Producing Unscripted: Make Reality TV Shows and Documentary Series with Joke and Biagio: Recent Episodes
Joke and Biagio | Reality TV Producers, Award Winning Filmmakers, Documentarians
*Named "New and Noteworthy" across all podcasts, as well as TV & Film, Arts, and Education. Subscribe now.
Ready to create, pitch, and sell reality TV shows or documentary series and specials? From creating pitch tapes to meeting with TV networks, developing your ideas to discovering reality TV stars, this podcast features tips on working in unscripted film and television that you won't find anywhere else. Get top-industry secrets and even pitch your shows to Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers and Unscripted Television Producers Joke Fincioen and Biagio Messina.
Recently, the duo have helped new producers bring projects to television on MTV, BIOGRAPHY CHANNEL, A&E, and CNN/HLN. Your show could be next. Subscribe now.
ABOUT JOKE AND BIAGIO: With over a decade of experience in unscripted film and television, this married couple has made TV shows, specials, and pilots for A&E, The CW, Biography Channel, NBC, CBS, Discovery, CNN, HLN, E!, IFC, Logo, Oxygen, Style Network, VH1 and MTV.
Their feature length documentary DYING TO DO LETTERMAN played in theaters across America, was invited by the International Documentary Association to qualify for Academy Award® consideration, and named “New and Noteworthy” on iTunes alongside The Dark Knight Rises, Brave, and Beasts of the Southern Wild.
Subscribers to this podcast will learn the secrets of the Unscripted TV and Film worlds, and how to apply them toward career success. Subscribe today.
Are you ever too young — or too old — to chase a dream? Is success in the entertainment industry possible when you don’t know anyone? Can there be one setback that’s just too daunting to get past? Today, prolific composer and all around great person Todd C. Burns is here to share hard-earned advice […]
The post Sound Advice on Dreams and Success from Todd C. Burns appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Jon Kroll is the man behind some the biggest unscripted TV shows of all time. From Big Brother to The Amazing Race, he’s been in the industry for close to 30 years. (Not to mention he is a mentor to the two of us, and one of the first industry people we ever met. Plus […]
The post Uncharted: Jon Kroll Produces Gordon Ramsay Awesomeness appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
It’s an exciting time to be a content creator – for all of us! Not long ago, documentaries were gloomily known as the “D” word…since no one wanted to buy them. Now they’re hot as ever thanks to streamers like Netflix and cable networks who’ve followed suit. On the flip side, podcasting was once thought […]
The post 3 Ways Podcasting is Changing TV appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
The lure of the entertainment industry, and of course, Los Angeles. It’s something many of us dream about. If you’re a kid from Cleveland like me (Biagio) or a girl from Belgium like Joke, it can seem larger than life, like a fantasy world that’s a million miles away. Many of us come. Some stay. […]
The post Troy DeVolld: Sheer Poetry – Life, Dreams, Work and Reality in Los Angeles appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
It’s 2021, and we all know it can be near-impossible to stay motivated in this most challenging of times. If you’re anything like us, things like quarantine, no social interaction, and global pandemics tend to slow down the old creative juices. It’s been hard for us, and probably for a lot of you, too. So […]
The post 2021: Staying Creative, Productive and Motivated appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
It’s Halloween time and episode 128 is our annual “spooky” take on the unscripted film and television business. This episode’s question was inspired by a Producing Unscripted podcast listener named Justin, who wrote in with a question about editing. We’re just beginning post-production on our brand new TV series (more coming soon!) and facing a […]
The post ‘Twas the Nightmare Before Editing! appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
For episode 127 we’re mining great advice from an unlikely place…the new Apple TV series Ted Lasso. What on earth does a fish-out-of-water sports sitcom have to do with making unscripted film and television? Quite a lot, actually! We’ve been inspired by this show, and we’re using the great advice delivered by the unsinkable, everyman […]
The post 3 Things Ted Lasso Can Teach You About Making TV & Film appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
For episode 126 we, like you, are stuck in quarantine. It’s turned into a long, hot, “can’t go anywhere” summer. We thought it was time for a little popsicle. One of the questions we get from friends and family members who aren’t in the business is “what does a producer do, anyway?” So we thought […]
The post What Do Producers Actually Do? Ask Our Kids! appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
First of all, we hope you’re doing okay – we know it’s a very strange, sometimes scary and confusing time. It has certainly scared us – especially because we were smack-dab in the middle of finishing a TV series when the shut down happened. We had to figure out how we and a smattering of […]
The post Making TV In Quarantine appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
The world’s a little crazy at the moment – so we thought this would be a good time to bring you a truly inspirational tale. Emmy winner Steve Mazan, subject of our theatrically released feature documentary Dying to do Letterman, is here today to make you laugh, appreciate life, and believe in the impossible. See, […]
