Newbie in Genre and Dork to All

[C.bronco]

Yep. It occurred to me today, after happily mailing my treatments to production companies, that I'd actually have to have scripts ready for my reality series.

Is there a Writing Scripts for Reality Series for Dummies in the house?

[icerose]

Reality tv shows are different than movies, you don't have an actual script, but you do have to have a pitch and a plan for the series. In the TV agents thread, there is one to Brody's page, he has some good advice if I remember correctly, concerning reality tv shows on how to go about it.

[C.bronco]

Thanks! I don't really know how much I have to have on paper, but I think I should know if I ever get a call.

[English Dave]

Yep. It occurred to me today, after happily mailing my treatments to production companies, that I'd actually have to have scripts ready for my reality series.



Then.......it wouldn't be a Reality series?

[clockwork]

Reality shows almost certainly have scripts but not in the convetional sense. If you're trying to sell a reality show you'll need something more akin to a marketing presentation - outline of the series, strong hook to win audiences and advertisers, how the show will develop etc. It's the sort of thing that gets pitched by established producers really but if you're gonna give it a try, I'd spend some time getting your idea on paper in the form of a treatment.

[TheRuleofThirds]

...you'll need something more akin to a marketing presentation

*hurls*

[Goodwriterguy]

*hurls*
You'd really hurl if you ever found out how little a writer gets paid to work on a "reality" show. It's down around there about where soap writers are, or lower. Why do you think "reality" shows were invented? THEY ARE CHEAP TO PRODUCE, that's why. No writers, no actors, no sound stage, no nuttin' dude. Just a showrunner, a coupla camera guys, and a few greedy geeks from the street.

Every high schooler and his sister has an "idea" for a "reality" show; they all live in ... well, let's not go there, but WTFU!

[TheRuleofThirds]

No writers, no actors, no sound stage, no nuttin' dude. Just a showrunner, a coupla camera guys, and a few greedy geeks from the street.

Yeah, I know. Hence the *hurls*. Marketing is no substitute for self-expression. Bastards.

[English Dave]

You'd really hurl if you ever found out how little a writer gets paid to work on a "reality" show.
Can you define 'writer' on a reality show?

And soap writers make sh1t loads of money.

[Goodwriterguy]

Can you define 'writer' on a reality show?
I can't; I don't know about anyone else.


And soap writers make sh1t loads of money.
They do? Not the one's I know.

And why do they have a separate scale in the WGA's Minimum Basic Agreement that's much lower than the scales for writers who write features and network television (excepting Fox)?

[English Dave]

I can't; I don't know about anyone else.


They do? Not the one's I know.

(excepting Fox)?

That's possibly because...............ah hell. Draw your own conclusions.

[odocoileus]

Soaps in the states are in serious decline. Fewer jobs and accord. to people I've talked to, nearly impossible to get in.

Springer and his like have taken away the audience, and more women work.

Where does Eastenders rank in terms of reputation and quality? Is it considered a soap? It's better than anything of its kind in the States.

[English Dave]

Where does Eastenders rank in terms of reputation and quality?

Depends who you ask. But ratings wise it's on about 30%. And the core writers earn around $200,000 plus a year. Bear in mind the big soaps in the Uk are early prime time.

[C.bronco]

Nice. That beats my day job by a wide margin.