Make Documentary, Unscripted, and Reality TV Podcast

How to break into reality tv shows and documentary series with Joke and Biagio.

The reality TV podcast to help you create, pitch, sell, and produce reality television shows and documentary series – Producing Unscripted.

We’re Joke and Biagio, and we make reality TV shows, documentaries, and factual programming for a living. These days we have over 100 hours of film and television under our belts, but we remember how impossible it seemed to break in when we were two kids living in our one-bedroom apartment.

We started this podcast to teach you the nuts-and-bolts of making reality TV, but more importantly, to give you a path to pitch your projects to us.

Enjoy the podcasts below, and maybe we’ll even get to work together someday.

TV Network Executives – What You Need to Know from Paul Croce

March 21, 2017March 21, 2017 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:00 — 28.7MB)

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TV Network Executives: the elite group that filmmakers and producers wish to meet, hope to pitch, and pray will fund their projects. For some, they seem to be mysterious, god-like figures who can make dreams come true. To others, they seem a closed-door group impossible to access. Today, Paul Croce is here to shed light on this seemingly all-powerful profession, and give you real tips and truths about TV network executives. We wish someone had told us these secrets fifteen years ago. It’s awesome to have Paul share them with you today.

Producing Documentaries with Sundance Fellow Amanda Spain

December 9, 2017March 7, 2017 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:44 — 34.0MB)

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Producing documentaries sounds alluring or terrifying. It depends on where you’re sitting. Today, we’re sitting with Sundance fellow and TV producer Amanda Spain. Amanda is one of those rare people who’s managed to bring her talents to both the doc and unscripted TV worlds. As a seasoned filmmaker and newly minted Sundance fellow, she has strong opinions about producing documentaries. She also offers priceless advice and take-aways for aspiring producers and seasoned documentarians alike. If you’ve ever thought about producing documentaries, today’s post and podcast episode are for you.

How to Cast Reality TV with Top Casting Director Dana Golder

December 9, 2017February 21, 2017 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:09 — 37.1MB)

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Dana Golder is one of the biggest casting directors in reality TV. Just some of her credits include The Biggest Loser, The Amazing Race, and Cash Cab. We’ve been lucky enough to work with her on Beauty and the Geek, Scream Queens, Ghost Inside My Child, and Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne. Today, Dana is giving you priceless tips on casting just about every kind of reality TV show and documentary series you could imagine. From finding great real people to talking to them and and determining if they would be great TV, Dana is teaching you how to cast reality TV. Priceless!

Reality TV Stripped Naked with Mickey Ramos

February 7, 2017 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:51 — 36.8MB)

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Mickey Ramos is not only a terrific, prolific TV producer who survived an attack by over 600 killer bees while filming Naked and Afraid. She’s also the voice of Kenny’s girlfriend on South Park (how cool!) Plus, she’s dealt with some of the most difficult situations you can imagine in reality TV and documentary series. Today, she not only shares some of the craziest behind-the-scenes stories we’ve ever heard, but offers you exclusive tips on breaking into showbusiness and making better TV.

3 Ways Aspiring TV Producers Can Stand Out in 2017

January 24, 2017 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:56 — 21.4MB)

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Happy 2017! Today, on episode 88 of Producing Unscripted we’re helping you kick off the new year right. Trying to break into unscripted television, documentary series, true crime or reality TV? Here are three ways you can stand out from the crowd in 2017.

How To Survive The Hollywood Notes Process with Troy DeVolld

December 13, 2016December 13, 2016 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:33 — 35.7MB)

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The Hollywood Notes Process: also known as “collaboration” to some and “notes hell” to others. Today, on episode 87 of Producing Unscripted we’re thrilled to be joined by Troy DeVolld, TV Producer extraordinaire and best-selling author. His new book is about the notes process in Hollywood. Today he gives you incredible free advice on surviving and thriving when you’re faced with an avalanche of notes. Getting notes might be confusing, helpful, or soul-sucking. Regardless, the notes process is something you’ll deal with on every project you ever make…from YouTube videos to network TV series. So spend a little time with Troy today and learn…to rock the notes process!

Production Hangovers: How To Survive, Recharge, & Move On

December 10, 2016November 29, 2016 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 13:30 — 13.6MB)

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Production hangovers? It’s episode 86 of Producing Unscripted, and today we’re being way too honest. Want truth? Production can burn you out! Doesn’t matter how much you love your film or TV project. Doesn’t matter how impressively it comes together. At the end of a project worthy of your passion, you will be fried. Production hangovers are real. Here’s how to get through the fog and come out more creative than ever.

Handling Criticism in Hollywood: Your How-To Guide

November 15, 2016November 15, 2016 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:16 — 18.0MB)

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It’s episode 85 of Producing Unscripted, and today we’re discussing a crucial skill that will help you in business…and life. Handling criticism. If Steven Spielberg, Mark Burnett, and Shonda Rhimes have to deal with criticism, you can bet the rest of us will, too. Here are six useful tips, along with real-world advice, to help you when handling criticism.

Catching Your Lucky Break In Hollywood – A Spooky Discussion

November 1, 2016November 1, 2016 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:07 — 10.5MB)

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It’s episode 84 of Producing Unscripted, and today we’re having a crucial discussion about the illusive “lucky break.” We’re not just talking about finally catching your lucky break in Hollywood. We’re also helping you stay sane and survive until you do. We’ll help you explore the big picture along the way. Is this business right for you? Will it make you happy? How do you keep yourself going when things get tough? Should you get out all together? We give you honest answers, based on our many years working in this business. We want to help you decide if your Hollywood career is worth waiting for…your lucky break.

Television Post-Production: Tips You Can Steal!

October 18, 2016 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:41 — 33.0MB)

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In this episode, part 2 of Tools We Use to Make TV, we discuss our television post-production workflow. We’ve spent many years building a post workflow that can help us deliver any kind of TV or film project our company takes on. Today, we’re giving it all away to you. Take these tricks, tips, and insights and use them to help you build your own perfect television post-production workflow… while saving time and money.