The post Producing Personal Projects with Emmy Winner Steve Mazan appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Want to work in Hollywood? Want to make something in Hollywood? Then one way or the other, you’ll be dealing with the process of hiring in Hollywood. Today we share our hiring philosophy, helpful anecdotes, and straight talk on the challenges of interviewing and hiring. We even share what we ourselves need to do better. […]
The post Hiring in Hollywood: The Flipside appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Holy cow, it’s 2020! As we enter our seventh year (!) of the Producing Unscripted podcast, we’re so grateful to all of you who’ve supported us on this journey. With a New Year comes new podcast episodes, beginning with today’s. We’re discussing the big picture of working in the entertainment industry in 2020. Our goal […]
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It’s Halloween, so pull out your sage, salt, and white candles! Today we’re talking about something truly spooky…our top 3 scariest moments on set! If you’ve been around production of any kind, you know things pretty much never go as planned. And sometimes, those “fun developments” can scare the pants off of you. Here are […]
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Get out the Tim Tams and the Vegemite…cause we’re going down under! Well, actually, the “down under” came to visit us, so we could give you an episode all about working with Netflix. We’re talking with PJ Madam and Tim Noonan (who speak with amazing Australian accents!) They deep dive into the making of their […]
The post Getting Engaged to Netflix appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
It sounds like a myth, or some kind of Hollywood urban legend, but some people actually put their own shows on television by buying airtime and selling ads themselves. They make truly independent TV. How does it work? How much do you have to pay for he airtime? Is it easy to get sponsors for […]
The post Making Truly Independent TV with Filmmaker Brian Speciale appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Brian Speciale isn’t just special because of his name. Not only is he a great producer, but he used his producing skills to flip the script, get himself cast on a little show called Shark Tank, and score a huge deal. In fact, he’s on track to do $70,000,000 (yes, seventy-million dollars!) in sales this […]
The post Make 70 Million Dollars on Shark Tank: Producer Brian Speciale Tells All appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Great titles…Survivor. Big Brother. The Curse of Oak Island. Say Yes to the Dress. Unmasking a Killer. These shows have catchy titles to help viewers… and network execs…understand what the show is all about. Today’s episode of Producing Unscripted is a deep-dive into choosing titles that help you, rather than hurt you, when developing your […]
The post Create Great Titles for Your Projects: Tons of Tips… appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so on this Producing Unscripted podcast episode we‘re discussing some of the more difficult aspects of working in the entertainment industry…especially on big productions. Anybody who‘s been around it for more than five minutes knows showbiz is an incredibly tough trade to compete in. Pressure is high, and the stakes are, […]
The post Showbiz and Your Mental Well-Being: It’s Just TV… appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
We remember when we were just starting out in the industry. Didn’t know anyone. Couldn’t get a meeting. But…we thought we knew everything! Turns out, like a lot of new producers, we were pitching the worst kinds of projects to launch our careers. Now, years later, receiving hundreds of unscripted television pitches ourselves, we see […]
The post 3 Worst Kinds of Shows for New Producers to Pitch…Unless appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Are you a producer? Or do you see yourself as on-camera talent? Either way, it’s important to realize the challenges and realities of becoming a TV personality. Pat Postiglione is in the throws of that journey right now. He’s the star and host of the new Investigation Discovery series Deadly Recall – something he still […]
The post Pat Postiglione: Becoming a TV Personality appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
If you’ve ever wondered about building a true crime series around a real police detective, today’s episode is for you. We’re sharing everything you need to know, broken down in five easily-digestible tips. What kind of detectives? Which cases to pitch? How do you know if your detective can sustain a series? We’re giving away […]
The post Deadly Recall – Pitch Detective Based True Crime – 5 Tips appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Today’s episode is coming to you straight from the waiting area of the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport! Why? Because we just attended RealScreen 2019, and we’ve got some stuff to share. What is the RealScreen Summit? Well, according to their site: The Realscreen Summit is the definitive global market and conference for the […]
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Happy Holidays from Producing Unscripted! ’Tis the season to be jolly, and if you asked Santa for a new episode of Producing Unscripted, you’re in luck! Today we share some important stocking stuffers with you – three Hollywood tips to make the most of the season. We cover everything under the tree, from important industry […]
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It’s Halloween…and do we have a treat for you. A spooky treat that is! This week we cover all things paranormal. Ghost shows, alien shows, psychic shows…they’ve been a staple of television for years. But how can you make your paranormal pitch stand out? What are the pitfalls to avoid, and the mistakes we see […]
The post Spooky: Pitching Paranormal Shows – 4 Tips & Happy Halloween! appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
