So I want to start a show...now what?

[malcolmlo]

Who do I contact? My show would be brilliant.

My question is, if i create a pilot: how do I pitch it without risking getting my idea stolen? How does this process work?

[masherscf]

Tell me your idea. I promise I won't steal it.

Maybe producing a pilot would be a good idea. You're gonna have to trust people enough to get them involved.

[malcolmlo]

Originally Posted by masherscf

Tell me your idea. I promise I won't steal it.

Maybe producing a pilot would be a good idea. You're gonna have to trust people enough to get them involved.

Fair enough.

Right now it comes down to: 1) do I produce it on my own, requiring singificantly more work and effort or 2) do it in conjunction with a company like revision 3 where I potentially have access to funding, researchers, equipment and most of all experience.

[nextgenxbox]

Do it on your own. It's a podcast, you don't need much money... just get a camcorder and a tape. Shoot it, transfer it to PC, edit it, compress it for the web, set up a site and advertise.

Just get out there and do it! If your show is good enough then people will notice, people including sponsors.

[skyz]

Originally Posted by malcolmlo

Who do I contact? My show would be brilliant.

My question is, if i create a pilot: how do I pitch it without risking getting my idea stolen? How does this process work?

well ideally you would create a demo and get a non disclosure agreement signed and notarized before exposing your 'idea'

but if you are a new player wanting to get a shot at big players it is hard to get a non disclosure agreement

oh btw use the word plan or project never idea ~ you cannot copyright an idea but you can copyright a specific plan

a lawyer gave me this avenue ~ i have a plan to pitch ~ you can write out your whole plan as detailed as possible and copyright it as a literary work ~ if it is specific enough and detailed enough you have essentially copyrighted your idea to at least some degree

copyright the demo too ~ that you can do ~ copyright is cheap and a copy goes into the library of congress which is kinda cool

if you can afford it i would get an intellectual property lawyer involved or an entertainment lawyer

if you think it can be major then you need to invest in a lawyer

if you don't have the means for a good intellectual property or entertainment lawyer i would visit the best closest university law school and see if you can find some brilliant student who may take it on as a project or you might be able to trade geek skills for legal acumen

[skyz]

Originally Posted by malcolmlo

Fair enough.

Right now it comes down to: 1) do I produce it on my own, requiring singificantly more work and effort or 2) do it in conjunction with a company like revision 3 where I potentially have access to funding, researchers, equipment and most of all experience.

well think of it this way ~ what would be in it for revision 3 ~ not saying your idea is not brilliant but they have any number of people that would like to have access to what they have ~ if it is truly brilliant you could find someone that say revision 3 knows and/or works with that thinks your plan is brilliant and get them to say 'you might want to give this guy a look'

i have a song that is perfect for whitney houston but record companies do not take unsolicited material nor am i giving it away ~ so i first have to gain credibility so someone will mention it to someone who can get through ~ networking ~ or as suggested do it yourself and put it on the net and if it is great someone worthwhile will see something in it for them

i have a friend a producer who says 'i can put you in front of people' but i better be ready and i better be good or that door is closed forever

the other thing is this ~ you might have to sacrifice in order to get it out there and you might not get as much as you might deserve out of it BUT if it is good and you are at least credited with the project THEN you can get paid what you are worth on your following projects

my friend is now editing hd footage on a pilot for broadcast tv about scuba diving with music underwater filming his idea err plan ~ it took a year and he knows people going way back

i would absolutely love to pitch my plan to bill gates /google one on one under non dis closure but why should he/they give me the time of day ~ not saying it could never happen but he/they have to have reason to want to bother with me and my plan

if you can present what is in it for them you have a way better chance than if all you see is what is in it for you

and my plan is pure genius too