The television industry
The television industry
Author
Discussion

UKBob

Original Poster:

16,277 posts

295 months

Friday 28th October 2005
quotequote all
If one was to invent a show, a candid camera style show for example, how does one go about finding a channel to "buy?" it, and how much money can be made from selling an idea?

chilli

17,320 posts

266 months

Friday 28th October 2005
quotequote all
Similar question (hope it's ok) mate of mine writes comedy sketches. Blinding, most of them, much funnier than the usual cr*p on the tely, but has no idea where to send them to...keeps getting replies saying he needs an agent or something.
Any ideas?

Cheers,

Chilli.

andy mac

73,668 posts

285 months

Friday 28th October 2005
quotequote all
Call it "You're a cock" and just have footage of bad drivers, bad parking, crappy call centre people, idiotic beaurocracy, etc....

puggit

49,815 posts

278 months

Friday 28th October 2005
quotequote all
chilli said:
Similar question (hope it's ok) mate of mine writes comedy sketches. Blinding, most of them, much funnier than the usual cr*p on the tely, but has no idea where to send them to...keeps getting replies saying he needs an agent or something.
Any ideas?

Cheers,

Chilli.
I have no experience of the tv industry, but at a guess - he needs an agent

r988

7,496 posts

259 months

Friday 28th October 2005
quotequote all
Might be hard if your not established or dont have anyone famous or well known to help push it along.

Probably best to put it on community TV and hope it gets noticed.

Otherwise create a pilot episode and harass TV people until they run it.

Also try Cable TV they have more airtime to fill.

Parrot of doom

23,075 posts

264 months

Friday 28th October 2005
quotequote all
He doesn't need an agent. What he needs is to know personally the commissioning editor of the channel to which hes pushing the show.

Knowing the right people in this business is everything - without contacts, hes got zero chance. A great many programme ideas arrive on the desk of a commissioning editor, and most of them will get pushed off the desk and into the bin.

You could also advise him to push the idea to one of the indies, but be warned - if its a good idea, they'll likely copy the idea and modify it slightly, and pass it off as their own.

Another plan is to approach a good experienced cameraman with a few years under his/her belt, and see if he/she knows any good directors/producers who might be able to take the idea further (as they'll have the right contacts)

In short, its extremely difficult, and I wish him the best of luck.

leftie

11,838 posts

265 months

Friday 28th October 2005
quotequote all
Parrot of doom said:
He doesn't need an agent. What he needs is to know personally the commissioning editor of the channel to which hes pushing the show.

Knowing the right people in this business is everything - without contacts, hes got zero chance. A great many programme ideas arrive on the desk of a commissioning editor, and most of them will get pushed off the desk and into the bin.


Another plan is to approach a good experienced cameraman with a few years under his/her belt, and see if he/she knows any good directors/producers who might be able to take the idea further (as they'll have the right contacts)

In short, its extremely difficult, and I wish him the best of luck.



Sounds ,like he may have to sleep with a cameraman, editior or tea lady then?

Sounds more like the mafia than an organisation out to provide good material.


B17NNS

18,506 posts

277 months

Friday 28th October 2005
quotequote all
chilli said:
keeps getting replies saying he needs an agent or something.
Any ideas?


bit of a curveball but what about getting an agent?