We travelled the streets of Los Angeles for the 109th episode of Producing Unscripted. Well, we went a couple of exits down the 101, where we met with this week’s guest, the multitalented Roger Nygard. Roger has edited on many highly acclaimed television series, including Grey’s Anatomy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Veep (for which he’s […]
The post Roger Nygard: How to Work Both Scripted and Unscripted appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Jon Kroll is the man behind some of your favorite unscripted television shows. From Big Brother to The Amazing Race, he’s been in the industry for over 25 years. He’s here today to share his secrets to success and amazing career advice. Like the students he teaches in the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC, […]
The post Amazing Career Advice From Legendary Producer Jon Kroll appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
It’s time for Episode 107! And to celebrate, we’re taking you all the way back to Episode 6 (ah, so long ago.) Pitches come in every day framed as family-centered docuseries. How can you make yours stand out? We checked our own advice, looking back at the six traits that Reality TV characters must have […]
The post Pitching Family-Based Docuseries – A Kardashians Study appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
When you’re pitching a project, whether to us or anyone else, you’ll be sending a cover letter (or providing information) to briefly explain what the project is about. Unfortunately, this is where many newcomers go wrong. There are certain statements that both we and our network executive friends have read from numerous people on multiple […]
The post Top 3 Pitch Cover Letter Mistakes appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Marc Jackson says he feels like he’s living his dream. A retired police officer, Marc wanted to start a new career in filmmaking and TV production – but had no production experience. Like many of you, Marc discovered the Producing Unscripted podcast and this site. He trusted us with his concept, pitched it through our […]
The post Getting Your First TV Producer Credit with Marc Jackson appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Jon Collins has been working in unscripted television for nearly 20 years. He started as a tape logger on the first season of HBO’s Project Greenlight. His credits include The Bachelor and Bacheloette, Project Runway, and House Hunters, just to name a few. And he’s worked on shows at MTV, TLC, E!, HGTV – the […]
The post Puzzling Together Story with Jon Collins appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Unmasking a Killer is our new true crime documentary series for CNN and HLN. It premieres Sunday, March 18, at 9pm on HLN. Todd Lindsey brought us the show. Additionally, he became the series Supervising Producer. A true passion project, we were thrilled when Todd trusted us to be his partners. Today, Todd discusses the […]
The post Unmasking a Killer with Todd Lindsey appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Daniel Strange is a TV commercial director who has also dabbled in unscripted television – and he’s one of the most honest people you’ll ever meet. Today, Dan shares tips and stories about working in the entertainment industry. More importantly, he discusses finding true success and happiness. The conversation is a no-holds-barred discussion of day-to-day […]
The post Success & Happiness in the Entertainment Industry with Daniel Strange appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Many people visit this site to learn how to pitch their own TV shows. Today, we give you an inside look at what happens when our production company teams up with an aspiring producer. We met Abra Chouinard through this very podcast and our newsletter. We did not know her before she submitted her concept […]
The post The Journey from Seed Idea to Pitching TV Networks with Abra Chouinard appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Episode 100! Thanks for supporting us over nearly five years. To celebrate, we made you a “thank you” gift. It’s a brand new resource we wish we had when we started in this business. It’s completely free, and it will save you hours of time. Plus, a very special tip from Joke. And of course, […]
The post 100 Tips. 1 Million Thanks. appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Casting true crime projects takes special care. With networks hungry for true crime programming, the genre is currently exploding. But every true crime project has one essential element that can’t be forgotten. At its center is someone who went through a tragedy. It might be a survivor, or friends and family members of a victim. […]
The post Casting True Crime Projects with Alexis Linkletter appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
If you have, or know, kids — well, you know it’s that time of year…back to school! Being parents, we feel it’s only right to celebrate the spirit of education we feel filling our household. So, we’re sharing our favorite 2017 resources for learning and improving filmmaking skills. We have a wide range of resources […]
The post Back To School: TV & Film Style! appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
If you want to work your way up in the entertainment industry — especially in unscripted television — chances are you are going to spend more time freelancing than working staff jobs. Today, Joey Korenman, entertainment professional and author the book The Freelance Manifesto is here to inspire you to greatness. Get practical, hands-on tips […]
The post How To Freelance in Hollywood with Joey Korenman appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Who owns a TV show in the land of unscripted television? Like it or not, when it comes to documentary series, reality TV, true crime, and anything else that is considered “unscripted” — the owner is not usually the producer (not in America, anyway. Europe is different.) Just like us, you may spend months or […]
