Factual Television Producing: A Hands On Approach From Concept to Delivery

Cover
Half Title
Title
Copyright
Contents
Introduction
Chapter One – Breaking In and Getting Started
Why We Create Factual Television
The First Rule Is There Are No Rules
There’s No One Way to Do Anything
Always Be Creating Content
Don’t Settle for No
Nobody Is an Overnight Sensation
Fast-Tracking Your Knowledge
Creativity and the Process
A Dearth of Content
The Evolution of Nonfiction Programming
A Multitude of Platforms
Two Factual Routes
Inside the Industry With Matt Taylor, The Walt Disney Company
Chapter Two – The Eight Factual Steps
Love the Process
Chapter Three – Idea Creation
Ideas Are Everywhere . . .
Don’t Self-Reject
An Eye Toward Accessibility
One-Offs versus Mini-Series versus Series
Ideas Are Everywhere, Talent Is Not
Access Docs
Inside the Industry with Winona Meringolo, Investigation Discovery
Chapter Four – Crafting a Presentation
Presentation Materials
It All Starts With the Pen
Creating a Treatment
Don’t Self-Limit
What Goes in a Treatment?
Brevity Is Its Own Reward
Crafting a Deck
Cutting a Sizzle Reel
Importance of Titles
Inside the Industry With Michael Welsh, Executive Producer
Chapter Five – Pitching Your Idea
So What Is a Pitch?
The Gift of Conversation
The Right Person to Pitch
A Fragmented Playing Field
Development Discussions
Do I Need an Agent?
Successfully Making the Pitch
Whiffing a Pitch
The Follow-Up
The Sting of Rejection
Power of a Deadline
The Middle Ground – A Development Deal
Win, Lose, Next
Inside the Industry with Babette Perry, Innovative Artists
Chapter Six – Selling Your Idea
Budgeting
Good, Cheap, Fast
Creativity With Numbers
Two Ways to Budget
Crafting a Preliminary Schedule
Budget Assumptions
Building Your Budget
Networks Crunch Numbers Differently
Right Tool for the Right Job
Put the $ Into the Show
Inside the Industry With Marjolaine Souquet, National Geographic Channel
Negotiating the Deal
Price and Terms
A Fair Price for a Fair Project
Types of Deals
Full Commission
Co-production
Acquisitions and Pre-sales
Top-Off Funding
Deficit Financing
Sponsored Programs
Other Types of Funding
Streaming Services
Intellectual Property
Inside the Industry With Adam Jacobs, Quintus Studios
Distributors
Finding a Distributor
What to Look for in a Distributor
Inside the Industry With Roger Vanderspikken, Fred Distribution
Inside the Industry With Ludo Dofour, Blue Ant International
Closing the Deal
Tenacity
Ethics
Be Clear and Constructive
Etiquette
Chapter Seven – Pre-Production
Every Minute Counts
Engaging With the Network
The Executive Producer
The Production Manager
The Unit Manager
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Kickoff Call
Protect Your EP’s Interest
The Big Boss
Inside the Industry With Dan Korn, A+E Networks UK
Turning Pitches Into Reality
Building a Shooting Outline
Shooting Schedules
Getting Subjects to Agree
You Have What They Want
Persuasive and Professional Emails
The Follow-Up Chat
Shooting Binder versus Shooting Bible
Finding Great Crew
Retaining Great Crew
Landing a Dream Crew at a Budget-Friendly Rate
Tightening Budgets
Prepping for the Shoot
Insurance
Picking Your Kit
Owning Gear versus Renting It
Gear Checklists
What Is a Carnet?
Passport Check
Equipment Shipping
Choosing the Right Airline
Kindness
Inside the Industry With John Hart, MFE Insurance
Chapter Eight – Field-Production
Great Shoots Need Great Leaders
The Crew Pyramid
Importance of A+ Travelers
Upgrade Your Crew
Crew Buy-In
Per Diem and Meals
Crew Conflict
The Power of Delegation
Jettison Bad Apples
Another Country, Another Job
Shot Lists
Technical Specs Are Boring
Get Some Rest
Inside the Industry With Stephen Harrison, Director of Photography
Principal Photography
Filming Locations
How to Interview
When to Break the Rules
Kill Them With Kindness
Indecision Is an Assassin
Always Stay Curious
Staying Out of Harm’s Way
Focus on the Important Stuff
Sharing Bad News
Production Proverbs
Getting a Jump on Post
Post-Shoot TRT Outline
Milestones and Cost Reporting
Inside the Industry With Robert Angelo, Executive Producer
Chapter Nine – The Post-Production Process
Scripting
The Broadcast Clock
Writing Voice-over Narration
Scripting to Time
The Frankenbite
Paper Edit Reviews
Editing
Editors Are Rockstars
Choosing the Correct NLE
Finding Great Editors
Post-Production Playbook
The Importance of Systems
The Power of Checklists
Creating Selects Reels
Timeline Layout
Editing to a Broadcast Clock
Finding Amazing Collaborators
Archival and Stock Footage
Staying on Schedule
Inside the Industry With Jacinda Davis, Executive Producer
Types of Edits
The Assembly Edit
The Rough Cut
The Fine Cut
Picture Lock
Uploading Cuts and Review Tools
Inside the Industry With Terren Lin, Founding Partner at Snacktime Creative
Chapter Ten – Delivery and Exhibition
The Annotated Script
Final Narration Record
Audio Mixing
Color Correction and Mastering
The Network QC
Inside the Industry With Tom Maydeck, Sound Mixer C.A.S.
The Final Legal Binder
Releases
Acquired Material Logs
Graphics Log and Contract
Appearance Releases and Log
Talent Agreements
Voice-over Agreement
Music Cue Sheets and Contract
End Credits
Airdates
Chapter Eleven – Forging a Factual Career
Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable
Selling the Next One
Figure Out Your Superpower
Art of Self-Promotion
Circle of Competence
Prepare to Pivot
The Measure of Success
The Business of Business
Reels, Revenues, and Relationships
Keep a Balanced Outlook
Loving the Life
Importance of Mentors
Specialized Factual
Appreciating the Wins
What I’d Do Differently
Go Tell Your Story!
Chapter Twelve – Appendix
Index