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"Pitching a tv sitcom to a producer"

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"Pitching a tv sitcom to a producer"

Posted by MikeM on Jun-23-04, 01:30 PM (PST)

A couple people have approached me about writing a sitcom about thier life situation. They say they know a theatrical producer, who would be interested in looking at it, when they have something on paper. Should I write a treatment and a script? Or just a treatment? Or something else completely?

Thank you,
MikeM

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Table of contents

RE: Pitching a tv sitcom to a prod..., SOTE, Jun-23-04, (1)
RE: Pitching a tv sitcom to a prod..., Jeff K., Jun-23-04, (2)
RE: Pitching a tv sitcom to a prod..., ZODITCH, Jun-23-04, (3)
RE: Pitching a tv sitcom to a prod..., MikeM, Jun-24-04, (4)

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1. "RE: Pitching a tv sitcom to a producer"

Posted by SOTE on Jun-23-04, 02:08 PM (PST)

Not that I'm an expert, but I think about getting a contract done,laying out who has what and gets what, before doing any writing,

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2. "RE: Pitching a tv sitcom to a producer"

Posted by Jeff K. on Jun-23-04, 02:51 PM (PST)

Definitely get it in writing, in letter form if nothing else. Some schools offer classes in "The Business of Show Business." My advice is to take them whenever possible.
Jeff K.

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3. "RE: Pitching a tv sitcom to a producer"

Posted by ZODITCH on Jun-23-04, 02:59 PM (PST)

First: Is it something YOU want to write?
I have lots of friends who think their lives would make great TV series, but unless your friends are topically in the news right now (Brittany Spears and Scott Peterson living in a small house in Watts, for example), the odds of anything happening are remote. No, I'm being kind: non-existent.
Second: When you say "Theatrical producer" what does that mean? Not putting you on the spot, but there are levels of producer and there are theatrical, feature, and television producers. Does this person have a track record? Do they have a studio deal? If not on either, then there's not much here to exploit for you efforts.
Third: If you have decided that it is something you want to write and if this producer is legit, then, as already stated, you need to get agreements with the peope involved. Primarily this means an option on the life rights of your friends. I don't care how close you are, this is mandatory. Get it in writing. State specifics. If possible, get an entertainment attorney to draft it. If not, get a standard contract from any number of contracts books and make sure that you secure those rights.
After that, no, you don't need to write a script for it. You should write a treatment or a proposal. But if the lives of these two people are important enough to launch a series, then, seriously, just stating who they are and what their situation is should be enough.
For life rights to mean anything, they have to be in the news right now or "high concept" in nature.
Zoditch

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4. "RE: Pitching a tv sitcom to a producer"

Posted by MikeM on Jun-24-04, 11:21 AM (PST)

Thank you for your responses,
To answer some questions... this producer is supposidly a producer on the stageplay show "The Producers"... The Mel Brooks thing...
So he's not in the TV industry but who knows... maybe he knows people.
Anyway, I already committed to writing it. I am very glad I don't have to write the script though... Just the treatment.
Thanks again,
Mike

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"Pitching a tv sitcom to a producer"
Posted by MikeM on Jun-23-04, 01:30 PM (PST)
A couple people have approached me about writing a sitcom about thier life situation. They say they know a theatrical producer, who would be interested in looking at it, when they have something on paper. Should I write a treatment and a script? Or just a treatment? Or something else completely? Thank you, MikeM
	Top

1. "RE: Pitching a tv sitcom to a producer"
Posted by SOTE on Jun-23-04, 02:08 PM (PST)
Not that I'm an expert, but I think about getting a contract done,laying out who has what and gets what, before doing any writing,
	Top


	2. "RE: Pitching a tv sitcom to a producer"
	Posted by Jeff K. on Jun-23-04, 02:51 PM (PST)
	Definitely get it in writing, in letter form if nothing else. Some schools offer classes in "The Business of Show Business." My advice is to take them whenever possible. Jeff K.
		Top

3. "RE: Pitching a tv sitcom to a producer"
Posted by ZODITCH on Jun-23-04, 02:59 PM (PST)
First: Is it something YOU want to write? I have lots of friends who think their lives would make great TV series, but unless your friends are topically in the news right now (Brittany Spears and Scott Peterson living in a small house in Watts, for example), the odds of anything happening are remote. No, I'm being kind: non-existent. Second: When you say "Theatrical producer" what does that mean? Not putting you on the spot, but there are levels of producer and there are theatrical, feature, and television producers. Does this person have a track record? Do they have a studio deal? If not on either, then there's not much here to exploit for you efforts. Third: If you have decided that it is something you want to write and if this producer is legit, then, as already stated, you need to get agreements with the peope involved. Primarily this means an option on the life rights of your friends. I don't care how close you are, this is mandatory. Get it in writing. State specifics. If possible, get an entertainment attorney to draft it. If not, get a standard contract from any number of contracts books and make sure that you secure those rights. After that, no, you don't need to write a script for it. You should write a treatment or a proposal. But if the lives of these two people are important enough to launch a series, then, seriously, just stating who they are and what their situation is should be enough. For life rights to mean anything, they have to be in the news right now or "high concept" in nature. Zoditch
	Top


	4. "RE: Pitching a tv sitcom to a producer"
	Posted by MikeM on Jun-24-04, 11:21 AM (PST)
	Thank you for your responses, To answer some questions... this producer is supposidly a producer on the stageplay show "The Producers"... The Mel Brooks thing... So he's not in the TV industry but who knows... maybe he knows people. Anyway, I already committed to writing it. I am very glad I don't have to write the script though... Just the treatment. Thanks again, Mike
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