The post Who Owns a TV Show? Can it be You? appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Just a tiny bit over four years ago this site launched with its very first podcast episode. To be honest, we didn’t know if anyone would listen, or be interested in learning the nuts and bolts of unscripted television, documentary series, and reality TV. How It All Started Way back in 2009 we started a […]
The post Producer Takeaways from Four Years of Podcasts appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
“Deep Dive” True Crime Series – you’ve seen them. The Jinx. Making a Murderer. Our own upcoming CNN/HLN series, Unmasking a Killer, is also a deep dive. How do these series work? How can you develop true crime series like these? And why do these types of series come with far more responsibility than others? […]
The post 5 Tips: True Crime Series – Develop Deep Dives appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Shalandra Champ is more than just one of our favorite cast members from Beauty and the Geek. She’s a working mom, a fearless go-getter, and as of now…officially a “Beauty” turned “Geek!” Today she shares the truth about life after being a reality TV star, and so much more. Listen in on a spirited, intimate […]
The post Life After Reality TV with Shalandra Champ of Beauty and the Geek appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
TV Network Executives: the elite group that filmmakers and producers wish to meet, hope to pitch, and pray will fund their projects. For some, they seem to be mysterious, god-like figures who can make dreams come true. To others, they seem a closed-door group impossible to access. Today, Paul Croce is here to shed light […]
The post TV Network Executives – What You Need to Know from Paul Croce appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Producing documentaries sounds alluring or terrifying. It depends on where you’re sitting. Today, we’re sitting with Sundance fellow and TV producer Amanda Spain. Amanda is one of those rare people who’s managed to bring her talents to both the doc and unscripted TV worlds. As a seasoned filmmaker and newly minted Sundance fellow, she has […]
The post Producing Documentaries with Sundance Fellow Amanda Spain appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Dana Golder is one of the biggest casting directors in reality TV. Just some of her credits include The Biggest Loser, The Amazing Race, and Cash Cab. We’ve been lucky enough to work with her on Beauty and the Geek, Scream Queens, Ghost Inside My Child, and Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne. Today, Dana is giving […]
The post How to Cast Reality TV with Top Casting Director Dana Golder appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Mickey Ramos is not only a terrific, prolific TV producer who survived an attack by over 600 killer bees while filming Naked and Afraid. She’s also the voice of Kenny’s girlfriend on South Park (how cool!) Plus, she’s dealt with some of the most difficult situations you can imagine in reality TV and documentary series. […]
The post Reality TV Stripped Naked with Mickey Ramos appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Happy 2017! Today, on episode 88 of Producing Unscripted we’re helping you kick off the new year right. Trying to break into unscripted television, documentary series, true crime or reality TV? Here are three ways you can stand out from the crowd in 2017. 2017 – The Year You Separate Yourself From the Hollywood […]
The post 3 Ways Aspiring TV Producers Can Stand Out in 2017 appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
The Hollywood Notes Process: also known as “collaboration” to some and “notes hell” to others. Today, on episode 87 of Producing Unscripted we’re thrilled to be joined by Troy DeVolld, TV Producer extraordinaire and best-selling author. His new book is about the notes process in Hollywood. Today he gives you incredible free advice on surviving […]
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Production hangovers? It’s episode 86 of Producing Unscripted, and today we’re being way too honest. Want truth? Production can burn you out! Doesn’t matter how much you love your film or TV project. Doesn’t matter how impressively it comes together. At the end of a project worthy of your passion, you will be fried. Production […]
The post Production Hangovers: How To Survive, Recharge, & Move On appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
It’s episode 85 of Producing Unscripted, and today we’re discussing a crucial skill that will help you in business…and life. Handling criticism. If Steven Spielberg, Mark Burnett, and Shonda Rhimes have to deal with criticism, you can bet the rest of us will, too. Here are six useful tips, along with real-world advice, to help […]
The post Handling Criticism in Hollywood: Your How-To Guide appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
It’s episode 84 of Producing Unscripted, and today we’re having a crucial discussion about the illusive “lucky break.” We’re not just talking about finally catching your lucky break in Hollywood. We’re also helping you stay sane and survive until you do. We’ll help you explore the big picture along the way. Is this business right […]
The post Catching Your Lucky Break In Hollywood – A Spooky Discussion appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
In this episode, part 2 of Tools We Use to Make TV, we discuss our television post-production workflow. We’ve spent many years building a post workflow that can help us deliver any kind of TV or film project our company takes on. Today, we’re giving it all away to you. Take these tricks, tips, and […]
The post Television Post-Production: Tips You Can Steal! appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
You asked, we answered. These are the tools we use to make television. Many are free or inexpensive. All have free or less expensive alternatives.
