Factual Television Producing: A Hands On Approach From Concept to Delivery

Description

This book is an unvarnished look at how to originate, pitch, sell, and produce factual television programming for global broadcast television networks and streaming services. Grounded in firsthand experience, this essential "how to guide" walks readers through the crucial steps in the factual television process while unpacking valuable insights to successfully producing and delivering projects on time and on budget. With over 20 years of experience in the TV documentary arena, Executive Producer Dylan Weiss shares how to break into the industry, originate your own documentary ideas, forge a path forward through the creative process, prepare your concepts for commissioners, and then pitch them to networks, broadcasters, streamers, and distributors around the world. Industry voices are layered throughout sharing their experiences from each stage of the process. These interviews include top executives from Disney, Investigation Discovery, National Geographic, and many more. This is an ideal resource for independent documentary producers looking to create and pitch their work to top television networks and streaming services. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Contents Introduction Chapter One – Breaking In and Getting Started Why We Create Factual Television The First Rule Is There Are No Rules There’s No One Way to Do Anything Always Be Creating Content Don’t Settle for No Nobody Is an Overnight Sensation Fast-Tracking Your Knowledge Creativity and the Process A Dearth of Content The Evolution of Nonfiction Programming A Multitude of Platforms Two Factual Routes Inside the Industry With Matt Taylor, The Walt Disney Company Chapter Two – The Eight Factual Steps Love the Process Chapter Three – Idea Creation Ideas Are Everywhere . . . Don’t Self-Reject An Eye Toward Accessibility One-Offs versus Mini-Series versus Series Ideas Are Everywhere, Talent Is Not Access Docs Inside the Industry with Winona Meringolo, Investigation Discovery Chapter Four – Crafting a Presentation Presentation Materials It All Starts With the Pen Creating a Treatment Don’t Self-Limit What Goes in a Treatment? Brevity Is Its Own Reward Crafting a Deck Cutting a Sizzle Reel Importance of Titles Inside the Industry With Michael Welsh, Executive Producer Chapter Five – Pitching Your Idea So What Is a Pitch? The Gift of Conversation The Right Person to Pitch A Fragmented Playing Field Development Discussions Do I Need an Agent? Successfully Making the Pitch Whiffing a Pitch The Follow-Up The Sting of Rejection Power of a Deadline The Middle Ground – A Development Deal Win, Lose, Next Inside the Industry with Babette Perry, Innovative Artists Chapter Six – Selling Your Idea Budgeting Good, Cheap, Fast Creativity With Numbers Two Ways to Budget Crafting a Preliminary Schedule Budget Assumptions Building Your Budget Networks Crunch Numbers Differently Right Tool for the Right Job Put the $ Into the Show Inside the Industry With Marjolaine Souquet, National Geographic Channel Negotiating the Deal Price and Terms A Fair Price for a Fair Project Types of Deals Full Commission Co-production Acquisitions and Pre-sales Top-Off Funding Deficit Financing Sponsored Programs Other Types of Funding Streaming Services Intellectual Property Inside the Industry With Adam Jacobs, Quintus Studios Distributors Finding a Distributor What to Look for in a Distributor Inside the Industry With Roger Vanderspikken, Fred Distribution Inside the Industry With Ludo Dofour, Blue Ant International Closing the Deal Tenacity Ethics Be Clear and Constructive Etiquette Chapter Seven – Pre-Production Every Minute Counts Engaging With the Network The Executive Producer The Production Manager The Unit Manager The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly The Kickoff Call Protect Your EP’s Interest The Big Boss Inside the Industry With Dan Korn, A+E Networks UK Turning Pitches Into Reality Building a Shooting Outline Shooting Schedules Getting Subjects to Agree You Have What They Want Persuasive and Professional Emails The Follow-Up Chat Shooting Binder versus Shooting Bible Finding Great Crew Retaining Great Crew Landing a Dream Crew at a Budget-Friendly Rate Tightening Budgets Prepping for the Shoot Insurance Picking Your Kit Owning Gear versus Renting It Gear Checklists What Is a Carnet? Passport Check Equipment Shipping Choosing the Right Airline Kindness Inside the Industry With John Hart, MFE Insurance Chapter Eight – Field-Production Great Shoots Need Great Leaders The Crew Pyramid Importance of A+ Travelers Upgrade Your Crew Crew Buy-In Per Diem and Meals Crew Conflict The Power of Delegation Jettison Bad Apples Another Country, Another Job Shot Lists Technical Specs Are Boring Get Some Rest Inside the Industry With Stephen Harrison, Director of Photography Principal Photography Filming Locations How to Interview When to Break the Rules Kill Them With Kindness Indecision Is an Assassin Always Stay Curious Staying Out of Harm’s Way Focus on the Important Stuff Sharing Bad News Production Proverbs Getting a Jump on Post Post-Shoot TRT Outline Milestones and Cost Reporting Inside the Industry With Robert Angelo, Executive Producer Chapter Nine – The Post-Production Process Scripting The Broadcast Clock Writing Voice-over Narration Scripting to Time The Frankenbite Paper Edit Reviews Editing Editors Are Rockstars Choosing the Correct NLE Finding Great Editors Post-Production Playbook The Importance of Systems The Power of Checklists Creating Selects Reels Timeline Layout Editing to a Broadcast Clock Finding Amazing Collaborators Archival and Stock Footage Staying on Schedule Inside the Industry With Jacinda Davis, Executive Producer Types of Edits The Assembly Edit The Rough Cut The Fine Cut Picture Lock Uploading Cuts and Review Tools Inside the Industry With Terren Lin, Founding Partner at Snacktime Creative Chapter Ten – Delivery and Exhibition The Annotated Script Final Narration Record Audio Mixing Color Correction and Mastering The Network QC Inside the Industry With Tom Maydeck, Sound Mixer C.A.S. The Final Legal Binder Releases Acquired Material Logs Graphics Log and Contract Appearance Releases and Log Talent Agreements Voice-over Agreement Music Cue Sheets and Contract End Credits Airdates Chapter Eleven – Forging a Factual Career Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable Selling the Next One Figure Out Your Superpower Art of Self-Promotion Circle of Competence Prepare to Pivot The Measure of Success The Business of Business Reels, Revenues, and Relationships Keep a Balanced Outlook Loving the Life Importance of Mentors Specialized Factual Appreciating the Wins What I’d Do Differently Go Tell Your Story! Chapter Twelve – Appendix Index