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TV Industry/Questions Answered by Expert DMA/Donna Michelle Anderson
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Cable TV licensing fee | 12/16/2011 |
| Q: I own a property that I pitched to a producer in LA that he would like to produce for a major cable ... A: If I understand correctly, you control the rights to an idea or format for a show that you pitched ... | |
| Figuring out where I fit in. | 8/30/2011 |
| Q: Anderson I had a couple questions for you and I'm hoping you might be able to give me a little ... A: The most important thing you can do you are already doing: looking at the industry in terms of ... | |
| reality show | 8/14/2011 |
| Q: I been talking to a production company for a reality show idea that I have, but they want me to ... A: If this is a credited production company in this space, and you are a credible expert in your field, ... | |
| How does a Reality show creator find an agent? | 8/10/2011 |
| Q: I have spent the last year or so developing a set of reality show treatments that have promise. I ... A: You are not likely to get a reality agent just with show pitches because agents are paid based on a ... | |
| Talent Agreement, Starting Pay, Term of Contract | 8/9/2011 |
| Q: Hey DMA, you Q and A's are very helpful. I am hoping that you can help me. I have been offered a ... A: Please hear me on this. You are probably partnering with the wrong team. The right direction is an ... | |
| contact Mark Burnett? | 8/7/2011 |
| Q: how can I get in touch with Mark Burnett to develop a reality show? (for a very lucrative ... A: You should try his company's website first to see if there is a contact form or information there. ... | |
| Talent Agreement, Starting Pay, Term of Contract | 8/5/2011 |
| Q: Hey DMA, you Q and A's are very helpful. I am hoping that you can help me. I have been offered a ... A: You absolutely must have an attorney. It is not an option - and trust that this will not be a ... | |
| reality show | 7/21/2011 |
| Q: I been talking to a production company for a reality show idea that I have, but they want me to ... A: Expect to sign a waiver for any established production company or network you approach with just an ... | |
| Collaboration agreement/ Treatment | 7/13/2011 |
| Q: I have two questions. If you have a collaboration agreement with someone who has a productions deal. ... A: Let me break this down into step-by-step pieces: Business model: the distributor owns everything ... | |
| Reality Show pitch | 6/20/2011 |
| Q: I've read great advice from you in the past. So my question is how can I sell my rights to my ... A: It's important to know that our business model is very different from the fiction side; we don't ... | |
| business | 2/14/2011 |
| Q: If I were to start being paid income as a reality TV host what would the best way be to incorporate ... A: but I'm afraid I can't offer any advice regarding forming a business entity. You will want to talk ... | |
| Reality TV Show | 10/17/2010 |
| Q: I have created a Reality TV show, registered a treatment with the WGA, shot and edited a Sizzle ... A: Congrats on having prepped an effective pitch on the creative side. To fix your business side, I ... | |
| Reality show & Game Show | 10/8/2010 |
| Q: I have a few ideas for a reality game show, as well as for a game show but I'm having difficulty ... A: You will need the title, logline and treatment, as well as a talent reel (and maybe a sizzle reel) ... | |
| Pilot, Pitch | 8/31/2010 |
| Q: I have been consulting with a production team that lacks professionalism, and client skills. I have ... A: To find working producers, start at www.imdb.com, and search the television shows that are most ... | |
| can i get picked | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: TV shows or commercials. I have professional pictures that i would like to profile but I have no ... A: Extras casting is usually handled through a casting service or casting directors directly. "Central ... | |
| Contacts to pitch pilot | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: My question is simple. I have already completed the hard part of creating a concept and shooting it ... A: To meet and develop relationships with network development executives, you will want to join ... | |
| Logline | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: My question is... I have finished my logline, do I need to register that by itself to the WGAW or do ... A: You should consider copyrighting the treatment since that is the only legal way to give notice that ... | |
| Pitched and Sold.. Now What? | 6/5/2010 |
| Q: I created and pitched my reality show to Exec. Producers who are very well known in the business. ... A: You will need a deal memo in place with the production company, and that must be drafted by a ... | |
| "customary share" in creator's work | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: I'm an expert on AllExperts myself in the dating/sex/relationship venue and this is my first need to ... A: It is very common for partners to negotiate a piece of the deal, and it is also common for partners ... | |
| reality show treatment | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: I'm writing a reality show treatment and was wondering if i should include a budget? In what format ... A: The treatment is not something you will submit during the pitch process; instead, you will use it ... | |
| TV production question | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: I am a 45 year old male from the Detroit area. I understand that programs such as ABC's "The Odd ... A: Sitcoms still are filmed in front of a live audience, with fixed sets for the permanent locations ... | |
| Reality Show | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I have this great idea for a reality show and I read on your blog that the first step is to complete ... A: and thank you for my question. Please revisit my blog to read all of the entries regarding reality ... | |
| Idea for a TV Show, where do I start? | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: I have browsed through as many Q&A's as possible looking for an answer before posing this one. I, ... A: Tom - per my request here at AllExperts, I do ask everyone to first read my blog before continuing ... | |
| Idea for a TV Show, where do I start? | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: I have browsed through as many Q&A's as possible looking for an answer before posing this one. I, ... A: To pitch, you will need to craft a logline and one-sheet (the calling cards of a pitch) and draft a ... | |
| Structuring Reality TV agreements | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: What is the usual agreement structure between an experienced EP and creator of a reality show? The ... A: There isn't a usual agreement, per se, and this definitely is something you want a lawyer who ... | |