The post Tools We Use To Make TV Shows appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Do you develop ideas wisely? You already know (from many episodes here at Producing Unscripted) how we feel about ideas. TV show and movie ideas, in and of themselves, are not worth much. It’s how you package up those ideas that makes the difference. But how do you decide which initial ideas to build out […]
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It’s episode 80 of Producing Unscripted, and today we’re answering your reality tv questions. How to stay creatively motivated? Should you work with a distributor? What concerns change as you earn more success? What’s the best way for a new producer to sell a show? This and more…all thanks to YOUR questions. Reality TV […]
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Filming real people is crucial to making unscripted entertainment. It’s also very delicate. It takes trust, respect, forethought, communication, and silly arguments with lawyers. Here are five factors you must consider when filming real people. Don’t roll one second of footage without really thinking these through. Filming Real People While Earning Their Trust When […]
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Today’s episode about pitch tape budgets may be the most serious we’ve ever recorded. It includes important tips for anyone who wants to pitch TV shows, but also a warning. We’ve received a cluster of emails in past weeks reporting something that concerns us. Some companies are asking aspiring producers to fork over thousands of […]
The post Pitch Tape Budgets – Warning: Avoid Traps & Scams appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Your first time on set? Your 1000th? No matter how many times you’ve worked a film or TV set, it’s important to remember setiquette. That’s a fun way of saying “on set etiquette.” The little things that you have no way of knowing if you’re brand new to Hollywood, or that veterans might forget when […]
The post Setiquette: Be a Pro on Any Film or TV Set appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Creative control. It’s something most artists strive for — even demand. At the same time, in the entertainment industry, there are a lot of entities entitled to shape the creative of a TV show or movie. So how much control can you really keep over your projects? Creative Control: Can You Control Your Creative? […]
The post Who Gets Creative Control in Hollywood? appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Sure, we’ve made a lot of television. Yes, we’ve had a few (small) films in theaters. But there’s always more to learn. And when it comes to pure, unadulterated, guerrilla filmmaking awesomeness, there’s no one better to learn from, more helpful, or just plain cool than Stu Maschwitz. Affectionately known to legions of Twitter fans […]
The post How Stu Maschwitz Can Help You Make Film, TV, Or Anything Else appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
You’re dreaming of working in the entertainment industry. But you have doubts. Are you too young? Too old? Live too far away? You can come up with a million potential stumbling blocks to your career. But is there a reason that you — you personally — can’t make it in Hollywood? Well, believe it or […]
The post Can Anyone Break Into Hollywood? appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
A production company (maybe ours) wants to team up with you on your reality TV concept. The idea of “shopping agreements” comes up. But what does that mean? How long should you agree to let someone pitch your idea? What will that process be like? Let us answer all these questions…and more. If you have […]
The post Shopping Agreements for Reality TV Concepts appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
It is a truism of reality TV. There’s no better way to sell a show than to produce a great pitch video. Most pitch reels are low-budget. But, even if you have no money there’s one thing you can do to make sure your tape stands out. In fact, we used this secret to sell […]
The post Sizzle Reel Secret: How We Sell TV Shows appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
We just came off of an exhilarating – and exhausting – weekend shooting a cable network pilot for a huge, formatted TV show. In our sleep-deprived, semi-delirious state, it occurred to us this is the perfect time to discuss something we’re asked about often: making TV pilots. Rather than just blathering on (we did mention […]
The post Making TV Pilots: 5 Practical Tips You Can Use appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
It’s episode 70, and we’re sharing 7 Must-Know Tips for Pitching Reality TV. These are hand-picked to help you avoid the mistakes we see new producers make over and over again. Whether you’re pitching to us or anyone else, by using these 7 tips you’ll look like a pro and drastically increase your chances of […]
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“Remember, pressure is a privilege.” It was some of most mysterious — and meaningful — advice we’ve ever received. Today, we explain why this nugget of knowledge will keep you sane, drive you to new heights, and sleep better at night. Sometimes. Pressure is a Privilege Many businesses are chock full of pressure, […]
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TV versus YouTube – it’s something that comes up in discussions with aspiring producers on a daily basis. Why do some shows work better on YouTube than TV? Is TV always better than YouTube? What are the pros and cons of each? Today we’re going to tell you exactly why you may want one platform […]
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Happy 2016! Today’s episode is all about new beginnings — in fact, it’s a big picture guide to making film and TV as seen from the point of view of new starts. We’ve made over 100 hours of TV and film. Every second of those final projects exists because we’ve embraced…the art of starting. […]
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As 2015 ends and 2016 dawns, we couldn't be more excited for aspiring filmmakers and producers everywhere. Here are three things we think deliver amazing news for all budding media artists in the new year.
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As you already know from reading our in-depth guide on creating and pitching reality shows, there is no better way to quickly break into the business than building your show around a great, real life character. But when you’re putting together very basic casting tapes to test whether or not someone might be great TV, […]
The post Casting Tapes: Show, Tell, or Both? appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Casting Agreements for reality TV and unscripted television — what are they, and do you need one? Do you need casting agreements for all reality TV projects, or just some? Will they cost you money? Should you get a lawyer? Could not getting those casting agreements come back to bite you? The answers are not […]
The post Casting Agreements for Reality TV: What-When-Why-How? appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
If you want to work in unscripted television, reality TV — or the entertainment business in general — there are two well-worn paths that lead to success. Which one is right for you? Today we reveal pros and cons on each, and share which one worked for us. Known Path versus Your Path […]
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Pitching reality TV, documentary series, or unscripted television? After receiving hundreds of pitches, these are the top 3 mistakes people make. Not you!
