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ARNOLD SHAPIRO’S
“TV A to Z”
CREATING, DEVELOPING & SELLING YOUR OWN TV SHOWS
FROM CONCEPTION TO SALE |
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DAY 1 :
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 9:30-5:30
(CREATING, DEVELOPING, & SELLING) |
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I.
INTRODUCTION: |
- What do TV
producers really do?
- What is your TV
goal & how prepared are you?
- How do you get
a TV show on the air?
- Defining
success for yourself
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II.
THE IDEA:
Where It All Starts |
- Sources of
ideas
- Determining if
your idea can sustain a show
- Questions to
ask yourself about your idea
- Believing in
your idea; the power of
passion
- The Role of
Ethics - Ideas you decide not to pursue for ethical reasons
- Entry level
advice for new writers
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III.
DEVELOPING THE IDEA: |
- The
Starting Point
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Understanding your idea: What story are you trying to tell?
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Character casting & development
- The Pros
and Cons of Collaboration
- The
written presentation
- The
verbal pitch
- The
video sales tape
- Legal
issues
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Unscripted (reality) series
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IV.
DEVISING THE
SELLING STRATEGY: |
- Tools for successful selling
- Packaging your idea
- Agents and attorneys
- Being an effective sales person
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V.
BUYERS: |
- Networks, studios, production companies
- Portrait of a buyer
- What buyers really want to know
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VI.
THE PITCH MEETING: |
- Getting the meeting
- Preparing your pitch
- What you need to take to the meeting
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VII.
PITCHING YOUR IDEA: |
- The first minute
- A dozen “do’s” and “don’ts”
- Ingredients of a winning pitch
- The written presentation & the video sales tape
- Buyers’ behavior
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VIII.
NEW MEDIA: |
- How technology
is driving content
- Interactivity
between the medium
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IX.
FOLLOW-UP: |
- The long wait – or not
- The “Thank You” letter
- Multiple pitch meetings or one at a time?
- If it’s a “yes”...if it’s a “no”
- When to give up on an idea
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X.
REJECTION & FAILURE: |
- The
differences
- The
antidote
- Observations
about success & some memorable quotes
- Lessons from
how "Scared Straight!" got produced & aired
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XI.
PREVIEW OF TOMORROW: |
- Preparing
for practice pitches from courageous volunteers
- Read handouts
over night so you can ask questions
- Q&A
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DAY 2: SUNDAY,
OCTOBER 5, 9:30 - 4:00
(THE
DEAL, PRE-PRODUCTION, PRODUCTION, PROMOTION, PREMIERE) |
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Q&A ABOUT THE HAND-OUTS AND
ANYTHING FROM YESTERDAY |
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I.
YOUR IDEA SELLS!: |
- Development deal vs. production commitment
- The difference in selling to a studio, production company or
network
- What you can expect from the deal
- Your vision vs. compromise
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II.
MORE DEVELOPMENT: |
- Characteristics of a successful writer
- Characteristics of a successful producer
- TV movies, some
reality shows, documentaries: No pilot necessary
- The role of an agent
or attorney
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III.
PRODUCING THE PILOT: (SERIES ONLY) |
- Producing the
pilot
- Budget,
production staff, casting
- The important
role of the editor
- Focus group
testing
- Most pilots
don't sell. Yours does.
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IV.
PRODUCING THE SERIES: |
- Your role and
your screen credit
- Number of
episodes ordered
- Dealing with
on-screen talent
- What to do and
expect
- Producing a
documentary or special (an OTO - one time only program)
- The reality of
Reality shows - cable and broadcast network series
- Producing
ethics
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V.
PRACTICE PITCHES FROM YOU (VOLUNTARY) WITH CRITIQUES |
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VI.
ADVERTISING, PUBLICITY, PROMOTION: |
- The difference
between the three
- Your role --
Getting noticed
- Scheduling -
day and time: as important as the show itself
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VII.
THE PREMIERE: |
- The reviews and
the ratings
- Defining a
show’s success
- Ecstasy or
agony - most new shows don't succeed. Yours does.
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VIII.
LUCK, TIMING,
FATE, ATTITUDE: |
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Questions To Ask Yourself: Is all this really right for you?
- 16
Ingredients for Success
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The story of how I sold certain shows that were "impossible" to
sell (TIME PERMITTING)
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Realistic advice - "Defiant Dreamers"
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End of Seminar Q&A |
