Podcasts about producing unscripted

Shalandra Champ is more than just one of our favorite cast members from Beauty and the Geek. She's a working mom, a fearless go-getter, and as of now…officially a “Beauty” turned “Geek!” Today she shares the truth about life after being a reality TV star, and so much more. Listen in on a spirited, intimate ... Read more The post Life After Reality TV with Shalandra Champ of Beauty and the Geek appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

TV Network Executives: the elite group that filmmakers and producers wish to meet, hope to pitch, and pray will fund their projects. For some, they seem to be mysterious, god-like figures who can make dreams come true. To others, they seem a closed-door group impossible to access. Today, Paul Croce is here to shed light ... Read more The post TV Network Executives – What You Need to Know from Paul Croce appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Producing documentaries sounds alluring or terrifying. It depends on where you're sitting. Today, we're sitting with Sundance fellow and TV producer Amanda Spain. Amanda is one of those rare people who's managed to bring her talents to both the doc and unscripted TV worlds. As a seasoned filmmaker and newly minted Sundance fellow, she has ... Read more The post Producing Documentaries with Sundance Fellow Amanda Spain appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Dana Golder is one of the biggest casting directors in reality TV. Just some of her credits include The Biggest Loser, The Amazing Race, and Cash Cab. We've been lucky enough to work with her on Beauty and the Geek, Scream Queens, Ghost Inside My Child, and Don't Trust Andrew Mayne. Today, Dana is giving ... Read more The post How to Cast Reality TV with Top Casting Director Dana Golder appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Mickey Ramos is not only a terrific, prolific TV producer who survived an attack by over 600 killer bees while filming Naked and Afraid. She's also the voice of Kenny's girlfriend on South Park (how cool!) Plus, she's dealt with some of the most difficult situations you can imagine in reality TV and documentary series. ... Read more The post Reality TV Stripped Naked with Mickey Ramos appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Happy 2017! Today, on episode 88 of Producing Unscripted we're helping you kick off the new year right. Trying to break into unscripted television, documentary series, true crime or reality TV? Here are three ways you can stand out from the crowd in 2017.   2017 – The Year You Separate Yourself From the Hollywood ... Read more The post 3 Ways Aspiring TV Producers Can Stand Out in 2017 appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

The Hollywood Notes Process: also known as “collaboration” to some and “notes hell” to others. Today, on episode 87 of Producing Unscripted we're thrilled to be joined by Troy DeVolld, TV Producer extraordinaire and best-selling author. His new book is about the notes process in Hollywood. Today he gives you incredible free advice on surviving ... Read more The post How To Survive The Hollywood Notes Process with Troy DeVolld appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Production hangovers? It's episode 86 of Producing Unscripted, and today we're being way too honest. Want truth? Production can burn you out! Doesn't matter how much you love your film or TV project. Doesn't matter how impressively it comes together. At the end of a project worthy of your passion, you will be fried. Production ... Read more The post Production Hangovers: How To Survive, Recharge, & Move On appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

It's episode 85 of Producing Unscripted, and today we're discussing a crucial skill that will help you in business…and life. Handling criticism. If Steven Spielberg, Mark Burnett, and Shonda Rhimes have to deal with criticism, you can bet the rest of us will, too. Here are six useful tips, along with real-world advice, to help ... Read more The post Handling Criticism in Hollywood: Your How-To Guide appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

It's episode 84 of Producing Unscripted, and today we're having a crucial discussion about the illusive “lucky break.” We're not just talking about finally catching your lucky break in Hollywood. We're also helping you stay sane and survive until you do. We'll help you explore the big picture along the way. Is this business right ... Read more The post Catching Your Lucky Break In Hollywood – A Spooky Discussion appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

In this episode, part 2 of Tools We Use to Make TV, we discuss our television post-production workflow. We've spent many years building a post workflow that can help us deliver any kind of TV or film project our company takes on. Today, we're giving it all away to you. Take these tricks, tips, and ... Read more The post Television Post-Production: Tips You Can Steal! appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