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Nothing can make your production seem more professional — or more amateurish — than the quality of your sound. Today, audio pro Brett Ulery shares tips and secrets to help you get pro sound on any budget (and we share the $32 audio secret that shaped our careers.) Sound Is More Important Than Picture […]
The post Get Great Audio For Your Unscripted Project On Any Budget appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
People ask us all the time how we edit our TV shows. Until recently, it was a complicated, rambling answer filled with a mish-mosh of pseudo best practices. Not anymore. We’ve just taken our entire company in a brand new direction. We’re now making TV with Adobe Premiere and the Creative Cloud suite, and the […]
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Reenactments in documentary, film, and TV projects give visual life to past events. They do so by re-creating those moments in a cinematic way. You’ve seen them in groundbreaking films like The Thin Blue Line by Errol Morris, HBO’s recent The Jinx, every crime show on Discovery ID, and in our own upcoming series, Snapped: […]
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Snapped: She Made Me Do It is our new TV series coming to Oxygen. Today, we tell you, step by step, how we went from idea to green-lit TV series.
The post How We Sold Our New TV Show: Step by Step appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Do you need an entertainment attorney? Are you sure? How much will an entertainment attorney charge you? And when choosing an entertainment attorney, how can you be sure you’re picking the right one? Choosing An Entertainment Attorney Who’s Right For You… Choosing an entertainment attorney can seem daunting. It can cost a ton […]
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Should you shoot your own TV pilot? It’s not a simple yes or no question…but there are some simple guidelines to help you decide what your next move should be. Whether you’re just starting out, or negotiating your next reality TV series, we give you the scoop (plus, some candidly honest stories from our most […]
The post Should You Film Your Own TV Pilot? Pros & Cons appeared first on Producing Unscripted.
Is there any such thing as a dumb question? YES. Use these three secrets to always know when, where, and how to ask questions without driving professionals up the wall. Asking questions in Hollywood is an art. Here’s how to do it without wasting time and looking clueless! There Are Stupid Questions (And Stupid […]
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There’s one thing we do on every piece of tape we ever edit — whether it’s a full-blown television episode, or a brand new pitch tape. And it’s never let us down… Get Your Beginning Right Just some of what we cover today: How much time we spend on beginnings versus the rest of […]
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Here’s a HUGE mistake aspiring producers make when pitching what they think are viable TV series: they pitch profile pieces instead. It’s something we’ve seen a rash of in the past few months, and we want to help you avoid this mistake immediately. Not kidding — we just passed on at least 40 or 50 […]
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You’ve seen The Jinx on HBO. Enjoyed great crime recreation shows on Discovery ID. Laughed out loud at Drunk History on Comedy Central. Maybe even gasped at TLC’s Sex Sent Me to the ER. These are great, cinematic recreation shows. Today, we’re going to tell you how to create and pitch re-creation shows of your […]
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When you start talking to a network, studio, or even a production company, one piece of creative material becomes crucial… your style guide. But what is a style guide? What goes in it? And why do politics and psychology play a huge role in how you put it together? Today, we’ll answer all those questions, […]
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It’s episode 50! 50 episodes? We can hardly believe it ourselves. Thanks to all of you who’ve tuned in, written to us, sent in submissions, and encouraged us to get this far. Today, to celebrate, we turned the content over to you. We’re answering questions directly from listeners. We bet at least one of these […]
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Bueller…Bueller…? This episode is more of a “love you and we’re thinking about you” message than a full podcast, although there is at least one piece of exciting news revealed… We’re Freaking Sick Not like “oh, they’re so cool they’re sick” — just sick. Turns out when your kids catch colds at school, they bring […]
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Hollywood is a numbers game. And it will drive you crazy. Today’s episode is about far more than simply selling a lot of projects. It’s about keeping your sanity and your happiness while pursuing a dream. Whether you’re pitching a reality TV show, writing screenplays, selling yourself as a director, or trying to work in […]
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In past we’ve encouraged you to “soft pitch” ideas. Unfortunately, we’ve never actually told you how to do that. The result is that many of you are sending in submissions that are not soft pitches at all. Instead, they are broad ideas that hurt your chances of success. That ends today. You’re about to learn […]
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Hollywood Pitch Meetings can go horribly wrong -- usually at the exact same spot. Here's a pro tip to ensure you rock your Hollywood pitch meetings.
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Your reality TV pitch can be derailed early on by one giant POV mistake...here's how to shift your POV and skyrocket your odds of pitch success.
