As you've found out by now, television tends to follow a seasonal schedule -- the process of staffing new writers and developing new shows begins in September and ends in June. Since developing a new show is not an option available to most neophyte television writers, for now all you need to know is that development is a three-tiered process that begins with a script order from a network based on a successfully-pitched show idea, followed by a filmed pilot, then ultimately a show pickup or order (traditionally for eight or thirteen episodes, depending on whether the show will be on the fall schedule or will be a mid-season replacement of another cancelled show). And, of course, the likelihood of success becomes infinitely smaller at every stage -- something like one in one hundred scripts actually winds up making it all the way to the finish line, although one might not guess it based on the product that ultimately appears onscreen.
Since the primary purpose of this book is to inform you how to get staffed on a show, this next chapter will address the month-by-month breakdown of what you should be doing in order to get staffed, as well as some Plan B options in the event that you don't.
The Road to Staffing
September
- As per the guidelines above, research the agencies. Figure out where your needs will best be met, and who the best point person (contact) will be within the agency, and do everything in your power to get her on the phone.
- Use every imaginable personal contact you have in order to establish contact with the agent. If you have no personal contacts, do your best "six degrees of separation" or find some common interest that can potentially help put you on his radar.
October
- Continue to make phone calls, even once you've gotten an agent to agree to read your material. Most agents will take at least one month (probably closer to two), given the staggering pile of scripts they've got on their desks, so be patient. Be persistent, but not annoying.
- In the meantime, start logging on to industry-related web sites like www.futoncritic.com or www.tvtome.com for news on what scripts and projects are gaining heat for the upcoming development season.
November
- Provided you receive interest from an agent, schedule a meeting. If you've received interest from two agents, schedule two meetings, or as many as correlate to interested agents. Be upfront about whom you are meeting with; it will only impress the others further.
- In the days -- or weeks -- prior to the meeting, try to develop at least a basic familiarity with the projects in development you've read about; keep in mind that while most agents don't want to be told how to do their jobs, they will welcome input from you as to which show sensibilities you would feel most comfortable writing for.
- Additionally, do your best to familiarize yourself with the principals involved in those projects. Since most industry-related web sites will only list the names of the showrunner/creator and the third-party producer (or producers), you should make a mental note to ask your agent for the names of the studio and network executives overseeing projects in development.
[To see the full calendar, get the complete guide]