You asked, we answered. These are the tools we use to make television. Many are free or inexpensive. All have free or less expensive alternatives. The post Tools We Use To Make TV Shows appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Do you develop ideas wisely? You already know (from many episodes here at Producing Unscripted) how we feel about ideas. TV show and movie ideas, in and of themselves, are not worth much. It's how you package up those ideas that makes the difference. But how do you decide which initial ideas to build out ... Read more The post Develop Ideas Wisely: Your How-To Guide appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

It's episode 80 of Producing Unscripted, and today we're answering your reality tv questions. How to stay creatively motivated? Should you work with a distributor? What concerns change as you earn more success? What's the best way for a new producer to sell a show? This and more…all thanks to YOUR questions.   Reality TV ... Read more The post Reality TV Questions Answered appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Filming real people is crucial to making unscripted entertainment. It's also very delicate. It takes trust, respect, forethought, communication, and silly arguments with lawyers. Here are five factors you must consider when filming real people. Don't roll one second of footage without really thinking these through.   Filming Real People While Earning Their Trust When ... Read more The post Filming Real People: 5 Crucial Factors appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Today's episode about pitch tape budgets may be the most serious we've ever recorded. It includes important tips for anyone who wants to pitch TV shows, but also a warning. We've received a cluster of emails in past weeks reporting something that concerns us. Some companies are asking aspiring producers to fork over thousands of ... Read more The post Pitch Tape Budgets – Warning: Avoid Traps & Scams appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Your first time on set? Your 1000th? No matter how many times you've worked a film or TV set, it's important to remember setiquette. That's a fun way of saying “on set etiquette.” The little things that you have no way of knowing if you're brand new to Hollywood, or that veterans might forget when ... Read more The post Setiquette: Be a Pro on Any Film or TV Set appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Creative control. It's something most artists strive for — even demand. At the same time, in the entertainment industry, there are a lot of entities entitled to shape the creative of a TV show or movie. So how much control can you really keep over your projects?   Creative Control: Can You Control Your Creative? ... Read more The post Who Gets Creative Control in Hollywood? appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Sure, we've made a lot of television. Yes, we've had a few (small) films in theaters. But there's always more to learn. And when it comes to pure, unadulterated, guerrilla filmmaking awesomeness, there's no one better to learn from, more helpful, or just plain cool than Stu Maschwitz. Affectionately known to legions of Twitter fans ... Read more The post How Stu Maschwitz Can Help You Make Film, TV, Or Anything Else appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

You're dreaming of working in the entertainment industry. But you have doubts. Are you too young? Too old? Live too far away? You can come up with a million potential stumbling blocks to your career. But is there a reason that you — you personally — can't make it in Hollywood? Well, believe it or ... Read more The post Can Anyone Break Into Hollywood? appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

A production company (maybe ours) wants to team up with you on your reality TV concept. The idea of “shopping agreements” comes up. But what does that mean? How long should you agree to let someone pitch your idea? What will that process be like? Let us answer all these questions…and more. If you have ... Read more The post Shopping Agreements for Reality TV Concepts appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

It is a truism of reality TV. There's no better way to sell a show than to produce a great pitch video. Most pitch reels are low-budget. But, even if you have no money there's one thing you can do to make sure your tape stands out. In fact, we used this secret to sell ... Read more The post Sizzle Reel Secret: How We Sell TV Shows appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

We just came off of an exhilarating – and exhausting – weekend shooting a cable network pilot for a huge, formatted TV show. In our sleep-deprived, semi-delirious state, it occurred to us this is the perfect time to discuss something we're asked about often: making TV pilots. Rather than just blathering on (we did mention ... Read more The post Making TV Pilots: 5 Practical Tips You Can Use appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

It's episode 70, and we're sharing 7 Must-Know Tips for Pitching Reality TV. These are hand-picked to help you avoid the mistakes we see new producers make over and over again. Whether you're pitching to us or anyone else, by using these 7 tips you'll look like a pro and drastically increase your chances of ... Read more The post 7 Must-Know Tips for Pitching Reality TV appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