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Happy 2015! To kick off a great year, we wanted to start out with five traits you can actively develop to become a better film or TV producer. And it’s all brought to you today by the letter “L.” Today…The Letter “L” We’ve made a lot of TV, some film, and worked with many, many […]
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We had a meeting last week. Like many meetings we take, someone had a great idea for a reality TV show or documentary series. It was set in an interesting world, but this person wasn’t sure if the idea would work best as a Follow-Doc, Format, or Hybrid (and you already know what those industry […]
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Cast relationships — how you communicate with and prepare your cast — is key to making a great reality TV show or documentary series. Making sure those cast relationships stay strong both during and long after a show is done is not only crucial to your success in this industry, but it’s the right thing […]
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Should You Get Investors For Your Sizzle Reel? We’ve finally received this question enough times that we realize you want the answer. Forgive us for being slow! Today we spell out our thoughts and give you a bunch of tips to help you decide how much time and money to budget for your sizzle reel […]
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With Halloween just around the corner, and lots of “scare” in the air, we thought we’d share five little known, horrifying things about producing TV shows. If you’re an aspiring producer, you’ve probably never even considered these terrifying treats that come along with every new show you sell… MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Just a few nightmares we terrify […]
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Whether you’re doing a TV show for a network, writing a screenplay for a studio, or creating a web series with friends, there is no getting around the notes process. Everyone has an opinion on where your project should go next. Believe it or not, the notes phase is a make it or break it […]
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You’re one of the smart ones. Instead of wasting time on larger-than life formats (which are all long shots) or magazine-style travel shows (which no one wants) you understand that the fastest way to break into unscripted television is to find great, real life characters and build a show around them. After all, you’ve read […]
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One way to break into Hollywood? Get a job on a real production. While not the simplest route, you’d be amazed to learn how many people shoot themselves in the foot by making easy-to-avoid mistakes. Seriously! Fresh off a recent hiring spree, we tell you exactly why we automatically considered some applicants, and instantly rejected […]
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You’ve discovered an amazing, real life person that you are sure could be a reality TV show…now what? Today, we give you 3 concrete steps to greatly increase your odds of selling a character-centered show. One Awesome Character = Not Enough… But worry not, oh faithful listeners! We’re going to give you the tools to […]
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You’ve seen them: spooky ghost shows, high-steaks crime-retellings, beautifully-shot historical docs — all using a cinematically photographed re-creation style to bring these “reality shows” or unscripted television series to life. Yes, they are incredibly fun and fulfilling to make. Today, we’ll give you the blueprint to how we make one such show, step-by-step. Big Looks […]
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One of the best ways to succeed in our business? Learn from the mistakes of others. Today, we’ll give you the top ten mistakes we see again and again in pitches for reality TV and documentary series. Avoid these — whether pitching to us or anyone else — and you’ll be WAY ahead of the […]
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Get great interviews? Many of you have asked — now we deliver! Here it is – your checklist for how to get great interviews for documentary series, reality TV, and doc specials. Get Great Interviews that are Money! Did we say money? As in the monetary unit of several former Spanish colonies? Why, yes we […]
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You have an awesome idea for a TV show — but is it enough? What do you really need to sell reality TV? Can you vision alone carry you to a sale? Great Pitch — Is it Enough? Many, many, MANY of you have been pitching us shows, and we’re so grateful. We’ve even teamed […]
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Developing a Follow-Doc or Hybrid with some great characters or attachments? (And of course, you know what those words mean because you’ve checked out the great 8, right?) Better figure out your Story Engine — ASAP! What Is a Story Engine? Today’s episode shows you how to identify and use a story engine, using practical […]
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It’s episode 30, and we’re giving you the ultimate cheat sheet. Not sure how to start the process of pitching? Want to impress us with your professionalism? Have your pitch stand out above the piles of submissions we get? Here’s how. 7 Steps to Make Us Notice Your Pitch Whether you’re brand new to the […]
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We just teamed up with two more of YOU to get a show in development at a major cable network. Today, we’ll share how you can achieve that kind of success all while saving time and money. You’ll also learn what happens AFTER we say, “yes, we love your show.” Make the Most of Your […]
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Want to break into Hollywood? Whether you’re pitching reality TV, scripted television, or feature length screenplays, at some point you will have to meet — face to face — with real people and convince them to invest in you and your project. It’s at this meeting that most newbies implode, and blow a crucial opportunity […]
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Here’s one of the best tips we have to help you pitch and sell projects to Hollywood. This secret will help you sell screenplays, scripted television, documentaries, novels, unscripted television and reality TV. What is the magical piece of advice? One Hook Is Not Enough. You Need Two. We never, ever go out with a […]
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As you know from our last episode, we’ve made it easier than ever to pitch reality tv shows and documentary series to us. We’ve even added a free, 50 page ebook on pitching reality TV to this site for added guidance. Thanks to every one of you who’ve taken the time to submit. Your time […]
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Sure, you know we want to team up with you to make great reality TV or documentary series. You’ve read our massive guide on how to pitch a reality show. Wouldn’t it be nice if you knew what shows we were actually looking for? Here you go: This Episode – Shows We’re Looking For Right […]
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You already know we want to team up with you to make some great TV. But what does that mean for you? How you can increase your odds for success not just with us, but in the industry? Here you go: This Episode – 5 Ways You Can Break Into Unscripted Television Not everyone’s the […]
