This is great information on how to get a TV series developed and programmed and how much money can be made by writers! #reeltalk There are generally two paths to get content on TV: via development with a network or channel, or through selling an existing product to a network or channel. When a writer has an idea for a series, their agents will schedule pitch meetings with a studio. The pitch runs for 10 to 20 minutes with an audience of 1 to 5 TV studio executives. Options paid for pitches usually start at $5,000. The studio decides which pitches to take to the networks and then the writer and studio pitch them together. If a network buys the pitch, it will commission a pilot script. The amount paid ranges between approximately $60,000 (WGA scale) and $250,000+ for an established writer. The average amount paid is $100,000. The amount is sometimes partially covered by the studio. A non-writing producer is either paid nothing or some nominal amount, such as $5,000, to develop the script with the writer. This development process is the traditional route to getting a series financed. If the network greenlights the show to series, the financing of the series will come from the network license fee and a studio which will cover the deficit (if any). The alternative way to finance a show is by making foreign pre-sales and keeping the U.S. as a territory to sell after the fact. This situation can create greater leverage for the seller to secure a Direct to Series commitment from the network, as opposed to merely a pilot commitment. Companies in this situation will often also use official co-productions to shoulder the costs. By using soft money, co-production money, and tax credits, it then becomes possible to finance a series. While this alternative method accounts for only a minority of the content on tv, NBC has made a strong effort to acquire such content. It has created direct to series deals with production companies, such as Gaumont International TV, Entertainment One, and MRC. Register for free to gain access to the complete article.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 22:54:01 +0000
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