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TV Writers Vault Newsletter
- June 2006
Greetings
!
It's been an active month
for the TV Writers Vault,
and I'm very pleased with
the amount of activity our
writer's projects have received.
Multiple writers have made
new contact with producers
interested in their projects,
and many more receiving direct
review of their concepts and
scripts.
We're also excited to bring
you an exclusive interview
with Producer/Manager Andrew
Lear, giving us some terrific
insight into the development
process.
In the coming months we'll
be launching the Creator's
Registry, which will serve
as an archive for time-stamped
proof of creation for your
projects... a measure of protection
critical to any original script
or concept put to market.
This, combined with the electronic
proof of review provided by
our marketing service will
work to enforce our philosophy
of Protection and Promotion.
Have a terrific month, and
write inspired!
Scott Manville
Producer Andrew Lear Sits
Down With TVWV
Andrew Lear - Talent Manger/Producer
- The Core
The
Television Writers Vault
is thrilled to
have producer/manager Andrew
Lear of THE CORE sit down
with our own Scott Manville
to share his perspective on
the industry and development
process as a whole.
Lear is one of today's young
executive talents who will
be responsible for bringing
the programming of tomorrow
to fruition. His passion and
talent is matched only by
his glowing reputation in
the industry as someone people
want to work with, and are
proud to know.
We welcome him in our first
of a multiple series of executive
interviews to bring our members
and visitors real first- hand
insight of the inner-workings
of Hollywood.
TVWV:
Thanks for sharing time from
your busy schedule, Andrew.
Can you give us a birds-eye-
view of your role within the
television industry?
LEAR: I work as a Talent
Manager/Producer for a company
(The Core) that specifically
focuses on non-fiction TV
(gameshows, talkshows, sketch
shows, variety, reality, specials,
animation, and more). I do
have clients that bleed into
scripted television and features,
but my day to day is alternative
programming on the talent
side. Because we represent
talent that are personalities,
we are not limited to just
television. I work in all
media including radio, books,
personal appearances, mobile
content, internet, endorsements,
and more.
TVWV: What got you
into the industry, and what
keeps you going?
LEAR: I've always had
a passion for showbiz since
I can remember. TV and movies
had a major influence my upbringing,
but nothing more then when
I saw my first stand up comedian.
I was bit by the bug and never
looked back. What really keeps
me going is how much this
industry changes on a daily
basis. Program Content is
always the point of origin,
but being part of a multi
platform culture is exciting
in the way this content can
be distributed via ipods,
internet, mobile phones, and
other means of mass media.
TVWV: With your having
been involved with top Producers
and Writers on a variety of
business and creative levels,
what do you see as the most
important element in bringing
a project together for a Network?
What really gives a project
legs?
LEAR: Great ideas are
always the most important.
Several factors go into great
ideas such as who is the personality
or personalities that bring
the idea to life. Also in
a 500 channel universe, the
project has to be viable to
several outlets, albeit cable,
network, or syndication. Credibility
is what gives the project
the most legs. You can't pitch
a show about NYC Firefighters
if you don't have the chief
of the NYFD attached or an
EP that has experience in
working the genre of organizations
similar to that.
TVWV: How has the development
and programming landscape
changed over the past 5 years?
LEAR: Programming has
changed most in several factors.
1.) International formats
have become more present in
the TV landscape from Europe,
South America, and Asia 2.)
Multi platform approaches
to ideas (ie how does it work
in TV, internet, mobile space,
downloads, etc) and 3.) Credible
Executive Producers and talent.
Good ideas only go so far,
but there must be something
to back all of that up.
TVWV: How much of Hollywood
is “idea driven”, and how
much is pre-packaged formula?
LEAR: I think most
projects do start with the
basic idea. You can't package
without a point of origin
in concept. From the point
of idea comes the packaging
of all forces that can bring
to life that concept.
TVWV: If you found
yourself seated as a Network
Programmer, what time- slot
currently needs the biggest
overhaul?
LEAR: 10 p.m. to me
is an interesting time slot,
mostly because it contains
one hour dramas or news. Adults
are usually the audience,
and that time and I would
want to find an alternative
means of entertaining the
Law & Order/CSI crowd,
like an earlier talk show
or variety that caters to
those demos.
TVWV: When taking a
meeting with a Writer or Producer
to discuss potential projects,
what are some things you’re
hoping to find in that person
or project?
