How to make it in the
Reality TV World?
In todays entertainment industry reality show ideas that get produced,
are often revolve around a specific issue or event that everybody can relate
to, and out of that is built a game. They are in essence, game shows. But even
more importantly, they are big fun, and often-dramatic social
experiments. When we look at these reality show we must remember that
some things are fun to play, and some things are fun to watch. To truly connect
with an audience and have entertainment value in a show, you need both.
The
quality of a reality-based show can span from awful to inspiring. But the
reason viewers tune in is because we have an insatiable appetite for witnessing
and being entertained by the human experience.
What one should know about
putting a reality show together is to follow the following guidelines:
Ø
Be Specific
in your concept, and try several approaches.
Ø
Choose
concepts and subjects that are highly marketable
Ø
Think of
movie
Ø
Identify
Unique Professions or Lifestyles
When creating a reality
show you need to give a production company executives the inside scoop that
they would love to find a show that places contestants in some sort of
"fish-out-of-water scenario" and would like it to involve a family. What
a production company look for is for you to be able to deliver an approach to
that concept that is totally unique and something they never would have thought
of. When thinking of a Title this stage is very important, they should roll off
the tongue easily, provoke conversations, and simply tell you exactly what
you’re going to be watching. For example: "The Bachelor", "The
Apprentice", "The Biggest Loser", "America's Got
Talent", “Real House wife’s of Atlanta” are all good examples. Word play
is always a good way to grab attention and create curiosity. “Meet the
Parents”, "Wife Swap", and "Blind Date" are all specific to
what their show is about, but use known phrases to create new titles that peak
curiosity.
The
Story is a critical element to define when developing a reality-based project.
When you look at movies, look at the core concept and story elements of the
film, and a reality show just might be staring you smack in the face. Lastly
identify a unique profession or lifestyle is one of the simplest and most
successful sub-genre of reality show is the documentary style series covering
unique professions or lifestyles. These stories serve the insatiable curiosity
viewers have to gain insight into other peoples lives and jobs. Bravo's "The Real Housewives
of Orange County" is a guilty-pleasure glimpse into the spoiled
and faux-glamorous lives of a certain group of women in Orange County,
California.
Once you have completed
these steps then you are ready to pitch your reality show, but before you
contact a network, you need to get that WGA registration number, which is your
way of registering your original idea in order to protect it. The easiest way
to obtain this number is to go to the WGA registry page at http://www.wgawregistry.org/webrss/.
For $20 you can register your pitch online. Once you have acquired your WGA
number the big question is whom should you submit to? The Networks? An agent? Reality
TV, Production Company? Most networks won't give you the time of day unless
you're already attached to a successful project, but they are three that will Comedy
Central, Discovery and MTV.
To Be Continued…
Source:
By Melisa Brown
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