ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

9 years, 9 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Could go either way - production company pickup and they keep the producer, or at least as likely, put in their own people on payroll to do the deals with existing suppliers, etc. If nothing else, they may associate the producer with the low production value aesthetic, not considering the budget! After all, a producer is worth their deals ;-)

The problem with getting anyone to manage your production on no money is that it'll be a huge amount of work and streets for someone with no real creative outlet, and just have to be low in the priorities list. I suspect you'll have to self-produce if you can't find money to attract anyone, otherwise what's their motivation to get involved and do the heavy lifting whilst you get to do the fun, glamorous, creative part?!

There may be a third way, where you mostly self-produce, but have oversight from a more experienced producer. In turn, you find a friend who'll help with some of the legwork, but I can still see even a notional fee being necessary to show intent and goodwill!

9 years, 9 months ago - Nick Goundry

I would say work on doing as much as you can yourself while you also look for interest from production companies. Make sure the script is in the best shape, and film it if you can. Producers are more likely to take an interest if they have some actual footage to look at. Having footage also means you're more likely to be able to keep the material close to your original vision if a producer does take an interest. That'll be especially the case if you can show that your vision works by getting a strong social media response.

9 years, 9 months ago - James Dann

Cheers for that i'll give it a go! Yes i'm not really sure how to approach networks or if I should go for a indie production company to see if they're interested. I guess the risk with anything other than doing it yourself is loosing creative control

9 years, 9 months ago - Nick Goundry

Production companies can absolutely approach you to develop a series from something you've put on social media - that's the whole point of putting it on social media in the first place. But a production company might also want to make changes to better suit the target audience.

There's no reason to think your producer wouldn't have a role if you were approached by a production company. But it's about having realistic expectations. If your producer has only ever produced your single show, then it's less likely they'll be allowed to be in charge of a series with a real budget.

9 years, 9 months ago - Nick Goundry

I agree with Paddy. The crucial element for a sitcom is obviously to make people laugh, but you also need a decent story. Bad sitcom pilots tend to spend 25 pages focused on set up, rather than finding a story. Ideally you need to do both at the same time. That means nailing the script, and I'll always push people to pay an objective industry reader to do a full script report - there's no good reason not to.

If you're filming it yourself, production values are mainly important if there's a specific stylistic element you think works for the story and will help the show stand out in a crowded market. You're more likely to get your way with that kind of thing if you can show a producer that an audience has already responded to it.

9 years, 9 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

If you do film scenes for yourself, don't stress too heavily about production values - a network picking it up will mean a full reshoot regardless, for about 1000 reasons (change of cast, location, not funny enough, adapted to the network's style, taken into studio, rights issues, all sorts). If it is funny enough and watchable quality, it'll get more interest than shooting in perfect 4k but no laughs!

9 years, 9 months ago - Cedar D. Wolf

Depending on whether the content is adaptable for a German audience, you might want to get it translated and approach the public TV channels ARD and ZDF in Germany. They are more or less desperately looking for quality content, especially in the comedy sector as well as procedural drama.
As they have great admiration for the British craftspeople you might have a shot.
Just to give you an idea what is curently being produced and why people are screaming for innovative programmes, watch this link (or some of it): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEQ-ftqztdk
You don't need to understand German to get the gist.

9 years, 9 months ago - Nick Goundry

Hi James. One approach is to consider what your pilot is similar to that's already been made. Find out who produced those similar shows (even if it's checking the end credits) and then drop them a line. Send them the log line by email and see how it goes. Obviously make sure your pilot is in the best possible shape before you do that.

Another route is to film some scenes from your script yourself and throw it up on YouTube. If it's good, it'll find an audience. I was at a Bafta comedy writing workshop a year or two ago and executives in charge of comedy at several of the major UK broadcasters gave talks and said they routinely scour social media looking for the next comedy hit.

9 years, 9 months ago - James Dann

Hi guys, thanks so much for your responses so far, they're all really helpful.

So in terms of contacting companies I should really have the pilot already filmed? Is it basically a matter of approaching a million and one companies with a script, playing the waiting game, and then making the pilot yourself. Or is it better to just be making the pilot, sourcing money from somewhere and applying at the same time? It's only really a money issue (and direction as to where to send it)

9 years, 9 months ago - James Dann

Fantastic advice everyone, thanks so much still.

I guess i'll need to try and be making it on my own whilst approaching people. The only issue is trying to be 'creative' and make the piece whilst also producing it. I've done that before and it ends up being that your mind is so pre-occupied you can't truly focus on one thing. Ideally someone could come on board and help arrange shoots, time management, money management etc. I guess the only issue there is if it does get picked up by a channel / company the producer will no longer have a role? Also not sure who would want to do such a thing for no money!

So if we were to film the pilot and then put it on social media, that means that companies can still pick it up? It's not like film festivals or channels where if you put something online for the public that means that they can't use it / do anything with it?

9 years, 9 months ago - Barry Staff

Check London Comedy Writers, who usually have their 'ear to to the ground' re new comedy initiatives.
And London Screenwriters' Fest had exes from DLT Ent and Hattrick looking for new sitcoms.