Podcasts by Producing Unscripted: Make Reality TV Shows and Documentary Series with Joke and Biagio

Sound Advice on Dreams and Success from Todd C. Burns from 2021-09-28T22:04:44

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 pas...

Uncharted: Jon Kroll Produces Gordon Ramsay Awesomeness from 2021-06-24T23:49:08

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 mento...

3 Ways Podcasting is Changing TV from 2021-04-30T22:28:55

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 ...

Troy DeVolld: Sheer Poetry–Life, Dreams, Work and Reality in Los Angeles from 2021-02-21T02:39:11

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 ca...

2021: Staying Creative, Productive and Motivated from 2021-01-26T21:29

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 pa...

‘Twas the Nightmare Before Editing! from 2020-10-30T21:02:09

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 na...

3 Things Ted Lasso Can Teach You About Making TV&Film from 2020-09-29T23:33:54

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 an...

What Do Producers Actually Do? Ask Our Kids! from 2020-07-25T17:54:09

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 fr...

Making TV In Quarantine from 2020-04-29T16:53:31

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 fini...

Producing Personal Projects with Emmy Winner Steve Mazan from 2020-03-31T17:53:26

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 ...

Hiring in Hollywood: The Flipside from 2020-02-28T20:47:23

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, helpfu...

2020 Perspective for Filmmakers, Producers, and Creatives from 2020-01-30T22:55:53

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 ...

Our Top 3 Scariest Moments on Set from 2019-10-31T20:37:03

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, ...

Getting Engaged to Netflix from 2019-09-30T23:17:58

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 talki...

Making Truly Independent TV with Filmmaker Brian Speciale from 2019-08-30T16:46:09

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 independen...

Make 70 Million Dollars on Shark Tank: Producer Brian Speciale Tells All from 2019-07-30T21:55:31

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, ...

Create Great Titles for Your Projects: Tons of Tips… from 2019-06-28T21:03:22

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 ...

Showbiz and Your Mental Well-Being: It’s Just TV… from 2019-05-30T19:46:30

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 b...

3 Worst Kinds of Shows for New Producers to Pitch…Unless from 2019-04-30T21:09:49

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 pitchin...

Pat Postiglione: Becoming a TV Personality from 2019-03-26T13:30:58

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 ...

Deadly Recall–Pitch Detective Based True Crime–5 Tips from 2019-02-28T21:34:09

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-diges...

3 Tips from RealScreen 2019 from 2019-01-31T20:25:51

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 ...

Hollywood Stocking Stuffers–Three Tips from the Trenches from 2018-12-20T19:04:33

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 st...

Spooky: Pitching Paranormal Shows–4 Tips&Happy Halloween! from 2018-10-30T19:46:12

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 y...

Roger Nygard: How to Work Both Scripted and Unscripted from 2018-09-25T16:35:27

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 ...

Amazing Career Advice From Legendary Producer Jon Kroll from 2018-08-28T18:06:05

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 sec...

Pitching Family-Based Docuseries–A Kardashians Study from 2018-07-31T13:00:20

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 yo...

Top 3 Pitch Cover Letter Mistakes from 2018-06-30T00:00:51

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 whe...

Getting Your First TV Producer Credit with Marc Jackson from 2018-05-30T23:33:25

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 o...

Puzzling Together Story with Jon Collins from 2018-04-24T13:00:26

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 Bache...

Unmasking a Killer with Todd Lindsey from 2018-03-13T13:10:02

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 Su...

Success&Happiness in the Entertainment Industry with Daniel Strange from 2018-02-27T14:00:10

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 worki...

The Journey from Seed Idea to Pitching TV Networks with Abra Chouinard from 2018-01-23T14:30:01

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 Abr...

100 Tips. 1 Million Thanks. from 2017-11-14T14:22:01

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 comple...

Casting True Crime Projects with Alexis Linkletter from 2017-10-03T13:17:49

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...

Back To School: TV&Film Style! from 2017-09-05T13:15:14

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, ...

How To Freelance in Hollywood with Joey Korenman from 2017-08-08T12:00:43

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, Joe...

Who Owns a TV Show? Can it be You? from 2017-07-11T14:12:09

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 owne...

Producer Takeaways from Four Years of Podcasts from 2017-06-14T00:10:41

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 o...

5 Tips: True Crime Series–Develop Deep Dives from 2017-05-31T03:57:52

“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 dev...

Life After Reality TV with Shalandra Champ of Beauty and the Geek from 2017-04-04T13:00:06

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 s...

TV Network Executives–What You Need to Know from Paul Croce from 2017-03-21T13:28:21

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 ca...

Producing Documentaries with Sundance Fellow Amanda Spain from 2017-03-07T14:15:03

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 peo...

How to Cast Reality TV with Top Casting Director Dana Golder from 2017-02-21T14:14:12

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...

Reality TV Stripped Naked with Mickey Ramos from 2017-02-07T22:26:18

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 ...

