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Posted by Spex on 09/12/06 16:38
PTravel wrote:
> "Bryan Heit" <bjheit@NOSPAMucalgary.ca> wrote in message
> news:ee6fdh$jff$1@news.ucalgary.ca...
>> nobody special wrote:
>>> I had a friend try to pitch a show to them. Discovery has a small
>>> number of "favorite son" production companies that feed product into
>>> them. Your only real hope is to go thru one of them, and once you do,
>>> they basically make you sign over the idea and most of the control over
>>> the idea to them (as well as most of the profits). You get a small
>>> piece of it unless you can retain some producer credits on it.
>> This is probably the only route to go, but I don't think it is the "death
>> sentence" you make it out to be.
>>
>> Firstly, if you look at what is needed to make a documentary of the type
>> which appears on Discovery, National Geographic, etc, its pretty obvious
>> you need a full production team. For the "average" documentary of this
>> quality you'll need:
>>
>> Film crew(s) + audio crew
>> Researchers
>> Audio technicians/editors
>> Video technicians/editors
>> Host(s) and/or narrator(s)
>> Script writers
>> Animators
>> Lawyers (for licensing, releases, and so forth)
>> Music composition (or licensing)
>> Someone to keep everything on track (Producer)
>> Plus directors to keep all of the sub-groups organized
>>
>> Although one person can do all of these jobs (I've done all of this for
>> some of my own work) it is doubtful one person could do all of these jobs
>> well enough for Discovery-level production. Not to mention the vast
>> amount of time it would take to make a single episode.
>>
>> But this doesn't mean that you'd have to give up control, or make very
>> little $$$ from it. For example, if your documentary involves a technical
>> field you could easily work not only as a creator, but as a
>> researcher/consultant. If you're decent at writing you may also be able
>> to do work as a writer. Any stock footage you may have may also be used -
>> either for the planning of the footage they shoot, or used directly in the
>> production. All of these would give you additional input into the work,
>> and probably get you a little more $$$.
>>
>> Another option to consider is approaching a smaller (i.e. local)
>> broadcaster first. This would give you the opportunity to develop the
>> show, be it with fewer resources, but this would give you greater control
>> over the project. This way you have the opportunity to develop the show,
>> work out the bugs, develop a small team, etc, before you approach
>> discovery or a larger production studio. You're far more likely to be
>> taken seriously if you come to them not with an idea, but with a project
>> that has some history - even if its just a small show which runs on a
>> local station.
>>
>> Bryan
>
> I appreciate your taking the time to post this, but to pull it back on track
> (and as I posted originally), this is not an idea for a full-length episodic
> program, nor is it something that requires a full production team. I don't
> intend to say any more about it because I don't wish to disclose the idea,
> but I'm perfectly capable of executing it myself (in SD, for which my
> prosumer gear is completely adequate) and without additional crew (beyond
> what I already use). As for clearances, I only need music, I have a source
> for that, and I'm a lawyer who does licensing, so legal formalities are not
> a concern at all, as I will handle them myself.
>
>
>
He gave you good advice. I bet my mortgage that you don't get anywhere
close to getting your programme made and aired on Discovery. Without
wishing to be rude I've seen your travel videos on your website and I
don't think that level of quality should ever be seen on TV. You cannot
edit for toffee. If you show any of those videos you'll be shown the
door. I promise you that.
Climb down off your high horse and listen to Bryan's advice.
Have you even rung Discovery Channel to ask about submissions? A simple
phone call should be sufficient to determine how a pitch or submission
should be made. You should be aware that Discovery has some extremely
fierce requirements you have to adhere to.
The best advice anyone will give you or should have given you is to
leave it to the pros.
Take the idea to a production company and they'll be honest with you as
to whether the idea is a goer or not. They may even be able to run with
the idea, come at it from a different angle, sell the idea to Discovery
and get it aired. You play a part in the making of it, get a broadcast
credit and paid. Otherwise the idea however good it is may never reach
the screen.
I've never seen a credit roll with one person's name on it. Its for a
reason.
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