So You Want To Sell A TV Show?

One of the most common things I hear from both aspiring and established filmmakers is that they want to sell their unscripted TV idea to a streaming platform.

But they have 2 major obstacles:

"Where do I start? 

"How does it work?" 

I've had hundreds of consulting calls and conversations with creators, directors, producers, and filmmakers of all levels.

And across the board, where to start is the hardest part for almost everyone.

So before we dive into how this all works, you need to know where to start. 

I'm going to share three critical pieces of information I learned that will help you start your first unscripted film & TV idea and increase your odds of success.

Even if you've already started your idea, you may have missed some of these important points. 

The Three Secrets That Sold My Unscripted TV Show

1. Access

I created my first unscripted TV show Surf Girls Hawai'i as the first women’s sports documentary on Prime Video.

The main components that got it green-lit and across the finish line?

• Access to athletes & their stories
• Access to the surf world
• Access to the sports league

My personal relationships with the main cast allowed us to develop, pitch, produce, shoot, and edit the show seamlessly.

These relationships spanned across the sport, including with other athletes and leaders in the surf industry. 

The league relationship was a major selling point for potential buyers.

Without the above relationships, there wouldn’t be a show.

While you develop your idea, ask yourself what subjects, worlds, subcultures, and niches you already have access to. If you don’t have any, what time and effort are you willing to put in to make those connections and build those relationships?

2. Pitch Deck

You will need professional, written creative materials with a vision versus a half-baked idea.

This one seems obvious, but it's the area where I see the most mistakes made.

It's not just about having a pitch deck, it's about how you're writing it.

The most common mistakes I see:

• Too long and wordy
• Over-embellished
• Unnecessary pages with no purpose 

The solution?

Keep it simple.

If you can explain your idea effectively on one page, you're on the right track.

If you can get your point across with as little explanation as possible, you're golden. 

3. Sizzle Reel 

Creating a sizzle reel can feel intimidating.

And shooting and editing one can take a lot of time, sometimes requiring thousands of dollars of investment.

Surf Girls Hawai'i sold with a pitch deck and sizzle reel, but I had additional funding and resources from my production partners to further develop those materials.

So what if you don't have the partners, money, or resources yet?

I have some good news for you. 

I'm currently developing my next unscripted TV show in the women's sports space, and I landed an A-list celebrity attachment and reputable production partner without a sizzle reel.

How? 

Zoom interviews and existing footage.

I edited together a sizzle reel with a combination of the following:

• Recorded Zoom interviews with my main cast
• Archival footage showcasing the world of their sport 
• iPhone & social media clips showcasing the athletes' personalities within their competitive sport and in their personal lives

Don't be afraid to think outside of the box.

It's not about the production value of your sizzle reel, it's about experiencing how your cast and story feel on camera.

Action Steps & Summary

Here's how you can get started on your unscripted TV idea today:

1. Identify what access you have. List out every possibility you can think of.
2. Create a compelling, yet concise pitch deck.
3. Edit a sizzle reel, or any relevant footage you have that paints the world and your main cast.

In my experience, starting with these steps will put you in the right direction and increase your chances of getting in rooms.