3 Ways Aspiring TV Producers Can Stand Out in 2017 from 2017-01-24T21:02:45

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? ...

How To Survive The Hollywood Notes Process with Troy DeVolld from 2016-12-13T14:30:19

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 Produc...

Production Hangovers: How To Survive, Recharge,&Move On from 2016-11-29T14:30:54

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 pro...

Handling Criticism in Hollywood: Your How-To Guide from 2016-11-15T17:35:39

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 Rhi...

Catching Your Lucky Break In Hollywood–A Spooky Discussion from 2016-11-01T20:27:39

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...

Television Post-Production: Tips You Can Steal! from 2016-10-18T13:25:38

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...

Tools We Use To Make TV Shows from 2016-10-04T13:30:15

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.

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Develop Ideas Wisely: Your How-To Guide from 2016-09-06T13:30:05

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 h...

Reality TV Questions Answered from 2016-08-23T13:12:59

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 ea...

Filming Real People: 5 Crucial Factors from 2016-07-26T13:25:22

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 f...

Pitch Tape Budgets–Warning: Avoid Traps&Scams from 2016-07-12T13:25:39

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 clus...

Setiquette: Be a Pro on Any Film or TV Set from 2016-06-28T13:26

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 thi...

Who Gets Creative Control in Hollywood? from 2016-06-14T13:15:24

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 o...

How Stu Maschwitz Can Help You Make Film, TV, Or Anything Else from 2016-05-31T13:45:16

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...

Can Anyone Break Into Hollywood? from 2016-05-03T13:15:02

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 ca...

Shopping Agreements for Reality TV Concepts from 2016-04-19T13:10:32

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 some...

Sizzle Reel Secret: How We Sell TV Shows from 2016-03-22T13:15:55

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 ...

Making TV Pilots: 5 Practical Tips You Can Use from 2016-03-08T14:30:13

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 i...

7 Must-Know Tips for Pitching Reality TV from 2016-02-23T20:45:36

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 pi...

Pressure is a Privilege. Here’s Why… from 2016-02-09T17:47:12

“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...

TV Versus YouTube–Where Does Your Show Belong? from 2016-01-26T14:35:53

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...

Art of Starting: Your Big Picture Guide to Making Film&TV from 2016-01-12T15:00:53

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 an...

3 Cheerful Filmmaking Facts for 2016 from 2015-12-08T14:40:42

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 t...

Casting Tapes: Show, Tell, or Both? from 2015-11-24T14:45:58

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...

Casting Agreements for Reality TV: What-When-Why-How? from 2015-11-10T14:45:53

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 mon...

2 Paths to Hollywood Success from 2015-10-27T18:40:51

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 rev...

Top 3 Pitch Mistakes You’re Making Today from 2015-09-29T14:00:11

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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Get Great Audio For Your Unscripted Project On Any Budget from 2015-09-15T13:55:55

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 a...

Making TV With Adobe Premiere from 2015-09-01T14:00:57

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 ent...

Cinematic Storytelling with Reenactments from 2015-08-18T13:45:58

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 ...

How We Sold Our New TV Show: Step by Step from 2015-08-04T13:53:35

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.

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Choosing An Entertainment Attorney from 2015-07-21T14:00:12

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...

Should You Film Your Own TV Pilot? Pros&Cons from 2015-07-07T14:40:10

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, ...

3 Secrets: Asking Questions In Hollywood (Without Sounding Stupid) from 2015-06-09T14:00:12

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 Holly...

Pro Tip: Awesome Beginnings from 2015-05-26T14:30:42

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...

Pitch TV Series NOT Profile Pieces from 2015-05-12T14:00:32

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, a...

3 Steps: Pitch Cinematic Re-Creation TV Shows from 2015-04-28T14:00:54

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 ar...

Style Guides for Reality TV: A How To from 2015-04-14T14:00:16

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 d...

Selling Reality TV: Your Questions Answered. from 2015-03-31T14:00:24

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...

The Bueller Podcast from 2015-03-17T14:00:15

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 Si...

3 Steps to Win the Hollywood Numbers Game from 2015-03-03T15:00:29

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 pursuin...

Soft Pitch Blueprint: Beyond Ideas for Reality TV Pitch Success from 2015-02-17T15:00:31

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 pitch...

Hollywood Pitch Meetings: Pro Tip For Success from 2015-02-03T15:00:53

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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Pitch Secret: Shift Your POV for Pitch Success from 2015-01-20T15:00:20

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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5 Traits of Successful Film&TV Producers (And the Letter“L”) from 2015-01-06T15:00:51

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....

How To Reverse Engineer Your Reality TV Pitch from 2014-12-09T15:00:08

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 t...

Make Reality TV: 5 Steps to Great Cast Relationships from 2014-11-25T14:45:47

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...

Sizzle Reel: Budgets, Investors, and More… from 2014-11-11T15:00:21

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 a...

