Access to Discovery, HD Net, etc?
- Thread starter Brad Neal
- Start date
Jim Carswell
Well-known member
http://producers.discovery.com/ Will get you to all of Discovery's networks.
https://www.ngcideas.com/HowWeWork.aspx?Site=CO Will get you to NatGeo US and International
Your best bet however is to build relationships with the programmers at the various networks. If they don't know you... or don't know your work... there's a good chance your ideas will be passed over. Once they know you this becomes a moot point. Attend filim festivals where programmers will be on hand, attend Real Screen Summit where programmers from around the world are eager to hear ideas, make appointments with programmers to meet with them face to face at their HQ. Don't immediately pitch an idea. Let them get to know you, learn what their needs are. You may have great ideas, like we all have, but if your ideas don't fit within their programming mission of the moment than your idea will be passed over. Sculpt your ideas to fit the network. It may not be exactly what you set out to do...but at least you'll get the story on the air and money in your bank account.
Jim
https://www.ngcideas.com/HowWeWork.aspx?Site=CO Will get you to NatGeo US and International
Your best bet however is to build relationships with the programmers at the various networks. If they don't know you... or don't know your work... there's a good chance your ideas will be passed over. Once they know you this becomes a moot point. Attend filim festivals where programmers will be on hand, attend Real Screen Summit where programmers from around the world are eager to hear ideas, make appointments with programmers to meet with them face to face at their HQ. Don't immediately pitch an idea. Let them get to know you, learn what their needs are. You may have great ideas, like we all have, but if your ideas don't fit within their programming mission of the moment than your idea will be passed over. Sculpt your ideas to fit the network. It may not be exactly what you set out to do...but at least you'll get the story on the air and money in your bank account.
Jim
Brad: My experience has been that many of these people at the networks and cable companies have a backlog of professionals that they work with on a regular basis, producers that they can trust to deliver a show that meets their needs. That's not to say that a filmmaker with an "in" to a particular topic they are interested in won't be considered - it's just harder if you don't have an established relationship or "track record".
Although I've never cracked cable, my documentaries have aired most recently on PBS and the "big three", NBC, CBS and ABC, in the past (that's really difficult now, though, because they don't run independent docs like they used to).
However, I've never received up-front money for production - and. of course, no money at all - ever - from PBS. My partner & I have gone the tedious route of writing grant proposals, getting 20 "no" responses for every "yes", and coming to the programmer with a completed film.
In the case of PBS, this usually means hooking up with a affiliate with clout, like KQED in SF or WNET in NY, and having them be the "presenting station" and hoping they will fight for the national program schedule. You pay THEM (lots) for this, by the way.
Cable companies don't have this entry portal though. They do, however, usually have representatives that attend conferences for filmmakers, and it is sometimes possible to pigeonhole them there at the coffee table. (Remember, these same representatives probably have about a thousand written proposals, VHS tapes an DVDs sitting on their desk back at the office.) Join organizations like the Film Arts Foundation in SF or the International Documentary Association to get their magazines and read the listings for these conferences.
I'm not trying to be discouraging. This is what we all have to go through. It is the reality of broadcast in an environment where there are only so many free hours for outside contributors, and where, because of the recent video revolution there is so much available product.
If your proposed project is a hot topic (not just original, but something that touches issues in the daily headlines) doors will open more easily, especially if you have that "in" - that's the good news...
Although I've never cracked cable, my documentaries have aired most recently on PBS and the "big three", NBC, CBS and ABC, in the past (that's really difficult now, though, because they don't run independent docs like they used to).
However, I've never received up-front money for production - and. of course, no money at all - ever - from PBS. My partner & I have gone the tedious route of writing grant proposals, getting 20 "no" responses for every "yes", and coming to the programmer with a completed film.
In the case of PBS, this usually means hooking up with a affiliate with clout, like KQED in SF or WNET in NY, and having them be the "presenting station" and hoping they will fight for the national program schedule. You pay THEM (lots) for this, by the way.
Cable companies don't have this entry portal though. They do, however, usually have representatives that attend conferences for filmmakers, and it is sometimes possible to pigeonhole them there at the coffee table. (Remember, these same representatives probably have about a thousand written proposals, VHS tapes an DVDs sitting on their desk back at the office.) Join organizations like the Film Arts Foundation in SF or the International Documentary Association to get their magazines and read the listings for these conferences.
I'm not trying to be discouraging. This is what we all have to go through. It is the reality of broadcast in an environment where there are only so many free hours for outside contributors, and where, because of the recent video revolution there is so much available product.
If your proposed project is a hot topic (not just original, but something that touches issues in the daily headlines) doors will open more easily, especially if you have that "in" - that's the good news...
Thanks guys! And I don't find this discouraging at all. It's exactly the information that I am looking for.
I wasn't really expecting an open door to these guys, but I had no idea if it is even possible to pull off from a virtual unknown like myself.
Although I have done documentary work in the past, it's not been for the big guys.
Anyway, thank you very much for the honest input. Other comments are welcome as well.
-Brad
I wasn't really expecting an open door to these guys, but I had no idea if it is even possible to pull off from a virtual unknown like myself.
Although I have done documentary work in the past, it's not been for the big guys.
Anyway, thank you very much for the honest input. Other comments are welcome as well.
-Brad
Jim Carswell
Well-known member
davhud and Brad,
Glad to see you guys are fans of Savannah. It's a great place to live. I can't imagine there being a better place. And I do travel a lot and see a lot of places but nothing really compares...at least for me.
As far as the market is concerned...it's okay. Don't expect business to knock your door down...instead you have to be agressive if you want local business. You have to come up with creative ways of utilizing video and than convincing clients that they need it. I do some local work...but for the most part it's documentary work that takes me all over the world.
Guys, if you are ever down this way and need help, crew or gear...just give me a call or drop me an email.
Jim
Glad to see you guys are fans of Savannah. It's a great place to live. I can't imagine there being a better place. And I do travel a lot and see a lot of places but nothing really compares...at least for me.
As far as the market is concerned...it's okay. Don't expect business to knock your door down...instead you have to be agressive if you want local business. You have to come up with creative ways of utilizing video and than convincing clients that they need it. I do some local work...but for the most part it's documentary work that takes me all over the world.
Guys, if you are ever down this way and need help, crew or gear...just give me a call or drop me an email.
Jim