I don’t know what’s going to happen, or I have no sense of where we’re going or where we’ve been, that’s terrible. If I’m lost or it’s just too much, like if it goes on for too long, and it gets sort of painfully long, you’re doomed. You want to be able to get in, speak your piece, let them ask you questions, and then you can elaborate all you want to, and get out. “
        “Open and close with the theme of the story, and if part of your opening can include why you relate to that theme, why you’re the one to tell this story, even better. It lets you start the pitch with your enthusiasm for the big picture. Also, make it as conversational and colloquial as possible. I recommend memorizing, and when my partner and I work on a verbal pitch, we literally write in “um” and “so” and “like” to remember to keep it casual and give it room to breathe.”
        Hopefully, these tips get you ready for your next big pitch meeting. Whether you are pitching to HBO or just trying to get your web series some legs, make sure you follow our template and checklist to get you feeling comfortable in the room. Practice your pitch with your friends, tell it at parties, and make sure you know it front to back. Keep it breezy, leave room for questions, and get out there and sell your TV show!
        What’s next? Learn how to write a TV pilot!
        Want to learn how to write a TV pilot? You’ve come to the right place.
        Breaking into Hollywood with a writing career is one of the hardest things you can do. Fewer and fewer movies are being made every year, and now, many young writers are turning to television to find jobs. But to get a job in television you need a sample. Samples are speculative pilot scripts that your agent or manager can hand to showrunners to prove your worth. Don’t hesitate to read other TV pilots to help get a sense of what works. and what doesn’t!
        Source https://producingunscripted.com/how-to-pitch-a-reality-show/
        Source https://boords.com/blog/how-to-pitch-a-tv-show
        Source https://nofilmschool.com/how-to-pitch-a-tv-show
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How To Pitch A Reality Show

How to Pitch a Reality Show in 5 Steps

Why Take Our Advice?

Why We Wrote This

This is Also a Companion Guide

How To Pitch a Reality Show

I What We’ll Cover in “How to Pitch a Reality Show”

1 Understanding How Reality TV Works

1a Different Types of Reality Shows

Consider Movies…

Still Pretty New…

Unscripted Television Has Many Faces

So, Don’t Do That

1b What Reality Show Pitches Do Networks Buy?

Want to break into the reality TV business?

Different Networks Buy Different Kinds of Shows

1c Watching Television With a Critical Eye

Often Pitched Reality Shows that Have No Chance

Too Unique? Maybe.

1d The Five Magic Words of Pitching Reality TV

Reality TV Structure: Self-Contained or Arced?

Self-Contained

Arced

Reality Television Type: Format, Docu, or Hybrid?

Format

Hybrid

How Does Your Show Fit In?

1e What Reality TV Pitches are New Producers Most Likely to Sell?

Self-Contained Hybrid

Self-Contained Format

Do You Have to Have Talent In Mind Before Pitching?

2 Preparing to Pitch Reality Shows

2a Reality TV Ideas, A.K.A. What Are You Actually Pitching?

Is That You?

2b Bad Web Advice

Here’s what’s wrong with what’s out there:

2c Ideas versus Execution

Reality TV: Ideas vs Execution Example:

No one cares.

2d You Can’t Pitch What You Don’t Have

You can’t pitch what you don’t have access to film

What To Do Instead?

2e Make Yourself Valuable

What Else Makes You Valuable?

2f Pitching Reality TV: Five Ways to Make Yourself Valuable

Find a Great Real Life Character

Provide access to a unique world

Get the rights to an exciting property (like a book or a podcast).

Bring useful filmmaking skills to the project.

Have a great personality.

Helpful Links on Adding Value to Your Reality Show Pitches

2g All About Your Reality TV Pitch Package

What Goes in Your Initial Short Tape?

This Will Instantly Set Your Reality TV Pitch Apart. Why?

2h Reality TV Pitch Materials

Great Tape (2 to 5 minutes, shorter is better).

Short Write-Up

Anything Extra That Brings Your Reality TV Show to Life.

Should You Shoot Your Own Reality TV Pilot?

2i How To Protect Your Reality Idea While Building Your Career

Similar Reality Shows On TV at the Same Time

Another example:

Skeptical?

So what’s the lesson here?

3 Where and How to Pitch a Reality Show

3a Pitching Reality Shows Early in Your Career

Today’s World Is Different.

3b Should You Ever Pay to Pitch?

We’ve Been on Both Sides of the “Speed Pitch” Table

3c The Soft Pitch

What Is A Soft Pitch

Why Give a Soft Pitch?

Soft Pitches: Before and After

This is a common mistake

3d What Happens When A Network Wants Your Reality TV Show?

Development Phase

Paper Phase

3e
What If You’re Not Third Party Approved?

5
What Have You Learned About How to Pitch a Reality Show?

5a
15 Things to Remember about How to Pitch a Reality Show

5b
5 Step Action Plan: Pitch a Reality Show The Smart Way

5c
7 Steps: How to Pitch a Reality Show to Us