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It’s Halloween…and do we have a treat for you. A spooky treat that is! This week we cover all things paranormal. Ghost shows, alien shows, psychic shows…they’ve been a staple of television for years. But how can you make your paranormal pitch stand out? What are the pitfalls to avoid, and the mistakes we see most often when people pitch this genre? Which missteps scare network execs off? How to do make a network scream (with excitement) for your pitch? Get ready for some scary facts about pitching paranormal projects!
Creeping It Real
Paranormal shows are cyclical. That means sometimes networks can’t get enough of the great beyond. Other times, these pitches are just too scary a proposition for network execs.
Right now, paranormal isn’t as hot as it was four years ago…but it’s far from dead and (we hear) making a comeback. Some networks considering other-worldly pitches at the moment are:
- Travel Channel
- SyFy
- Discovery
- TLC
- Lifetime
- E!
Even if the genre isn’t smoking hot at any given moment, the right pitch will always get networks excited. If you listen to our advice, that show might be yours.
If You’ve Got It, Haunt It!
The secret potion to creating a great paranormal pitch and show is not unlike most other shows on TV.
You need:
- an incredible and unique character, or group of characters
- a format that’s completely new and interesting
- a first and second hook to keep people watching
We’re not tricking you, it’s a lot of hard work!
There are many pitfalls (which we share today.) But once you have the right ingredients, a TV network might say the magic words to put your show on the air.
Pitching Paranormal Shows – All The Scary Facts
Obviously, this genre has enjoyed lots of popularity on television over the years. If it’s not hot right now, you can bet it’ll be back tomorrow.
So today we give you all the proper ghouls…er, we mean tools…to pitch paranormal! In this episode, we’ll cover:
- The ghosts of paranormal past – what shows have found success in the space? Why?
- Finding the right “witch or warlock” for your show – why you need a unique character
- How to hook your viewers – both figuratively and literally (It is Halloween after all…)
- The ghosts of paranormal future – what can make your show the next spooky hit on TV?
- The hardest part about pitching shows in this genre
- The secret spell to getting your show on a network – how to know who’s watching and what networks want
- Plus…way too many Halloween puns from Biagio!
Click that giant “Play” button at the top of the page to listen now!
Helpful and Related Links
How our own spooky show Ghost Inside My Child came together (pitched to us by new producer Suzanne Stratford), plus many other success stories.
The bewitching pilot we shot for Oxygen with Joey and Natalie, Sister Witches. (Also discussed on our Success Stories page.)
All about how our company, Joke Productions, works with Producing Unscripted to team with new filmmakers and talent.
Want to create a “boo-tiful” second hook for your paranormal pitch? Head over to episode 27 and learn all about first and second hooks. Having these sets your projects apart from the crowd.
Connect with us on Twitter!
Ready to pitch a spooky project? Maybe want to work with us, and our company Joke Productions?
Here’s what you need to know: