Too many aspiring TV writers, producers, and stars raise money to shoot their own independent TV pilot. They hope agents, TV production companies, and a ravenous audience will recognize the show’s brilliance and, by sheer force of momentum, hurl the project to great success as an ongoing TV series.
These ambitious pilot creators are the most positive-minded people you’ll ever meet. They have a can-do attitude that inspires everyone from cast and crew to friends and family to pour their souls into the production. Their faith in the project is unshakable.
What’s wrong with these pilots? A few things:
They’re based on a deeply flawed script, written by a writer who has no experience writing TV pilots.
More effort goes into the production value than the script.
They never sell.
They never make money.
No one will ever see them.
Their creators regret making them.
If you’re considering making a pilot like this, this article is your chance to travel through time and prevent the mistake. It’s your chance to take a wondrous journey into the future, peer back at yourself like Ebeneezer’s ghost, and make a better decision.
There are only three conditions where it’s a good idea to make a TV pilot:
A TV production company puts up the budget.
You have an enormous social media following, your fans beg you to make one, your agent would kill to sell it to a TV production company, but you know you can make more money outside the system, selling it online.
Knowing you’ll never recoup this investment, you spend only what you can afford to lose, post your pilot on YouTube for the world to see, and learn as much as you can from the experience.
Good luck and have fun!
I got to the second round of the bbc writers room competition for comedy drama. I made the mistake of not consulting anyone about my script until after I submitted it.
Still I agree with what you wrote entirely...I got completely wrapped up in the idea that the bbc would produce it. Part of me would really love to go back and re edit...but it's hard to get the time.
Useful knowledge.