Competition in the television industry is fierce with television shows coming and going. Knowing how to write and submit your original idea or manuscript will give you a huge advantage because you can spread your ideas and even get paid for them.
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Method 1 of 3: Developing a Concept
Step 1. Create a presuppositional premise that usually begins with, “What if?
"This is the premise on which every television show and idea is put forward to Hollywood. The premise could be as simple as, "What if a documentary film crew shoots at a small company that sells paper?" (The Office) to complex ones like, "What if a chemistry teacher gets involved in the production of narcotics?" (Breaking Bad). It's the basic concept of your event that makes it different and sells.
You don't need, or want to, overload the premise with too many subplots or other ideas first. For now, write down the gist of your event on paper. For example, "Seinfeld" was originally only proposed as, "What if we just made a show about everyday life?"
Step 2. Review current television shows to learn about emerging trends or opportunities
Use fundamental, well-known sites like Deadline.com or Variety to keep up with Hollywood television trends. For example, Deadline ran a story in August 2015 stating that television stations were specifically looking for an hour-long comedy show to air. It's a good clue to know what kind of show is selling.
Write down the names and television studios that are likely to produce your television show. Most likely these names will buy your television show later
Step 3. Determine the genre of your television show
A genre is the type of show you want to create, from situational comedies to murder mysteries. There are a variety of genres, but when in doubt, it's a good idea to look to the genre of your favorite show online as a guide. For example, the genre Arrested Development is a single camera situational comedy, meaning the show is not recorded with a studio audience in attendance like classic situational comedies like Cheers, which are multi-camera sitcoms. While these differences may seem small, they have a huge impact when you pitch your ideas because a television station only wants certain types of shows.
- Genre affects the mood, feel, and style of your writing and the audience's expectations of certain things.
- By choosing a genre, it does not mean you are stuck in one type of story. Choosing a genre only makes it easier for you to promote and sell your ideas.
Step 4. Develop some characters
The essence of any television show lies in its characters. Characters are the reason people watch television shows week after week and who drive the plot of each episode. Try to make two to five main characters because the more characters you have, the harder it will be to direct them. Seven characters (like Community and most other plays) are the usual upper limit. Your character must:
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Round.
Your character's character is multi-layered, not just "angry woman" or "tough hero." Round characters have strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities for growth.
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Full of desire and fear.
Your character's ability or inability to overcome fear (of poverty, loneliness, aliens from outer space, spiders, and so on) is the drive that creates conflict in each episode and reveals the ultimate goal of your television show.
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Have a purpose.
Good characters make choices that run the plot of the story. They make mistakes, try and correct their mistakes, party, and so on, because those are things the characters really want to do, not things the writers are forced to do.
Step 5. Understand what makes a good idea sell
Executive producers are people who approve of new ideas, and they've heard a lot of ideas. The best ideas, or at least those that will be approved, have the following characteristics:
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Originality.
Has your show been broadcast before? Is your event similar to existing events, and if so, is your event different enough to stand out from other similar events?
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Cost estimation.
Only a few studios are willing to take the risk by disbursing hundreds of millions of rupiah for writers or directors who have not been proven to sell. It's hard to sell a big concept like The Walking Dead if you're just starting out in television because the financial risks of such a project are huge.
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Scenario/Proof of Concept.
This means you'll need to outline a scene, script, or record some sketches. Your ideas may be enough to open the doors of executive producers, but you need real work to prove that your show can be made.
Method 2 of 3: Writing Outlines of the Scene
Step 1. Choose a title for your event
The easier the title is to remember, the better. Most television show titles are based on puns, and a good play on words or phrases can make your show instantly recognizable. For example, Mad Men tells the story of an Advertising Agency and the men (men) who work there who live most of their lives in chaos (mad). Community tells the story of a high school (community college) and also a group of friendly people. Don't underestimate the importance of a title.
Step 2. Create a memorable logline or gist of the story
The gist of the story is a sentence or two that describes your show to keep producers interested in your ideas. Usually the essence of the story contains the main purpose of the event and/or your main character. If the concept you're offering doesn't fit easily into the heart of the story, your concept may not sell very well, but this is rarely the case. The essence of the story should be able to explain to the people of the show what they will be watching and the premise or interesting things in your show.
- Back to the Future. A high school student is sent to the past by accident which makes his parents never meet, let alone give birth to him!
- Jaws. A police chief fights with a killer shark despite being afraid of the sea. Meanwhile, the greedy city council refuses to admit that the beach is in trouble, making matters even more complicated.
- Ratatouille. A French rat teams up with a lousy chef to prove that everyone can cook, while envious critics and exterminators will do anything to prove their actions are a hoax.
Step 3. Write a 300-500 word synopsis
A synopsis is an overall, but brief, overview of your event. There are lots of potential elements you could include in a synopsis, but the shorter and denser the synopsis, the better. Try to summarize your show into an interesting, short piece of writing that will make you want to watch it if it airs. Some of the things that should be included in your synopsis are:
- Story background.
- Outline of the story plot.
- The storyline of most episodes (what generally happens in each episode?)
Step 4. Make a detailed, but brief figure sheet
On another sheet, list each character with a one- to two-sentence explanation of who they are. Keep it short and specific. What motivates each character and what makes them special? Unless it affects the plot, don't include physical explanations or cast selection.
Step 5. Also break down three to four episodes
Keep the details concise with only one to two paragraphs of explanation. You have to give people a chance to see the scenes on your show, the appearance of each episode, and the budget range, and the characters in action. If you're writing a drama genre, the description for each episode should be around 400-500 words, and if you're writing a comedy show, the description for each episode should be around 200-300 words.