5 Scary Things About Producing TV Shows from 2014-10-28T14:00:24

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...

Make TV Networks and Studios Happy–Dealing With Network Notes from 2014-10-14T19:18:38

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 w...

Pitching Reality TV? Know This Rule for Success… from 2014-09-30T14:00:45

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 w...

Landing Jobs in Hollywood–Insider Tips from 2014-09-16T14:00:09

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 mista...

3 Steps: Turn a Character into a TV Show from 2014-08-19T14:00:27

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-cen...

How To Make Re-Creation Reality: A Case Study from 2014-08-05T14:00:25

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 ...

10 Mistakes That Wreck Your Pitches from 2014-07-22T14:00:49

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 se...

How to Get Great Interviews for Documentaries and Reality TV Shows from 2014-07-08T14:00:20

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 Intervi...

Hollywood Insider Tip: Can You Pitch What You Don’t Have? from 2014-06-24T14:01:28

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 y...

What is a Story Engine? Why Do You Need One? from 2014-06-10T14:00:43

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...

Start Here: 7 Steps to Pitch Reality TV to Joke and Biagio from 2014-05-27T14:00:08

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 p...

Step By Step: TV Idea to TV Show from 2014-05-13T14:00:41

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 ...

Stop Ruining Your Pitches: Top Tips from Stephanie Palmer from 2014-04-29T14:00:34

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 co...

Pitch Success Secret: Sell Film&TV by Crafting Your Second Hook from 2014-04-15T13:45:33

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 televisio...

Avoid This Pitch Mistake! from 2014-04-01T14:00:27

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 si...

Reality TV Shows We’re Looking For RIGHT NOW–Plus: Pitching Formats from 2014-03-18T14:00:04

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 show...

5 Ways You Can Break Into Unscripted Television from 2014-03-04T15:15:48

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...

Paper Pitches: 5 Steps to Awesome from 2014-02-18T15:15:14

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, ...

Pitch Fests: Should You Pay to Pitch? 4 Rock Solid Rules for Pitch Fests. from 2014-02-04T15:30:35

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 co...

How to Get a Hollywood Agent from 2014-01-21T15:00:37

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 ...

Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne–Make TV for A&E from 2014-01-07T15:00:44

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 sol...

Turn a Book Into a TV Show Part 2–And Then Some from 2013-12-24T14:30:18

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 accid...

How to Turn a Book–Or Any Property–Into a TV Show with Chad Gervich from 2013-12-10T15:30:27

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...

5 Tips to Make Small Productions Feel Big from 2013-11-26T18:32:38

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 thos...

One Huge Reason Your Concept Is Not a TV Show from 2013-11-12T14:25:15

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 ...

Create Competition Reality Shows: 3 Keys to Success from 2013-10-29T13:30:20

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 real...

How Not To Suck: Hollywood Advice We Love from 2013-10-15T13:30:44

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 dedic...

What Goes in a Pitch Tape? Should You Make One? from 2013-10-01T13:33:05

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 imp...

3 Tips to Break Into Hollywood…and Stay There from 2013-09-17T13:30:54

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...

Survive Production: 7 Weird Tips Guaranteed to Save Your Sanity and Help Avoid Burnout from 2013-09-03T14:00:41

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...

Top Secret: What TV Networks Buy (And Why) from 2013-08-20T13:00:06

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 a...

From Concept to TV Airwaves: 3 Examples From People Just Like You–Plus Takeaways from 2013-08-06T14:00:06

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....

Don’t Pitch These 4 Kind of Shows from 2013-07-23T16:00:33

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 li...

Great Reality TV Worlds Have These 4 Qualities from 2013-07-09T07:05:01

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 sett...

Your Characters: 6 Must-Have Traits of Reality TV Characters and Documentary Subjects from 2013-06-25T14:00:28

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 Trait...

Pitch Reality TV Shows and Documentary Series With These 5 Magic Words from 2013-06-09T08:07:23

We’re guessing you want to pitch reality tv shows and documentary series. After all, you’re here, reading and listening, which already puts you miles ahead of most of the people who pitch realit...

5 Steps to Develop Shows Without Going Broke from 2013-06-09T05:32:55

Want to develop shows for unscripted television, whether documentary series, reality TV, or documentary specials? There’s one thing you just can’t get around.You need great tape. Unless your pla...

Unscripted TV Success: Instantly Up Your Odds with this Secret from 2013-06-09T03:02:05

Last episode ended with a cliffhanger: the one thing you could do to instantly increase your odds of unscripted TV success. For that matter, success in any area of Hollywood (and life.) What is ...

Why Ideas Aren’t Enough in Hollywood, and How to Submit to Concepts to Us from 2013-06-09T00:54:44

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® winnin...

Make Reality TV Shows&Documentary Series with Joke&Biagio from 2013-06-08T22:15:41

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 was...