Expert: Russell Calabrese - 6/6/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello Russell,
I've recently finished a 7 minute 3d animation pilot(Fairy tale) for children target age 6 to 10 year olds,and an animated interactive learning application for children same age group,How do I go about submitting my work to people like Nickelodeon, and generally contact the right people to talk to..

Pete

ANSWER: Hello Pete,

Call or write to Nickelodeon Animation Studios and ask who is head of development and acquisitions,
and make and appointment or, seeing you are out of town, send them your pitch package.

I've worked at Nick over a year ago and don't know who's in charge there at this time.


Hope this helps.

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Russell

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Russell.

Thank you for your rapid reply.This is all very helpfull indeed.
Would you be so kind as to tell me what should be in "My Pitch package",
Yes its all new to me and I don't want to make any mistakes first time.


Pete

ANSWER: Here's a good starting point for what you need to make a Pitch Package/ Show Bible.

http://filmnashville.org/television-show-bible/

http://www.awn.com/articles/reviews/pitch-bible-just-essentials/page/3,1

Hope this helps.

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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Russell.

Thank you so much for that,belive me I'm glad I asked.
A couple of other things and Ill promise to leave you alone;
Should I pitch direct to Children TV channels or to animation production companies or both, and lastly,why would animation production companies want to look at pitches from 3rd party animators?To me by definition,production sounds like they produce their own content.

Thanks once again for giving me exactly what I needed to know.

Pete

Answer
Hi Pete,

Don't bother with the animation production companies until you need them to do the work for you.
I have my own company and I'm trying to sell shows all the time.
Pitch ideas directly to the development folks at the networks, such as Nickelodeon, PBS, Cartoon Network, Disney, etc.

I just want to warn you if they buy your show they'll want to own it outright and forever.
Get a good attorney to make the best deal for you when that time comes.
Also, Copyright your show so no one can steal it! (I'm not familiar with The Netherlands copyright laws.)

If you want to send me your pitch package to look at and critique it for you I'd be happy to do that.

Good luck.

Hope this helps.

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