How to Submit Your Idea for a Reality TV Show to Real TV Producers
The first step you need to take is to apply for membership. Don't worry. While they say the website is for a selective community, the application process is not intensive. Simply input your name, email address and a brief explanation of why you want to be a part of the process, and that's it. They will review your application and usually get back to you within a day or two. I got in within one hour. Piece of cake. Now, on to the good stuff!
If you already have an idea for a reality show, great! Half the battle is done. Now, the work comes in writing the pitch so that they can see how great your idea is too. There are suggested guidelines on the website, but here are the highlights. First, come up with a great title. Next, write a logline for your show. A logline is a one or two sentence summary of your show with the key elements of the format. (Many people think of a logline as what you would read in TV Guide describing your show.) Next, write out the format of your show. Include the who, what, where and why in your description. Who are the contestants? Are there judges? Is there a studio audience? What are the participants doing and why? What is the ultimate goal of the show? Where are they? Are they in a studio or confined space (a la Big Brother) or are they travelling around the world (as in The Amazing Race)? Once you have the details of your show written out, you can submit your idea by clicking on the "Your Pitch" section of the website.
What if you don't already have an idea for a reality TV show? Don't fret. There are resources and exercise on the website intended to stimulate your brain and exercise your imagination. There are articles in the Trendletter section, which are selected to inspire your next big idea. And in the Resources section, there are a number of sources listed to grab inspiration from and exercises meant to help get your creative juices flowing.
If they choose to option your reality TV show idea, you will receive an initial option fee plus a percentage ownership of the format. The fee will depend on various factors, but you probably will not have any say on the fee or the percentage ownership. After all, while it's your idea, they're the ones with the resources and the power to actually implement your idea. Once you become a reality guru like John de Mol or Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice), then you can start to have some say in how much.
Even if you don't have an idea of your own for a reality TV show, that doesn't mean you can't find ways to make money on the website. They are always looking for articles for the Trendletter section to inspire other people so you can submit a story that you've found that could inspire other people to develop a television show. Every month, they will give away $500 to the best trend submission.
Another way to make money is by looking at the Projects section of the website. These are projects and ideas that they currently have, but just need a little help with the format or with the challenges.
So get your thinking caps on and start coming up with new reality TV shows of your own. Who knows? Your idea could be the next breakout hit of the television season.
Published by B. Chae
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26 Comments
Post a CommentWay back in the late 90's I was sick as hell as the quality of TV programming was
getting worse and everything was pretty much a rerun.
I had an idea of a TV show as
the person who is the main character was my own personal savior.
I thought as I built him over the years of my life as my protector.
He protected me in my mind from the unjust treatment I got from my father in real life.
No it was not incest or rape but the usually battered kid syndrome.
You see my father is an ex Drill Sgt. and he never truly knew how to talk with people unless
it was about cars,engines or sex. He could not relate to anybody not even my mom!
I think now looking back maybe my dad had aspergers.
One day dad comes home late and mom allowed me to stay up late to greet him then go to bed.
It happened without a hitch and he came home late around 8pm.
I jumped up into his arms -DADDY!!! He picked me up and gave me a hello hug.
As I let go of his neck I noticed and mentioned he had lipstick around his collar.
He put me down and told me to get my belt.
All that week he beat me and threw me against the wall.
I was not even 6 years old!
As I grew up that injustice and countless times being thrown around the room like a
baseball bat by the feet he threw me around.
The injustice still burns in me and in my lonely times alone in the house or outside
I started thinking of a person who could protect me. Year by year I'd be buildig the
fictional character up and down making him out sometimes like a super hero and
other times a villain as years go by he came more and more into focus.
In the late 1990's I was kida sick of the state of television how everything
was so boring and I went searching and found a message board dedicated to
new TV show ideas.
I put in my 2 cents and more than half shot down my idea and said it sucked.
Another 5 wanted to hear more and they wanted me to make another thread
for just them and me.
2 more left and 3 stayed. 1 Asked if I wanted to be paid or have royalties.
My reply was that AT THE TIME Money is not really an issue here and that I really
just want to make better TV show ideas. So yes if it came down to it would I want to be paid?
As of now I would say yes but the silly naive part of me still would rather take recognition
as being the creator. I really do not care so much for fame or money but thought
it would be nice to see my name in the rolling credits to immortalize myself forever.
Ok so the idea was just this. A man who protects the people and family in his town
at any and all cost even if being a criminal. The idea was just that. An idea.
And I more pointedly stated that if you really wanted a good description of him then
he would be labled as a serial who kills other serial killers and those who wish to do harm
to family and in his town.
So yes people of 4chan. I am the true idea giver/maker of the skeletal framework that is Dexter.
So thank you guys for reading. The above is all true and not at all fiction.
I am willing to go to court over this but its not about money. All
I wanted was my name to be in the credits.
How do I protect my idea?
Ron
Does anyone know how to register for a Talpacreative membership? The site does not allow for registration. Thank you.
Reality TV is just low budget soap opera crap! Only difference is the drama is unscripted.
I have THE most excelent idea for a reality tv show!! Ok so basically, on the week of 2 hot babes 18th bday's, they pack up their things and move from their tiny town to the big beaches of california! Whats better to watch than 2 hotties getting in mischieve and pulling shinanagans???!! NOTHING!
I've tried to sign up at the site, and all I get is the same page, no matter what. There's no place to register or anything. I've clicked on everything on the page, and it all goes to the login page. The only link that goes anywhere is the one that goes to the company that built the site.
wanttoseehowrealroughandrowdycoalminersdoitwellcomeondowntothepunchholeiworkndowningarywestvirginiacrazybreedofhillbillyscoalminingorequimentisfromthe80sbuggyshocksyouwhenugetonandoffwaterpouringnfromthetopandnumber3seamworsetopihaveeveryworkrdinyouwillnevefindmorecrazyerpeoplethenrighthereinthisminesweworkhardandplayhard
I tried logging onto the site but couldnt find where to sign up, every page i clicked on just kept asking me to log on but no where to sign up?
I am a 46 attractive professional woman having an affair with a hot 26 year old latino. Great show to watch & see where this goes.....my friends are already interested in every detail.
my show ideas is to show the single mothers with the struggle of raising children, maitaining a stable home and look for love and all the dramas in between.