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When you pitch reality TV shows or documentary series, you include paper pitches – often called “one sheets.” Many of you have sent us paper pitches. Some are a lot better than others. In fact, some are awful. That stops today. This Episode – Perfect Paper Pitches in Just 5 Steps It’s clear that many […]
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You already know you can pitch to us for free. But what about attending pitch fests or pitch pits — places that charge you a small (or large) fee for access to industry professionals who will consider your pitch? Are they worth it? Can you use them to your advantage? This Episode – Pitch Fests […]
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In this super sized episode, our guest Chad Gervich (author, executive producer, TV writer and reality producer) tells you how to get a Hollywood agent — and so much more. This Episode – How to Get a Hollywood Agent Admit it, you want to know how to get a Hollywood agent. So did we. Today […]
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Want to go from idea to TV series? You’ll learn a lot in today’s podcast. In less than a week our new show Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne premieres on A&E. Today, we share our secrets about how we sold the show, made the show, and almost burned Biagio’s face off in the process. This Episode […]
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Chad Gervich (author, executive producer, TV writer and reality producer) is back for part 2 of how to turn a book into a TV show. Plus — for the first time EVER in public, we share how we accidentally fooled a former NBC president into giving us a career. This Episode Our very first guest, […]
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In what may be our most fun and useful episode yet, our guest Chad Gervich (author, executive producer, TV writer and reality producer) shares invaluable tips, explaining how to turn a book into a TV show. This advice will work for any attaching any property, from business to podcast. Most importantly, you don’t have to […]
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What happens when you only have a tiny bit of money, but need to make a project look big? We’ve got 5 tips guaranteed to add production value, make you stand out from the crowd, and stretch those dollars to the max. This Episode A lot of good info for you this week. We answer […]
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Many of you are pitching us shows. We’ve teamed up with a few of you. Most of you, however, are making a huge mistake. Today, we’ll correct that… Change Your POV Too many of you are pitching us shows that have no value…because they are presented from the totally wrong point of view. You may […]
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A lot’s going on this week! Our new show Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne on A&E was announced, our old show Scream Queens is available free on HULU, and we’re telling you how to create competition reality shows. Create Competition Reality Shows Many, many of you have asked questions about how to create competition reality shows […]
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You don’t want to suck. Neither do we. That’s why when we discovered this amazing, hilarious, and most importantly, accurate blog post on making it in the entertainment industry, we had to dedicate a whole podcast episode to it. Suck It Up So says Joe DeVito in his great Tumblr post which extolls the benefits […]
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We’ve talked a lot in the past about making great tape — and how NOT to go broke producing it — but what goes in a pitch tape? How long should it be? What are the must have ingredients? More importantly, should you even make one? Your Questions Finally Answered Many, many of you have […]
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Anyone can break down the doors of Hollywood…but doing so will likely get you arrested, and certainly not invited to stay. Here’s three tips to get you through the door and keep you there. Think You Can Smash Down Hollywood’s Closed Doors? Well, what would you do if someone kicked in your front door and […]
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It’s your first big project — or just a really huge step forward in your career. You are the lead creative. Don’t die. Useful Tips You Can Use. We’re still shooting our top secret new show for a major cable network (and still can’t tell you what it is…) But we CAN tell you one […]
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How do you know what TV networks buy and which outlet might buy your show? Well… Remember Lesson #1! If you listened to our very first podcast episode, Joke gave some specific homework. That’s an excellent start. If you haven’t listened to that episode (or for that matter all the episodes…there aren’t that many) be […]
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Want to get that concept out of your head and on TV? This episode we’ve got three real-world examples from people just like you, plus take-aways you can use to help get your ideas on television.We cover a lot of ground in this week’s episode. From Idea to TV Airwaves This episode we break down […]
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Just trying to break in to unscripted television? Don’t pitch these kinds of shows — a four point checklist. Many of YOU have been pitching us! We’re so happy that many, many of you have been listening to this podcast, and then signing up for our newsletter so that you can pitch your ideas to […]
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Reality TV worlds and documentary locations need to be populated with amazing characters. However, sometimes, those characters are not enough to sell a show. That’s when the show’s world or setting becomes hugely important. Why? Sometimes, Reality TV Worlds or Documentary Settings are Bigger Than Their Characters In episode 6, we told you how to […]
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Reality TV characters, documentary series subjects — any real life person you want to put on television? Don’t waste your time, money, or other resources unless they have these 6 Must-Have Traits. The 6 Must-Have Traits of Every Cast Member You Pitch… …are wrapped in the spoiler below. We hope you’ll consider pressing that giant […]
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Submit Ideas to Hollywood? “I want to submit ideas to Hollywood.” We hear that a lot. Whether someone wants to break into the movies, make reality tv shows, or create the next Emmy Award® winning primetime drama, everyone seems to have big “ideas.” But there is something about “ideas” that no one has ever told […]
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Want to make reality TV, documentary series or unscripted specials? So did we. But when you’re just starting out, how in the heck do sell documentary series or make reality tv? Seems like it wasn’t that long ago we were living in our one bedroom apartment, creating show ideas, editing pitch reels — and wondering […]
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