I worked in Reality TV & have no fucking clue how some of the crap I worked got taken to series, much less survived for multiple seasons…
Reality TV is pretty cheap compared to traditional scripted TV, right? I'm guessing it's like buying a scratch-off at the gas station to some of these networks - just giving it a shot with the hope that'll be the next 90 Day Fiance or whatever but no big loss if it isn't.
Thanks for the context on the earlier comment. I was ignorantly assuming that was a bigger jump than it is!
Exactly. Networks sign development deals with smaller production companies. The companies will produce a series of mixed pitches including sizzle reels & pilots, which the network will consider for further development.
The companies will have some discretion as to what projects they sink the initial development money into, front-loading content they think is more likely to impress the network.
But it’s all, relatively speaking, cheaper to make than scripted.
Reality TV is pretty cheap compared to traditional scripted TV, right? I'm guessing it's like buying a scratch-off at the gas station to some of these networks - just giving it a shot with the hope that'll be the next 90 Day Fiance or whatever but no big loss if it isn't.
Thanks for the context on the earlier comment. I was ignorantly assuming that was a bigger jump than it is!
Exactly. Networks sign development deals with smaller production companies. The companies will produce a series of mixed pitches including sizzle reels & pilots, which the network will consider for further development.
The companies will have some discretion as to what projects they sink the initial development money into, front-loading content they think is more likely to impress the network.
But it’s all, relatively speaking, cheaper to make than scripted.