Expert: Marrissa O`Leary - 11/2/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Ms. O'Leary,
I am from Canada and am about to submit a TV treatment to a national network. As far as I can tell, they are one of the only networks that will accept unsolicited submissions. Before I submit the treatment however, I need to know a few things that I was not able to find on the Internet:
1# Is there a specific format for a treatment, including font, font size, headings #if any#, etcetera? Can you direct me to a website with an example TV treatment?
2) Is it necessary to include a query letter along with the treatment, or should the letter just introduce the treatment?
3) Is there any way around clauses in the network's submission release form? #For eg. They state that the network "may in the future receive or independently develop materials identical or similar to the proposal"...and they "have the unrestricted right to use these identical or similar materials, and you will have no right or recourse...")

I thank you in advance for taking the time to answer my questions.
Lori

ANSWER: Hi, Lori.

Thanks for the questions.  I'm away from my office, so working at a slight handicap.

I don't really know the "rules" for Canada.  Here, what a treatment looks like depends on what you're trying to do with it.  I would think short and sweet is a good place to start, unless your project has a lot of elements that really need support and explanation.

Since I can't give you a specific format, let me direct you to a couple of resources.

- If you can get access to a program called Final Draft, it contains templates for a number of different formats.  You might find something there.


- www.writersstore.com has many links to software and message boards for writers.

-  www.wga.org may also provide some guidance.

Wish i could do more, but  hopefully, this will get you started.

Good luck!
Marrissa

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

QUESTION: Hi Marrissa,
Thanks for you quick response. Are you able to answer questions 2 & 3 as they pertain to the U.S.A.? Thanks.

Answer
Hi, Lori.

I would suggest you send the query letter first and separately before trying to send any actual material.

And no, you cannot "work around" the language you're asking about - to get people to read your material, you have to take the risk that they will develop something similar.

Good luck!
Marrissa