by Voyage | Nov 20, 2011 | Uncategorized
CONVERTING YOUR UNIQUE EXPERTISE INTO GREAT TV In these days of the YouTube generation and reality TV, we’ve got dating coaches helping us find love (Bravo’s Millionaire Matchmaker, Logo’s Bad Sex), stylists perfecting our grooming rituals (The Look For Less, Project Runway, Tabitha’s Hair Salon), and even health and fitness experts shaping our bodies (any given Dr. Oz show). And one of the many lessons reality TV has taught us – besides how to conduct a passive-aggressive catfight, Housewives-style – is that there’s always room for new talent. Reality TV widens the definition of “talent”, offering big opportunities for those of us who didn’t go to Juilliard or Yale Drama School. It can be a great vehicle for people with specific areas of interesting non-entertainment expertise (like therapy, pet-training, and even the lately-very-hot paranormal investigation). Creating a show is a great way to raise your profile and share what you know. If you or a friend has an interesting job or business, it’s worth investigating the possibility of pitching a show about it. Here are the top 3 things to consider when creating your own reality show: 1. Consider the audience—especially the niche. —What group isn’t being reflected or heard in the TV world? Who deserves a spotlight, a chance to share a compelling story and offer viewers something they never knew they needed? Can you speak to them? 2. It doesn’t hurt to try something radically different —Of course you should know what the buyers want now, but you never know how the market will evolve or what other trends may pop up a year (or months and...
by Voyage | Nov 10, 2011 | Uncategorized
A GOOD SUBJECT NEEDS AN EVEN BETTER PITCH So let’s say you realize that lots of people might be entertained by your expertise as a French chef, your adventures in ghost-hunting or the hilarious fights your co-workers keep having down at the holistic diet center. Well, guess what? So have a dozen or so others. There’s still room for new faces in Reality TV, but there’s also growing competition for coveted airtime—especially in areas where there are already lots of shows, like cooking, pet care, and weight-loss. If you would like to be a contender, you’ll have to realize that it’s not just what you’ve got, it’s how you’re presenting it. Assume that whatever your central idea is, producers have seen it before in some way, shape, or form (or they’ll assume they have), so it’s imperative that you invest some effort in the details. Here’s your checklist of… 5 Things You Need to Do To Make A Great Pitch: 1. Use a show format that makes the most of your show subject and connects with your audience. For example, would 20-somethings prefer a show about young wives or basketball wives? Would families with teens be more likely to gather around the TV together to watch a show about travel, or a show about other families running around the world in a big race? As well-known past successes have shown, the spin you put on your show idea can make you stand out among the rest. 2. Plan pitch materials that are appropriate to your concept, format, and potential buyers. Some ideas will require a power-point deck, others just...
by Voyage | Nov 5, 2011 | The Expert Network
JUST KIDDING. THAT’S NOT HOW IT WORKS. There’s a reason why they say “There’s no time like the present.” The present is what determines and shapes what’s to come. So take action! If you think you’ve got something that connects with today’s audiences and trends, act on it! If not, demand and trends might change, your work might change, and you might change. Don’t assume opportunity will stay constant. Instead of waiting around for an opportunity to come along, create your own opportunities now. Many of us hold back for different reasons, and one of those involves fear and doubt. There’s the fear of rejection (“I’ve had so many doors slammed in my face, why bother knocking on another one?”). There’s the fear of being accepted and then having to follow up on a promising proposal (“What if I don’t have enough to back myself up? They’ll be disappointed!”). And then there’s the basic fear of the unknown (“What will happen to me if…?”). Let’s face it. You (and we) are not getting any younger, and you never know what life-altering changes may be waiting for you around the corner. The wants of the entertainment marketplace are constantly changing. Therefore, there really is no better time to break out of your shell of insecurity with an idea you can share with others who can help you turn your vision into something real. So write your idea and find your talent. Don’t forget to make a sizzle reel and a pitch book. Hit the print button. Compose an email. And send it out into the universe. You just never know....
