TV Show Pitch Your task in this assignment is to pitch a TV show for Netflix that focuses on some aspect of crime or criminal justice in a Canadian setting. “A great pitch is well-structured, visual, and quickly and easily conveys your show’s concept and central characters.” (Shonda Rhimes) in ORDER TO FIND THIS ASSISSGNEMENT U NEED TO WATCH A SHOW ON NETFLIX IT IS A written document What is Included in a Pitch? Your pitch document should be about 5 to 7 pages and should include the following: Title o Television is a title-driven medium; it’s the first message delivered to viewers to provoke interest. o Create a catchy title that touches on the main theme of your story, or the dramatic tension faced by your character. Concept o What is the core idea behind your show that will make people want to watch it? o You might want to start with a what-if scenario (for example, what if a high school chemistry teacher started cooking meth?) o Highlight the originality of your concept or what makes your show’s concept stand out from the rest. o It might be helpful to do some ‘research’ on current and past television programming to make sure your show’s concept stands out from the pack. Logline o The most critical aspect of the pitch is the ‘logline’, the short pitch that sells your show. o The logline is a one or two sentence description in a pitch that tells the basic premise and purpose of your TV show idea. o The logline is sometimes called the ‘elevator pitch’ because it should be short and snappy enough to engage an executive during a chance encounter in an elevator. o Developing your logline is an opportunity to express an original hook that your show has that separates it from others within the same genre or theme. o Logline Examples: o Stranger Things: When a young boy disappears from a quiet 1980s suburban town, his mother, friends, and the police chief must confront terrifying alien forces in order to get him back. o Breaking Bad: A terminal diagnosis leads a cash-strapped, loving father to the hostile world of illicit drug manufacture and its deadly associations. Synopsis o Write a 300-500-word overview of your show, making clear the world it’s set in and the dynamics between the characters. o Include intended outline of the show format (1 hour or 30 minute program), season (number of episodes planned) as well as genre(s) – crime drama, mystery, police procedural, legal, thriller, sci-fi, comedy etc. Characters o Describe your main character(s) and other key players in the show. o Speak to their backgrounds as well as their current lifestyle in a paragraph or so. o Explain the way in which they view the world; how they see themselves and how they relate to other people. o Outline their flaws, their quirks, and the unique aspects that make them tick. Pilot Outline/Episode Arc o Write a two to three paragraph outline of your pilot episode (the first episode that introduces the show) o Follow with a paragraph detailing the overall story arc planned for future episodes. Things to keep in mind: o Is the premise too familiar, or is it something that hasn’t yet been explored in television? o How are your primary characters and your characters’ world unique? o Are the characters compelling? o What makes the audience care about these characters? o Why do you feel the need to tell this particular story? o What do you want the audience to take away from it? o What is the overall tone of the show? o How does your show compare to other existing television shows?
