Formatting ideas for television

Elsa Sharp

Session Plan09.30 Your presentations on TV shows10.00 Recap on formats, ideas, genres, devices10.15 Show clips of different programme types.

Factual Entertainment – The ApprenticeFeatures – How To Look Good NakedFactual Entertainment – The Secret Millionaire

10.30 A look at billings- summing up shows in a paragraph

11.30 Set task – to brainstorm and come up with a factual entertainment format using grid

12.00 END

Recap

• Can you name different programme types?• Genres?• Devices

Ideas

• Are a currency• Think in terms of formats, that are returnable• Can appeal to different markets• Adapt existing reality shows – think of the

elements that make them work and change them

HOW TO THINK OF TV IDEAS(And what to do with them next)

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?

WHAT’S ON THE INTERNET?

Are there any old shows from 10 or 20 years ago that you think could be remade using modern technology or new talent? Simon Cowell has become

a multi-millionaire by doing this!

BE CREATIVE WITH TALENT

WHO OR WHAT CAN YOU GET ACCESS TO?

DO YOUR RESEARCH

SOURCING IDEAS

• Get in the habit of always looking, thinking, making notes, remembering ideas or thoughts. Even the germ of an idea is worth keeping…

• Think of talent, reversing and extending existing formats and stories

• Use newspapers, radio, TV, conversations, internet, You tube, dramas, adverts, movies virals, existing formats – fusing formats

WHO SHOULD YOU PITCH YOUR IDEA TO?

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

WHO WILL WATCH IT?

PUT IT IN WRITING- A couple of pages will do – you don’t have to write a book!

Big Brother clips

•Big Brother•Celebrity Big BrotherVerne Troyer ramraiding the diary room.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFIEcCM7NVM

Highlights of Celebrity Big Brother 10 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adBKHtOssBQ

The Apprentice

• Season 5• The teams - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftZR56x6N1U

• Task: to start up a cleaning company, with a starting budget of £200. The team that makes the most profit wins

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfTaajwTI64 (10 minutes)

Common themes

• Competition• Character• Story arcs and narrative• Tasks• Winners and losers

TASK

• In groups come up with a format for a reality TV series

• Your end presentation should be no longer than 20 minutes.

• Use the format grid as a guide• Programme type – it should be factual

entertainment

Task

• Come up with a reality show format• It must be a show that can run across a period

of weeks• Must have entertainment value• Think gameshow• Could have a celebrity element• What is the journey?• The end?