| SYNDICATION AND OR LICENSING | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: I am based in Tucson,AZ. I am the Executive Producer of the urban entertainment and lifestyle ... A: Hey, Michael, I am here at NATPE - where are you? dma@planetdma.com | |
| SYNDICATION AND OR LICENSING | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: I am based in Tucson,AZ. I am the Executive Producer of the urban entertainment and lifestyle ... A: Congratulations on your project and on moving forward with significant clearances. As a consultant ... | |
| Licensing my footage to reality shows? | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: My name is Joe Jennings and I film skydiving stunts for a living. I've also filmed quite a few ... A: here are three things to try: 1) Google "Archive Footage" and "Stock Footage." That's where APs ... | |
| Hosting Television Shows | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: I am Taylor Handberry and I am currently eighteen years old and a freshman at the University of ... A: Taylor - very happy to hear that you are getting a bachelor's degree and have a plan! Per my ... | |
| Breaking in | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: I Produce a show that currently airs on over 300 community access stations across the united States ... A: The main thing I would take into account here is your cash flow - is the cost of the show such that ... | |
| Reality TV Idea | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: A: there - one question; two answers. 1) Please don't send your reality tv show to producers. The ... | |
| agreements | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: I'm a DP/Editor and I recently shot and cut (produced) a reality show pilot with my two partners. My ... A: One of the reasons I want people to read my blog before asking questions is so they can understand ... | |
| REALITY SHOW FORMAT FOR REGISTRATION AND SALES | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: I would like to know the proper format for registering a reality show idea. thank you DEVIN ... A: you cannot register or protect an idea, but you will be able to register and copyright an executed ... | |
| Who would I pitch a reatlity show/series to? | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: I have an idea for a reality show/series that could be powerful and reach a lot of people, to not ... A: You will usually pitch directly to the development division of a network that is a good fit for the ... | |
| Getting Picked | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: !! I am trying really hard to get picked for the Mtv show MADE do you have any tips? This is a ... A: The best reality casting tapes show your face clearly, with you talking naturally and upbeat, and ... | |
| Casting | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: !! I am trying extremely hard to be cast for MTV's show MADE any suggestions? This is a link to ... A: The best reality casting tapes show your face clearly, with you talking naturally and upbeat, and ... | |
| writing an episode beat | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: I had a pitch meeting with a producer about a show I created. Now he wants me to write an "episode ... A: Hmm. Red flag alert on this one. Are you pitching a sitcom or scripted drama? If so, this ... | |
| games | 3/7/2009 |
| Q: i have invented 4 games lice deal or no deal or jeopardy, i ne ed help or same information were mast ... A: Shopping a game show is the same as any other non-fiction project. Per my submission guidelines, ... | |
| Already have a preview reel. | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: I have been in the corporate video business for the last 27 years. I recently created a trailer ... A: Here it is, item by item: *I have been in the corporate video business for the last 27 years. ... | |
| Treatment for reality tv show | 1/29/2009 |
| Q: first question, I would like to know if i can copyright a treament for a reality tv show before ... A: You can absolutely copyright a treatment. It may be more difficult to copyright a pitch or simple ... | |
| Reality Tv Show Creator Agreements | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: I recently got propsed by a production company saying they want to produce my reality show. They ... A: Gin - First, for specifics on each of the questions above: They have not given me a agreement or ... | |
| TV scheduling strategies | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: There are various types of TV scheduling strategies. Then, what are the differences between ... A: there - There are even more strategies than this (!), but here is a redux of these three: strip - ... | |
| New Reality Show Concept Pitch | 11/13/2008 |
| Q: I have a great new Reality Show concept. It is something totally unique from anything that is now ... A: it's DMA - congrats on fleshing out your initial concept! There is one main way to pitch any ... | |
| Reality TV Show | 10/30/2008 |
| Q: Currently we are in development of a reality tv show in Central America. We are not a production ... A: it's DMA. Let me break your question down into sections to answer it as thoroughly as possible. ... | |
| use of trademark names | 10/16/2008 |
| Q: I am writing a script for a tv movie and would like to know if names such as "Readers Digest" or ... A: I cannot offer you legal advice regarding the use of a trademark in your script (please research ... | |
| RATINGS | 10/10/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering would you please tell me: how do the T.V networks know how many people are ... A: Cameron - Let me break your question into two distinct parts because they are not necessarily ... | |
| A different pitch | 10/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a new concept for a show that would fit either the Food Network or the Discovery channel. ... A: FOLLOW-UP: I received your note that I did not directly answer your question. Here is how you meet ... | |
| agents | 10/2/2008 |
| Q: How do you find and retain an agent to sell a reality show concept? A: Joe - The good news is, you don't need an agent to sell a reality show. The tough news is, you ... | |
| Celebrity Talent - Reality Show | 9/24/2008 |
| Q: I'm wondering how I finalize a deal with a celebrity talent who wants to work with me to produce a ... A: Monette - here some steps to get started with: 1) Dig deeper into our business model. You want to ... | |
TV Industry
DMA/Donna Michelle Anderson
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Reality TV Production Screenwriting Story Structure Casting & Branding for Artists
Experience
Reality TV writer/producer/show runner
Story Analyst for film production company
Former professional model/actor/singer
Frequent public speaker
College Instructor at several institutions
Author of two professional books
Organizations
Producers Guild of America
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Showbiz Mensans
Stanford in Entertainment
Publications
Produced by
Across the Internet
Education/Credentials
B.A. with distinction, Stanford University
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