If you're pitching a documentary-style reality show, including a short video about the subject you want to show or the people involved in your show can help producers see the potential of your show. You can also outline the potential plots in the lives of the people who are characters in your documentary
Step 6. Outline the scene
Your well-ordered outline of your scene should be 3-10 pages long. Add a title page with your prospective event logo, your name, and your contact information. In order, your scene outline should contain:
- Title
- Essence of the story
- Synopsis
- Characters
- The storyline of each episode.
- If you're making a reality show, make sure you're creating a format that can be produced. If you're creating a competitive reality show, make sure every aspect of the gameplay is spelled out. You should write down what the audience will witness in short, but powerful bullet points.
Step 7. Consider writing a script
In the end, the outline of the scene you create is not what will be shown on television. By accompanying the outline of your scene with a script, you can immediately provide an overview of the first episode of your show if the executive producers like your show. However, most ideas are sold only in the form of ideas, then the script is asked to be made. This is more common if your flying hours in Hollywood are already high.
- Read scripts from events similar to yours to get an idea of the writing and plotting.
- If you're writing an engineered television show, such as a play, learn how to write a good script. Look for scriptwriting classes that you can take at your local course.
- Special software for writing scripts can save you time when writing scripts. Some of the most popular script writing software include Movie Magic Screen Writer, Celtx, Writer Duets, and Final Draft.
Step 8. Register your work with a copyright system service such as the Writers Guild of America
That way, your intellectual property rights will be protected and you can time your work. You may also be interested in registering your work online with The Creator's Vault or applying for copyright protection, although sometimes this is too much.
- Registering your work with WGA costs only 20 dollars (or 10 dollars on the WGA site if you are already a WGA member) and is considered the television industry standard.
- Registered works will be kept for five years, then you can update them. Terms vary for each service and site.
Method 3 of 3: Submitting Your Television Show
Step 1. Enter your event material into the online television industry data center
These types of sites cost money, but in return, executive producers can view your show material. Usually you have to pay to get ratings, and high-ranking manuscripts will go straight to the top of the list on the site. However, most of these sites are unreliable. So, make sure to do some online research first to find reviews, proof of statements, and success stories from these sites. Look up success stories of these sites on IMDB to check their reliability.
- The site with the best reputation when it comes to scripts is The Blacklist. Many people found executive producers and achieved success from this site.
- Accepting an unsolicited application without an intermediary could expose a company to theft. Electronic evidence in the form of reviews by multiple companies is one of the unique advantages the Internet can provide in today's television development arena.
Step 2. List related companies that might like your idea and contact them online
Browse online and find phone numbers, email addresses, and how to pitch ideas for companies creating events similar to yours. Contact them at any cost and ask if they are interested in meeting and discussing your ideas. You don't have to beg. Just show that you're willing to put in the effort to sell your manuscript.
- Don't submit a show about cliché monsters to NBC, submit it to SyFy. Don't also send Historical Dramas to Greg Danial's production house (The Office). Consider what kinds of shows a particular television studio has broadcast so you don't make the wrong bid.
- Look for scholarship programs from television studios. This is typically a 6-8 week paid program that can help you forge your ideas right in the studio. However, programs like this are very competitive.
Step 3. Expand your network with anyone
Meeting someone in person is still the best way to sell your idea or event. Drink coffee with friends, join an improv group, and take a job at a film studio. Even if someone can't make your idea come true, that person probably knows someone who can help you.
- Whenever possible, work for a film or television studio as a production assistant or intern. Do whatever can give you the opportunity to dive into television.
- While not strictly necessary, selling your idea to Hollywood is easiest if you live in Hollywood. If you want to seriously pursue this field, it's time for you to move to LA. However, many television shows are also produced in NYC.
Step 4. Know that you need an effective idea pitch to sell your idea once you're in front of executive producers
You must be able to astonish executives when you are given the opportunity to speak. Submission of ideas is an art form, but remember, you want to sell, so don't write a script. Your goal is simply to get people excited about your event, so talk about:
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hooks.
Come back to the premise of your event. Why is your show original, interesting, and worth watching?
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Viewer.
Who is the target audience for your event? Why does your program match the target audience of the television station you attend?
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trailers.
If you were to sell your event in an advertisement, which part would you like to highlight? Which scene best describes the world of your show?
Step 5. Remember you are a seller, not a writer
Why is your show a good fit for their target audience? How does your event complement other events? Why do they need your event? Don't just talk about how cool your show is or even yourself, talk about why it was a good decision for them if they bought your show.
You have to understand, what kinds of shows are produced by the television station you are attending, and who their target audience is, in order to capture the attention of the executive producers at the television station
Step 6. Present your ideas concisely and passionately
Your submission should take no longer than 12-15 minutes and the shorter your submission, the better. Share your show's core ideas with executive producers, get them interested in the premise, and give reasons why your show fits their television station. Then, thank them and answer their questions.
- You have to practice your submission long ago and time and time again. Your submission should be as prepared as your script and scene outline.
- Having more than one idea can help, even if the other ideas don't have a scene outline yet. Executive producers may like you and your ideas, but have no room in their schedule for your proposed show.
Tips
- The more ideas and scene outlines you have, the better. Keep exploring different ideas in the same genre so you can have a portfolio to propose.
- Do some research and come up with original ideas. People won't accept ideas that have already been used for movies, books, or other television shows.