“Remember, pressure is a privilege.” It was some of most mysterious — and meaningful — advice we've ever received. Today, we explain why this nugget of knowledge will keep you sane, drive you to new heights, and sleep better at night. Sometimes.   Pressure is a Privilege   Many businesses are chock full of pressure, ... Read more The post Pressure is a Privilege. Here's Why… appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

TV versus YouTube – it's something that comes up in discussions with aspiring producers on a daily basis. Why do some shows work better on YouTube than TV? Is TV always better than YouTube? What are the pros and cons of each? Today we're going to tell you exactly why you may want one platform ... Read more The post TV Versus YouTube – Where Does Your Show Belong? appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Happy 2016! Today's episode is all about new beginnings — in fact, it's a big picture guide to making film and TV as seen from the point of view of new starts. We've made over 100 hours of TV and film. Every second of those final projects exists because we've embraced…the art of starting.   ... Read more The post Art of Starting: Your Big Picture Guide to Making Film & TV appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

As 2015 ends and 2016 dawns, we couldn't be more excited for aspiring filmmakers and producers everywhere. Here are three things we think deliver amazing news for all budding media artists in the new year. The post 3 Cheerful Filmmaking Facts for 2016 appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

As you already know from reading our in-depth guide on creating and pitching reality shows, there is no better way to quickly break into the business than building your show around a great, real life character. But when you're putting together very basic casting tapes to test whether or not someone might be great TV, ... Read more The post Casting Tapes: Show, Tell, or Both? appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Casting Agreements for reality TV and unscripted television — what are they, and do you need one? Do you need casting agreements for all reality TV projects, or just some? Will they cost you money? Should you get a lawyer? Could not getting those casting agreements come back to bite you? The answers are not ... Read more The post Casting Agreements for Reality TV: What-When-Why-How? appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

If you want to work in unscripted television, reality TV — or the entertainment business in general — there are two well-worn paths that lead to success. Which one is right for you? Today we reveal pros and cons on each, and share which one worked for us.   Known Path versus Your Path   ... Read more The post 2 Paths to Hollywood Success appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Pitching reality TV, documentary series, or unscripted television? After receiving hundreds of pitches, these are the top 3 mistakes people make. Not you! The post Top 3 Pitch Mistakes You're Making Today appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Nothing can make your production seem more professional — or more amateurish — than the quality of your sound. Today, audio pro Brett Ulery shares tips and secrets to help you get pro sound on any budget (and we share the $32 audio secret that shaped our careers.)   Sound Is More Important Than Picture ... Read more The post Get Great Audio For Your Unscripted Project On Any Budget appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

People ask us all the time how we edit our TV shows. Until recently, it was a complicated, rambling answer filled with a mish-mosh of pseudo best practices. Not anymore. We've just taken our entire company in a brand new direction. We're now making TV with Adobe Premiere and the Creative Cloud suite, and the ... Read more The post Making TV With Adobe Premiere appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Reenactments in documentary, film, and TV projects give visual life to past events. They do so by re-creating those moments in a cinematic way. You've seen them in groundbreaking films like The Thin Blue Line by Errol Morris, HBO's recent The Jinx, every crime show on Discovery ID, and in our own upcoming series, Snapped: ... Read more The post Cinematic Storytelling with Reenactments appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Snapped: She Made Me Do It is our new TV series coming to Oxygen. Today, we tell you, step by step, how we went from idea to green-lit TV series. The post How We Sold Our New TV Show: Step by Step appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Do you need an entertainment attorney? Are you sure? How much will an entertainment attorney charge you? And when choosing an entertainment attorney, how can you be sure you're picking the right one?   Choosing An Entertainment Attorney Who's Right For You…   Choosing an entertainment attorney can seem daunting. It can cost a ton ... Read more The post Choosing An Entertainment Attorney appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Should you shoot your own TV pilot? It's not a simple yes or no question…but there are some simple guidelines to help you decide what your next move should be. Whether you're just starting out, or negotiating your next reality TV series, we give you the scoop (plus, some candidly honest stories from our most ... Read more The post Should You Film Your Own TV Pilot? Pros & Cons appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Is there any such thing as a dumb question? YES. Use these three secrets to always know when, where, and how to ask questions without driving professionals up the wall. Asking questions in Hollywood is an art. Here's how to do it without wasting time and looking clueless!   There Are Stupid Questions (And Stupid ... Read more The post 3 Secrets: Asking Questions In Hollywood (Without Sounding Stupid) appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