LEAR: Passion is always
the biggest hope. If you don't
believe in the idea and you're
just pitching to appease the
landscape, it does nobody
any good. Credibility and
research is important as well.
Networks will challenge you
on ideas and ask good questions
which can throw off the pitcher
if their homework is not done.
Creativity is also extremely
vital in the process.
TVWV: How many projects
do you have your hands in
at any given time?
LEAR: Oye! Too many
to count, but enough not to
spread me too thin. I make
a fair balance between client
management and project management.
TVWV: Without giving
away any confidential information,
can you give us any insight
into new projects or people
you have on deck?
LEAR: I am currently
developing a show with Ted
Nugent and his wife Shemane
based on a cookbook they wrote
called "KILL IT AND GRILL
IT". Also, a comedy court
show with Macy Gray, a docu
reality show about a stand
up comedy class and the journey
of the participants, a reality
show with adult star Mary
Carey who ran for Governor
and is looking to find love
called "WHO WANTS TO
MARRY CAREY", an in studio
comedy show for Sci-Fi Channel
called "PROVE IT",
and a whole lot more!
TVWV: What percentage
of your day is spent managing
your current people and projects,
versus generating new ones?
LEAR: 95% of my day
is managing projects and clients.
TVWV: Is it easier
for a writer to break into
the industry with a reality-based
concept, or a scripted show?
LEAR: Much easier in
reality. Scripted TV is an
incestuous world in a good
way, and you have to come
up from the ranks, from movies,
or some other high profile
means to be a part of the
scripted process. In reality
you can find an ass crack
plumber with a good story
and get a 6 episode pickup
on cable!
TVWV: What advice can
you give to a writer, who
say, has had a few projects
optioned, but otherwise is
relatively new to the industry?
LEAR: Keep plugging
away. Never ever give up,
and network like a maniac.
Showbiz is truly a contact
sport, but have the substance
to back up the schmooze. Do
your homework more than anything.
If you're going to be a writer
in TV read the books on the
history of the area of interest.
Go to the Museum of TV and
Radio (if you live in LA or
NY) and master your knowledge.
TVWV: Looking at how
the
TV
Writers Vault
functions, how important of
a service do you feel it is
for writers?
LEAR: It's an incredible
resource because most people
don't live on the coasts and
it gives them an opportunity
to get a foot in the door,
educate, and express their
creativity that could help
them attain their dreams in
showbiz
TVWV: And now, the
most important question- With
your busy schedule, do you
actually have time to even
watch TV? If so, what has
you hooked, and why do you
watch it?
LEAR: I watch too much
TV. I was a born couch potato!
My biggest challenge now in
reality shows is that I become
so vested in the characters
that I become hooked on too
many shows, and my life I
feel like is all in front
of the tube. I personally
don't watch many scripted
shows with the exception of
Sopranos and Entourage. I
LOVE alternative TV from American
Idol on FOX, 20/20 on ABC,
Sunday Morning Shootout on
AMC, and Family Guy on FOX.
I am a true television junkie!
TVWV: Thanks Andrew!
We'll stay tuned to your future
success.
What's The Deal?
Industry Standard Deals -
What To Expect
When a company commits to
bringing your TV project to
market, they will propose
an option agreement that gives
them the exclusive right to
sell your show to a network
for a limited period of time.
It makes you a business partner
with the production company.
Having a script, book or personal
life-story rights gives production
companies more leverage and
substance during the development
and sales process, and as
a result they are typically
willing to pay more up front
when optioning these types
of properties. Even a treatment
written as a series outline
or movie will bring more to
the table because it is usually
regarded as being more substantial
than a reality-based "idea"
that can be interpreted in
very loose forms. The good
balancing factor is that more
people from outside the TV
industry break into the business
from selling a concept for
a show rather than with a
full script or published property.
More money is in scripted,
but more sales are in original
concepts.
Option deals for scripted
projects are essentially the
same as for reality-based
projects, but fees and purchase
prices are considerably larger
in scripted. Financial participation
as well as participation in
the development and production
is negotiable to a point depending
on your experience within
the industry and what you
bring to the table in terms
of the marketing of your show.
As in any industry, there
are a variety of forces and
factors that give shape to
the legal structure and content
of any deal made. A television
Writer or Producer who has
an established track record
is likely to receive a more
lucrative deal than someone
with little or no experience,
and most often will be given
more involvement in the actual
production of the show. However,
there are industry standards
regardless of who you are.
Click the "Industry
Standard Deals" link
below for more information...
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