| Hollywood is built on the power of Idea. The "Closed | | | | and entertainment value, and Merv signed the new |
| Door" myth is busted open thanks to the Internet, and | | | | writer to an option deal. The project was sold on our |
| this pro's experience. | | | | first pitch to Disney, and eventually packaged for |
| Hollywood is built on the power of idea, and | | | | production where it still sits. |
| television is the most rapidly evolving platform for ideas | | | | Just recently, an aspiring writer from Alabama, Timothy |
| to be produced through storytelling and games. Most | | | | Centner, sold 3 projects (all ideas for reality-based |
| people think of Hollywood as a closed door, with | | | | programming) to a producer who uses The Television |
| opportunities reserved for those who know | | | | Writers Vault for finding new projects. Prior to that, Jon |
| people. On the contrary, Hollywood is a machine | | | | Stewart of Illinois sold his idea for a reality-based |
| constantly on the search for new ideas to help | | | | program built around his own life to a head executive |
| reinvent itself and bring a fresh form of entertainment | | | | for Fox Television Studios. |
| to viewers. After working for seven years as a | | | | You may have the most inspiring story or script any |
| Development Executive, creating and pitching concepts | | | | producer could read, but unless you can boil that story |
| with producers, I can tell you it’s simply a game | | | | or concept into a brief synopsis with a highly |
| of matching the right concept to the right producer at | | | | marketable "logline", a producer will never invest the |
| the right time. | | | | time in reading the entire script or treatment, leaving no |
| The most notable pioneer of television who started his | | | | chance of any deal to be offered. |
| empire from a simple notion is my former boss, Merv | | | | A "Logline" is a one or two sentence description that |
| Griffin. In 1964 (post quiz show scandals), Merv was | | | | tells the basic idea and purpose of a show. Loglines for |
| flying back from New York with his wife Julann | | | | the sake of pitching a project are similar to a TV |
| pondering ideas for shows they could pitch, when they | | | | Guide description, but more specific in describing the |
| began to explore the following idea; What if we | | | | idea of the show. This is the catalyst for increasing the |
| gave the contestant the answer, and they had to | | | | odds of selling any script or idea to Hollywood. |
| figure out what the question was? That triggered a | | | | A great logline should provoke interest and inspire the |
| playful conversation similar to the following; | | | | TV producer to see it’s potential. The following |
| Julann, 5,280. | | | | are examples of could-be loglines for current television |
| Merv, How many feet are in a mile?. | | | | shows: |
| Julann, Correct. | | | | - "Ordinary people face their fears by competing |
| Julann, The Ford Theatre. | | | | against each other in outrageously devised stunts" - |
| Merv, Where was Abraham Lincoln shot?. | | | | Fear Factor |
| Julann, Correct. | | | | - "A likeable husband's marriage and tolerance is |
| That basic idea and game went through many stages | | | | tested by the constant intrusion of his overbearing |
| of development before even being pitched to the | | | | parents and dim-witted brother" - Everybody Loves |
| network, but once produced, it became the most | | | | Raymond |
| successful game show in the history of television we | | | | - "Twenty women will court and compete to win the |
| now know as Jeopardy! In 1986 Griffin sold the | | | | affections of one man who will narrow the selection |
| show, along with Wheel of Fortune (created | | | | until he must decide on his one true love." - The |
| shortly after) to The Coca Cola Company for a | | | | Bachelor |
| staggering $250 Million in cash. | | | | - "Contestants' general knowledge will be tested when |
| Today, the landscape of programming and deal | | | | given the answers to questions they must then form." |
| making is vastly different, and creating such simple | | | | - Jeopardy |
| concepts that haven’t already been produced is | | | | Another important facet of marketing your projects to |
| difficult. To our benefit, the outlets and opportunities for | | | | the entertainment industry is the protection and |
| new TV shows is literally a hundred-fold what it was in | | | | proof-of-creation as the Author. An aspiring |
| the 60’s. Hollywood producers and | | | | writer need not be a member of any union to get |
| development executives work full time to create or | | | | protection for their writing. The Creators Vault is an |
| find those new concepts to sell to TV networks, and | | | | online archive where writers may receive electronic |
| more and more are using the Internet to source new | | | | proof of creation for their projects. The Writers Guild |
| material. | | | | of America also provides a registry service to writers |
| The Television Writers Vault is a valuable tool being | | | | online. |
| used by producers scouting new projects, and for | | | | When finally offered an option deal by a |
| writers (aspiring or professional) to market their | | | | producer who wants to buy your project, you’ll |
| concepts and scripts direct to the television industry. | | | | then want to seek the counsel of an entertainment |
| Writers can find professional advice on formulating | | | | attorney to help negotiate the specific terms of any |
| concepts for today's thriving and competitive | | | | agreement. Most often, the writer is paid token monies |
| programming world, as well as understand the | | | | upfront for the company to have exclusive right to sell |
| inner-workings of the television industry to streamline | | | | and produce the project with any network or third |
| projects in the most positive direction. | | | | party buyer. Once a project reaches production, the |
| If you think being an outsider from Hollywood makes it | | | | writer receives the negotiated purchase price |
| impossible, I know first hand that’s not true. In | | | | (usually a much larger sum than the option monies), |
| my first year as a development executive at Merv | | | | and will receive a small percentage of participation in |
| Griffin Entertainment, I brought in a concept created by | | | | the fees received by the production company for |
| a journalist in Florida. The idea was written up in a | | | | producing the show. |
| two-page outline, and explored the simple idea; How | | | | Keep inspired. Look at your life and the world around |
| far will an ordinary person go to help a stranger in | | | | you to find fresh and compelling stories and subjects. If |
| need? The idea could have also been pitched as | | | | you roll up your sleeves and dedicate yourself to the |
| Pay It Forward meets Candid Camera. Our | | | | work necessary, you just might sell the next |
| producers immediately saw the potential for comedy | | | | groundbreaking idea for a show to Hollywood. |