There's one thing we do on every piece of tape we ever edit — whether it's a full-blown television episode, or a brand new pitch tape. And it's never let us down… Get Your Beginning Right   Just some of what we cover today: How much time we spend on beginnings versus the rest of ... Read more The post Pro Tip: Awesome Beginnings appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Here's a HUGE mistake aspiring producers make when pitching what they think are viable TV series: they pitch profile pieces instead. It's something we've seen a rash of in the past few months, and we want to help you avoid this mistake immediately. Not kidding — we just passed on at least 40 or 50 ... Read more The post Pitch TV Series NOT Profile Pieces appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

You've seen The Jinx on HBO. Enjoyed great crime recreation shows on Discovery ID. Laughed out loud at Drunk History on Comedy Central. Maybe even gasped at TLC's Sex Sent Me to the ER. These are great, cinematic recreation shows. Today, we're going to tell you how to create and pitch re-creation shows of your ... Read more The post 3 Steps: Pitch Cinematic Re-Creation TV Shows appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

When you start talking to a network, studio, or even a production company, one piece of creative material becomes crucial… your style guide. But what is a style guide? What goes in it? And why do politics and psychology play a huge role in how you put it together? Today, we'll answer all those questions, ... Read more The post Style Guides for Reality TV: A How To appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

It's episode 50! 50 episodes? We can hardly believe it ourselves. Thanks to all of you who've tuned in, written to us, sent in submissions, and encouraged us to get this far. Today, to celebrate, we turned the content over to you. We're answering questions directly from listeners. We bet at least one of these ... Read more The post Selling Reality TV: Your Questions Answered. appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Bueller…Bueller…? This episode is more of a “love you and we're thinking about you” message than a full podcast, although there is at least one piece of exciting news revealed… We're Freaking Sick Not like “oh, they're so cool they're sick” — just sick. Turns out when your kids catch colds at school, they bring ... Read more The post The Bueller Podcast appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Hollywood is a numbers game. And it will drive you crazy. Today's episode is about far more than simply selling a lot of projects. It's about keeping your sanity and your happiness while pursuing a dream. Whether you're pitching a reality TV show, writing screenplays, selling yourself as a director, or trying to work in ... Read more The post 3 Steps to Win the Hollywood Numbers Game appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

In past we've encouraged you to “soft pitch” ideas. Unfortunately, we've never actually told you how to do that. The result is that many of you are sending in submissions that are not soft pitches at all. Instead, they are broad ideas that hurt your chances of success. That ends today. You're about to learn ... Read more The post Soft Pitch Blueprint: Beyond Ideas for Reality TV Pitch Success appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Hollywood Pitch Meetings can go horribly wrong -- usually at the exact same spot. Here's a pro tip to ensure you rock your Hollywood pitch meetings. The post Hollywood Pitch Meetings: Pro Tip For Success appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Your reality TV pitch can be derailed early on by one giant POV mistake...here's how to shift your POV and skyrocket your odds of pitch success. The post Pitch Secret: Shift Your POV for Pitch Success appeared first on Producing Unscripted.

Happy 2015! To kick off a great year, we wanted to start out with five traits you can actively develop to become a better film or TV producer. And it's all brought to you today by the letter “L.” Today…The Letter “L” We've made a lot of TV, some film, and worked with many, many ... Read more The post 5 Traits of Successful Film & TV Producers (And the Letter “L”) appeared first on Producing Unscripted.