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TimeSteps Productions, Inc.
Content Creators, Consultants, & Producers
Partners Marilyn Petrokubi and Rob Lieberman create marketing and branding initiatives for corporations, non-profits & agencies. Video, Web and Print |
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Tips for Reality Show Producers
Got a great idea for a reality show? Whether it's the next Miami Ink, Project Runway, or Celebrity Apprentice, you can increase the odds of your success with the following steps:
1. Make sure you have access to the stars and that they are interested and willing to participate That includes celebrities, professionals, and families. A letter stating their interest is a good start.
2. Write an overview 1 page in length and a treatment 1-5 pages in length. Isolate what the show is about and the target audience. Don't presume you know how many episodes in a series or exactly how the show will be constructed. Each network has its own style, aesthetic and programming needs, so be flexible.
3. Find a show runner or producer to partner with - one who has network contacts. Networks generally have a stable of various suppliers they trust. A partnership with a key person or company can be much more efficient than throwing darts yourself.
4. Wait. Let your show runner or producer test the waters with your idea, seeing if the networks have any interest at all. If not, nothing lost. Find another idea.
5. Make a demo. Once you hear there may be some interest, develop a demo - a little pilot of your show with the main characters "doing their thing," approximately 10 minutes in length. For unscripted television, this is an essential step to illustrate your series.
6. Negotiate your deal. Create a letter of agreement detailing your involvement with the show runner or production company - spell out your involvement, your fees and credits accordingly.
7. Wait Some More. Armed with the demo reel and the treatment, your team will begin the marketing process. It usually takes some time. If you get a green light congratulations! Then get ready for the real work - budgeting, story lines and production. |
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Technology, Production & Shrinking Budgets
The down economy has taken its toll on all pricing. Competitive bids are the order of the day. This, of course, includes media efforts. In most cases, our clients' budget limitations will dictate the parameters of what can or can not be accomplished. But happily, there are still cases where a vision drives the budget and not vice versa.
Sometimes the design of the project will hold the key to getting a particular message across, despite downward pressures on the budget. Questions like how many days of shooting, graphic objectives, actors vs. real people, all can impact a budget significantly. Additionally, as technology itself becomes cheaper and more accessible, costs can be lowered without sacrificing the message.
Using P2 cards and FTP posting for offline approvals can save tape costs, output costs, and shipping without affecting what's on the screen at all. However, there is still a world of difference between the HD camera in an iPhone and a Red camera in terms of capturing your image. And while there are exceptions, no broadcast quality project should be shot with a pro-sumer camera. You need to choose the right tool that best serves your project's needs. Anyone saying there is just one good camera for you is just looking towards making their latest lease payment.
The same is true when it comes to finishing your end product. Yes, you can declare you're "done" on a laptop with Final Cut and save money, or you can finish in a professionally equipped edit room with monitors for color correction and a true sound mixing environment. It all depends on your project's needs, final distribution platform, and if you're budget will allow it.
The bottom line: nothing beats a good idea. Finding options, having flexibility, and making smart choices are the best way to realize that idea. Making it all work is part of the process and part of the fun. |
| Word-of-Mouth Campaigns
When it comes to boosting brand awareness, our clients are finding that social media is gaining recognition as a catalyst for enhancing traditional marketing campaigns. And one aspect of social media - the word-of-mouth campaign - is a powerful way to bring a surge of attention toward a brand, taking social media one step closer to becoming fully integrated into every 360 degree campaign.
Word-of-Mouth? By definition it's the private exchange of marketing-relevant information between customers. It's people talking to people, in person and online, resulting in exponential growth for the message whether positive or negative. Agencies have pools of potential brand ambassadors that are ready to distribute samples and surveys. They will talk about your product to friends and family in person and online in blogs and product review sites
The theory is that recommendations from family members, friends and colleagues have high credibility and in the end affect consumers' buying decisions. So by adding the word-of-mouth element to the traditional TV/print/in-store marketing campaign and making a big "noise" about the brand using social media, you can draw attention to your product and increase sales.
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From the Library of Marilyn Petrokubi
I've been in the public library enough to start recognizing certain character types.
There are, of course, the noisy teens who can't talk loudly enough, the old curmudeons who check their stock portfolios daily, but don't seem to have a computer at home.
There are the ladies who devour the romance novels, and then there's the boy who plays the same video game - every day for hours and hours. He talks to no one, and no one talks to him.
But had you asked, as I did recently, you would have found out that his mother committed suicide last year and his father takes the train home late from the city. He admits he has no friends, and he doesn't much care.
It reminds me of the book I just finished called The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordano. It's a compelling story of a young man and woman whose "damaged" natures draw them together over the years and inevitably pull them apart due to their inability to get close to each other. They, like the boy in the library, suffered cataclysmic events at a young age and live in isolation. It's a haunting book. Check it out for some real insight into human nature. |
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