Can you sell a TV pilot?

Can you sell a TV pilot?

The great thing about a pilot script (versus a spec script of an existing show) is that you can go out there and sell it! Most production offices like HBO or Netflix won't accept unsolicited submissions, so this is where your professional networking skills will come into play.

How do I submit a pilot for a TV show?

8 Tips for Pitching a TV Show

1. Write a pilot before writing the full pitch. ...
2. Practice your pitch. ...
3. Know what happens after the first season. ...
4. Talk about what your show is really about. ...
5. Do research on the networks you're pitching. ...
6. Bring energy and passion to the pitch meeting.

What is a spec TV pilot?

In recent years, network executives and showrunners are increasingly asking to read “spec pilots,” which — much like a spec feature — are original pilot scripts written without a deal or sale in place and without being commissioned. Most spec pilots are not purchased or produced, but there are exceptions.

How much is a TV script worth?

Unlike books, however, those screenplays that do sell, tend to sell for a lot. Though the WGA minimum is in the $130,000 range, the typical selling price for a spec script (a screenplay written on speculation, with no committed buyer) hovers in the neighborhood of $300-$600,000, plus bonuses.

Where can I send my TV pilot?

Top TV Writing Competitions

• The Tracking Board's Launch Pad Pilot Competition. ...
• ScreenCraft Pilot Launch TV Script Competition. ...
• Austin Film Festival Screenplay and Teleplay Competition. ...
• New York Television Festival (NYTVF) ...
• WeScreenplay Television Competition. ...
• Shore Scripts. ...
• HUMANITAS New Voices. ...
• Script Pipeline.

How many acts are in a TV pilot?

As a general rule, 4-5 acts plus a teaser is standard for an hour-long series, while 3 acts suffices in a half-hour. Most comedies also include a tag at the end of each episode.

How many TV pilots are made each year?

• Variety estimates that only a little over a quarter of all pilots made for American television proceed to the series stage. Each summer, the major American broadcast television networks – including ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox, and NBC – receive about 500 brief elevator pitches each for new shows from writers and producers.

How much do you get paid to write a TV pilot?

• Getting paid a non-WGA rate of, say, $2,000 dollars to write a TV pilot (all WGA rates are in the next section) might sound great on its face. But what if the amount of effort you’re putting into it interferes with your day job? Or a freelance gig?

How much money do you get for selling a TV show?

• It's token money, and varies from $500 up to appx. $10,000 depending on the project. The company pays it to you simply to retain the exclusive right to further develop and sell your show to a Network or Studio.

How to write a pilot episode for a TV show?

• For now, though, all you need to worry about is how to write a TV pilot episode. Don’t worry about coming up with ten episodes for a whole season. And there’s no need right now to come up with a show bible. (This is a more polished outline designed to show to execs and producers when you’re hawking the script around town.)