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TV Industry/Questions Answered by Expert DMA/Donna Michelle Anderson

SubjectDate Asked
Cable TV licensing fee12/16/2011
  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 show8/14/2011
  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 Contract8/9/2011
  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 Contract8/5/2011
  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 show7/21/2011
  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/ Treatment7/13/2011
  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 pitch6/20/2011
  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 ...
business2/14/2011
  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 Show10/17/2010
  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 Show10/8/2010
  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, Pitch8/31/2010
  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 picked7/28/2010
  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 pilot6/28/2010
  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 ...
Logline6/15/2010
  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 work5/4/2010
  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 treatment4/19/2010
  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 question4/10/2010
  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 Show2/20/2010
  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 agreements1/26/2010
  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 LICENSING1/15/2010
  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 LICENSING1/14/2010
  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 Shows11/16/2009
  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 in10/22/2009
  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 Idea10/12/2009
  Q:
  A: there - one question; two answers. 1) Please don't send your reality tv show to producers. The ...
agreements10/8/2009
  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 SALES9/23/2009
  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 Picked4/9/2009
  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 ...
Casting4/8/2009
  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 beat3/21/2009
  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 ...
games3/7/2009
  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 show1/29/2009
  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 Agreements1/24/2009
  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 strategies12/2/2008
  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 Pitch11/13/2008
  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 Show10/30/2008
  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 names10/16/2008
  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 ...
RATINGS10/10/2008
  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 pitch10/4/2008
  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 ...
agents10/2/2008
  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 Show9/24/2008
  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 ...

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DMA/Donna Michelle Anderson

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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

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Produced by Across the Internet

Education/Credentials
B.A. with distinction, Stanford University

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