<p>My 17 yo rising junior has an idea for a tv reality show. He got the basic idea from a show currently on the air in another, non-English speaking country. but with changes for the US market.</p>
<p>How would he go about marketing this – it’s probably the sort of show that HGTV or another lifestyle/homestyle network would be interested in.</p>
<p>Does he do a proposal? Does he do a pilot? I don’t think he is in a position to produce even one of these shows … although I know he would love to.</p>
<p>Or is it something that he should table for another few years, or maybe just play with the concept and see if local cable is interested? I figure that all the talent on CC will have some ideas on which way to go with this!</p>
<p>Its the dream of every overseas producer to sell his or her show concept to the American market. The chances that this hasnt already been shopped by an experienced producer are slim to none. sorry. Then again if one has an orginal idea and Rupert Murdoch is your uncle…thats a whole 'nother story.</p>
<p>Is the original show copyrighted in the country of its origin? You son might get in trouble if the country has reciprocal agreements with us (I’m not a lawyer, so I’m just making assumptions, but our multiple lurking attorneys can give more insight).</p>
<p>One way is to directly approach production companies that make those reality shows for HGTV. They’re listed in the final credits, along with the head producers’ names. I know they’re always looking for new ideas, but whether they’d be willing to listen to ‘an amateur’ is another story.</p>
<p>. Ive lived and worked (one way or another) in the business for more years than I care to count. (and my h is currently a below the line worker in Hollywood) EVERYONE in this town has a screenplay or an idea to pitch. The problem with reality tv is that its so shallow and simplistic that we think our 17 year old kids could produce it. What you REALLY need to be is a well connected older producer without the creativity, scruples or maturity of the average 17 year old.</p>
<p>I remember seeing on the Tonight Show a segment called Pitch to America. Jay Leno sent someone to a screenwriters’ convention to interview the whackiest types and let them tell about their ideas in a few words, and the Tonight Show audience had to guess if the screenplay was sold or was not sold to someone at that convention.</p>
<p>I agree musicamusica, but at issue here is what sounds like a DIY-type reality show (hence the mention of HGTV) and those aren’t necessarily produced in Hollywood. In fact, one of HGTV’s biggest suppliers of shows – including those DIY-type shows – is just down the street from me here in the outskirts of Denver. And I know they’re always looking at pitches because, having been in TV for longer than I care to admit, I myself have been asked to create some.</p>
<p>My daughter is interning for a company in NYC that does just this. It has been an interesting adventure and she supposed to be involved in the concept process , but mostly has just been trying to organize the mess of the creative powers that be…that and endless phone interviews.
Still , a great experience for a soon to be college Jr. studying tv production</p>
<p>All interesting info. Thanks everyone. I don’t really want to describe the concept – but it <em>is</em> more of a DIY thing than a Hollywood thing. It’s not exactly like anything I have seen over here … so I thought it might be fresh. He’s gung ho to organize this among his friends and I guess we’ll see what happens with it.</p>
<p>I’ll add that I know a wealthy girl in Manhattan and a few years ago, she came up with a concept of a reality show that involved herself and her friend. The friend is the daughter of a famous person. They created a pilot episode and pitched it to MTV. I don’t know what connections that they had or used but surely the other girl had “name” going for her. The show did end up as a series on MTV. I won’t give more away than that. This girl is now in college or may have since graduated, but this was back when she was about a senior in HS. I knew her as my D had been in some shows around the country with her brother.</p>
<p>Everyone on CC is so upbeat about the entertainment industry, Im determined to change my negative crappy attitude. DH hasnt worked on a film for over a year after having worked steadily in Hollywood for over 25 years. Its a young industry and he is just too damned old. All these talented kids on CC are stealing his jobs . gggrrrrrrr But now thru Sooz I have the Murdoch connection. sweet. :)</p>
<p>musica…it so happens that my youngest child’s career is as a performer and I surely know how difficult her field is!! </p>
<p>Not sure how the Murdoch connection will help…it’s the friend of my other D’s. But I just had to mention it because it was so funny for me to read your off hand comment about having Rupert Murdoch as an uncle and I know that he is indeed the uncle of this girl my D went to school with.</p>
<p>Oh no- its not R. Murdochs help your looking for. Its when your chit chatting with the powers that be that you mention what a great time you had at Uncle Ruperts last week and wooosh the doors open.</p>