Reality show legal/financial considerations

[Ulysses27]

Hey everyone,

My question(s):
if I have everything planned and permissions setup and then approach an established production company about doing the post and using their connections to sell a series (could be half or one hour programs) how should I handle it and what expectations should I have? I would like to partner my LLC with their company, but would like to retain certain rights to footage I shoot and want to make sure I get an appropriate amount of any sale price.

Can anyone give a ballpark figure for what a network like Discovery will pay for a season of half hour or one hour episodes? What did "Deadliest Catch" sell their first season for?

I'm sure I should have a NDA ready before we talk. Anyone know were I can find an production company to company agreement? Am I going to have to hire a lawyer? I have a telephone consult with an entertainment lawyer on Monday.

My LLC is basically broke. But I could potentially find money to bring to the table so they feel we're taking a risk together.

The details:

I have a solid idea for a reality based program (I prefer to say documentary series), to be shot in the NW. I think they lack the ability to make this show without me and my particular skillset.

I have created an LLC and have started gathering permissions to film people and locations. I will be the principal shooter, though it's possible that we'll have more than one crew working. It requires people to have specialized skills to even be working in the types of environment we'll encounter. In other words it's potentially dangerous work. But I have a lot of experience with these types of situations.

I'm not sure if I can get an exclusivity contract with the entity that controls the locations, but I can approach the production company with permissions in place and a production schedule ready to be implemented and I would be the ideal field producer and chief cinematographer. I just don't have a team of editors or the connections to make the sale. I do have episode ideas written up and have a clear understanding of what kind of footage we'll be getting.

I could go on and on. In my neck of the woods there are very few mentors available, so some of the business aspects remain unknown to me.

Any words of advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Douglas Thigpen]

Making another fishing show? If so, fair warning, there are an abundant amount of them in production at the moment and I'm doubting very many will get picked up.

 

[grinner]

You'll just have a contract written stating you retain all rights, state their cominsation, role, ect. Your lawyer will draw this up, you'll approve then they will.
There is no ballpark figure on budget. It revolves around the pitch, the cost of your show and of course, how much they believe in it.

I'm confused though. You said you wanna team up with a production company then you listed all the things you don't have. If you don't have these things after teaming up with em, I see no reason to team.

My advice is go out and shoot it. Edit it. Get a sizzle reel in the can. If you need help from a production company to do that, so be it. Pay by the hour or by the day at this point. Then, based on what was put into and needs at that time, draw that contract up. Right now you are flying blind and that'll spook away all involved.

 

[Ulysses27]

Thanks for the replies.

Douglas: no it's not another fishing show. Ha. I'm not that naive. But thanks for the advice.

grinner: I agree with your thoughts. But I'm not sure why confused. I want to partner with a particular company so that they can fill in the gaps in what I do have. I have all the field production capability, access and permissions. I just don't want to have to pony up the time and money to do all the editing and I don't want to be a first time production company trying to sell a series. I'd rather have their clout backing it so I can concentrate on production rather than selling.

I was hoping someone would respond with some numbers. But I suppose these are really only know to the people who've made the deals.

My plan at the moment is to start filming and get an episode or two together with my own resources while at the same time working on the partnership aspect.

Any other thoughts would be appreciated.

Cheers.

 

[grinner]

well again, from those of us who have sold shows, there is no ballpark figure. It revolves around the negotiation.
I'd stand clear of using terms like "filming" when referring to shooting video though. This will only throw a red flag to the catchers of the pitch... or worse they may really think you are going to film it and run away in the name of budget.
If you want a ballpark figure paid per episode, it ranges from about 5k to about 5 million, again depending on the negotiation. That's a pretty big ball park.