How to Write and Pitch a Commission-Winning Proposal
- Posted: March 9, 2010, 1:19 pm
- Category: Short Course (2 day)
About the course
For most documentary and factual filmmakers, the proposal represents the first chance to get your directorial foot in the door with a broadcaster. For this reason, getting it right first time is crucial. This course will give an overview of the processes involved in writing and pitching your proposal for factual programming.
Location: DFG, 4th Floor Shacklewell Studios, 28 Shacklewell Lane, London
More details
During the workshop, you will cover the standard writing techniques and formats for television proposals and will cover vital information on the commissioning process and the particular types of proposals required by different commissioning bodies. You will also get help with visualising your story and learn how to make your proposal eye-catching.
Prior to the workshop, participants will submit a one - page proposal for a documentary or a factual project that will be developed and pitched during the workshop. Following the pitching session, which will conform to an industry standard format, the tutor will offer feedback on the pitches and participants will be given suggestions on next steps for their project. To safeguard ideas, participants will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement at the beginning of the workshop.
Course details:
Where?
DFG, 4th Floor Shacklewell Studios, 28 Shacklewell Lane, London, E8 2EZ
When?
This course has already run.
Please check out details of other related courses to call us on
+44 (0)20 7249 6600 / e-mail training@dfgdocs.com for more details.
Who teaches this course?
Nicola Lees - Nicola Lees has been a development producer in the television industry in London and New York for more than a decade. She has developed documentaries, docudramas, multiplatform and reality programmes for BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, BBC4, Discovery, Travel Channel, National Geographic and TLC. She's the author of Greenlit: Developing Factual Reality TV Ideas from Concept to Pitch and the founder of www.tvmole.com. Nicola currently runs a mentoring scheme for Women in Film and Television and is writing a second book, Give Me the Money and I'll Shoot. She has written more than 370 factual television programme proposals, and has been directly involved in originating, researching, writing or pitching more than 80 commissioned programmes, including Oceans (Oceans), Moms on the Road (Travel Channel), How Not to Be Shark Bait (Discovery), Desperate Midwives (BBC3) and the BAFTA nominated Earth: Power of the Planet (BBC2/Nat Geo). http://www.tvmole.com
What did people think of this course?
"I would encourage anyone who wants to do this, to have a go. I travelled from Suffolk last May, to spend a weekend with DFG on their ‘Writing a Proposal' course. I had never produced a programme before, never held a camcorder, but I was determined to drive my idea forward, and for me to achieve a commission by the BBC for my first project, has been a personal success story!" Frances Harper, DFG Graduate.
‘Well structured, clear, great intro to TV industry. I learnt the format of the pitch quickly and felt the tutor had real experience, not just theoretical.’
Writing and Pitching Participant, April 2009
‘I really liked the clear information about what is and isn’t needed in a proposal and how in depth the course was to finding the weaknesses in ideas and proposals’
Writing and Pitching Participant, August 2009