Getting a documentary broadcasted

cecil995

cecil995

Well-known member
Ok,

I have searched all over the place, including this forum, and I have yet to find any answers I am looking for, so I will ask the question now.

I have a potential client that is interested filming a documentary and she is asking me what steps need to be taken to get the film to air on television (pbs or rfdtv). I am new to the "getting things on air" world, so I have no clue how this works. Is the standard proceedure to make the film and then shop it around, or is an agreement usually reached in pre-production?

Personally, I think that she is getting in over her head and I am looking for some good resources to bring her back down to earth, but I would also like to know things for myself, because I think that I might be going down the doc road sometime in the future.

Thanks!
 
cecil995 said:
Ok,

I have searched all over the place, including this forum, and I have yet to find any answers I am looking for, so I will ask the question now.

I have a potential client that is interested filming a documentary and she is asking me what steps need to be taken to get the film to air on television (pbs or rfdtv). I am new to the "getting things on air" world, so I have no clue how this works. Is the standard proceedure to make the film and then shop it around, or is an agreement usually reached in pre-production?

Personally, I think that she is getting in over her head and I am looking for some good resources to bring her back down to earth, but I would also like to know things for myself, because I think that I might be going down the doc road sometime in the future.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Take a look at this PBS website on producing for them and submitting program proposals.

http://www.pbs.org/producers/
 
you will save yourself alot of valuable time of you get an agent to picth this around for you. It's almost impossible to cold call your way into having your show put on the air.
 
I know this is an old thread - but this book is very informative about the whole submission / funding process of pitching a film for broadcast - have your friend check it out -

Trailer Mechanics
 
I have gotten a documentary aired on my local PBS station just by pitching it to the local program director. It wasn't aired nationally, but it did play on 5 pbs stations that his station was responsible for. Don't be shy about calling and asking.
 
Here's an online place you can air your documentary. I believe it was started by the folks at VH1 (don't quote me on that though) but I have watched a bunch of doc's and music videos, etc on there.

www.current.tv

Once you sign up (free) you can upload your doc!
 
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