Produce Reality TV Shows

How do you get started producing reality tv, documentary series, and unscripted programming? It’s a big question! We’ve been able to produce unscripted television for a while now (over 100 hours and counting) and in our effort to give back to you, have a number of podcasts and posts to help you get around the fun, crazy journey that is our career — using our filmmaking talents to produce reality TV shows.

Here’s What You Need to Know First

If you’re going to produce reality TV shows in this day and age, you need to be more than just an “idea” person, more than just a shooter/producer — you need to be a creative filmmaker unafraid to get your hands dirty.

We love meeting aspiring producers who not only want to shoot and/or edit their work, but collaborate with others to make great TV projects.

Whether you want to make films, web series, or produce reality TV shows, if you hope to succeed, you’ll need to come up with great shows, but be willing to reshape those shows as you team up and collaborate with different production companies, networks, or studios.

What You’ll Find Here

Below you’ll find our blog posts and podcast episodes about how to produce reality TV shows. As always, we hope the information helps you on your road to success, and we hope that when you do produce reality TV shows — especially your first endeavors — that you’ll consider teaming up with us!

Hollywood Stocking Stuffers – Three Tips from the Trenches

December 20, 2018 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:36 — 14.6MB)

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Happy Holidays from Producing Unscripted! ’Tis the season to be jolly, and if you asked Santa for a new episode of Producing Unscripted, you’re in luck! Today we share some important stocking stuffers with you – three Hollywood tips to make the most of the season. We cover everything under the tree, from important industry advice, to how to keep busy when you aren’t in production. So grab some hot chocolate, start up the fire and get ready for our last podcast of 2018!

Amazing Career Advice From Legendary Producer Jon Kroll

February 1, 2024August 28, 2018 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:32 — 29.2MB)

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Jon Kroll is the man behind some of your favorite unscripted television shows. From Big Brother to The Amazing Race, he’s been in the industry for over 25 years. He’s here today to share his secrets to success and amazing career advice. Like the students he teaches in the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC, you will learn so much from Jon today. Just like we did when he guest-lectured at a course we took, back when were were trying to break in the industry. Jon shares his his take on how to find a great character, the must haves of every pitch, and what NOT to do to break into Hollywood. Plus, behind the scenes stories from his newest show on CBS, Pink Collar Crimes.

Getting Your First TV Producer Credit with Marc Jackson

February 1, 2024May 30, 2018 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:14 — 18.0MB)

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Marc Jackson says he feels like he’s living his dream. A retired police officer, Marc wanted to start a new career in filmmaking and TV production – but had no production experience. Like many of you, Marc discovered the Producing Unscripted podcast and this site. He trusted us with his concept, pitched it through our portal, and we developed it together. We’ve now set it up as a television pilot at a major cable network. Marc’s earning his first producer credit and jumping in the deep end of television production. Today we break down everything Marc did right, what it’s like to finally have your first TV project, and tips you can use to do the same.

Success & Happiness in the Entertainment Industry with Daniel Strange

February 1, 2024February 27, 2018 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:52 — 30.5MB)

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Daniel Strange is a TV commercial director who has also dabbled in unscripted television – and he’s one of the most honest people you’ll ever meet. Today, Dan shares tips and stories about working in the entertainment industry. More importantly, he discusses finding true success and happiness. The conversation is a no-holds-barred discussion of day-to-day working life in the entertainment industry. It’s also chock-full of useful tips. Plus, the ep includes an AMAZING Richard Marx story you won’t want to miss…

100 Tips. 1 Million Thanks.

February 1, 2024November 14, 2017 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 11:53 — 12.2MB)

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Episode 100! Thanks for supporting us over nearly five years. To celebrate, we made you a “thank you” gift. It’s a brand new resource we wish we had when we started in this business. It’s completely free, and it will save you hours of time. Plus, a very special tip from Joke. And of course, a tiny bit of nostalgia from the early days of the podcast.

Casting True Crime Projects with Alexis Linkletter

February 1, 2024October 3, 2017 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:19 — 20.8MB)

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Casting true crime projects takes special care. With networks hungry for true crime programming, the genre is currently exploding. But every true crime project has one essential element that can’t be forgotten. At its center is someone who went through a tragedy. It might be a survivor, or friends and family members of a victim. Many want to share their stories. Many don’t. So how do you reach out in the most courteous, professional manner? Here’s how to find and approach survivors and victim’s families respectfully. These tips work for any true crime project including documentaries and TV series. Plus, how to recognize which stories will translate to film or TV, and which should be told in another medium. Know these tips before you start casting true crime.

Back To School: TV & Film Style!

February 1, 2024September 5, 2017 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:20 — 28.1MB)

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If you have, or know, kids — well, you know it’s that time of year…back to school! Being parents, we feel it’s only right to celebrate the spirit of education we feel filling our household. So, we’re sharing our favorite 2017 resources for learning and improving filmmaking skills. We have a wide range of resources for you…the same ones we use every day. You’ll get the methods we use to put these resources to work on our own TV shows and films. Plus, a few Joke and Biagio insights you won’t find anywhere else. Let’s get learning!

How To Freelance in Hollywood with Joey Korenman

February 1, 2024August 8, 2017 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:35 — 48.5MB)

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If you want to work your way up in the entertainment industry — especially in unscripted television — chances are you are going to spend more time freelancing than working staff jobs. Today, Joey Korenman, entertainment professional and author the book The Freelance Manifesto is here to inspire you to greatness. Get practical, hands-on tips to help you find freelance work in “Hollywood” (or wherever you are.) More importantly, start weighing what’s truly important to you…and your happiness. Plus, some amazing free resources from Joey Korenman and School of Motion to help you improve your filmmaking skills by using better design. This episode is about more than just your career and making pretty pictures…it’s about your dreams, and living a fulfilling life.

Producer Takeaways from Four Years of Podcasts

December 9, 2017June 13, 2017 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 12:26 — 12.7MB)

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Just a tiny bit over four years ago this site launched with its very first podcast episode. To be honest, we didn’t know if anyone would listen, or be interested in learning the nuts and bolts of unscripted television, documentary series, and reality TV.

5 Tips: True Crime Series – Develop Deep Dives

December 9, 2017May 30, 2017 by Biagio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:54 — 21.3MB)

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“Deep Dive” True Crime Series – you’ve seen them. The Jinx. Making a Murderer. Our own upcoming CNN/HLN series, Unmasking a Killer, is also a deep dive. How do these series work? How can you develop true crime series like these? And why do these types of series come with far more responsibility than others? Today we share five crucial tips you need to know. Plus…where we’ve been for the last two months.