Typed by hand. It may still contain mistakes; the recording is the original.
Update (September 2026): The former members-only pitch site and login described below have been retired. For current pitch instructions and access status, see How to Pitch Shows to Us.
Announcer: Welcome to Producing Unscripted with Joke and Biagio.
Angry Man: Is this some kind of joke?
Confused Woman: Biagio-WHO???
Announcer: This episode…
Biagio: It’s episode 30, and we have your pre-pitch checklist. Seven steps to take before you pitch your reality TV show or documentary series to us. A brand new free tool we’ve created to help you master reality TV basics and sound like a Hollywood pro. And a couple of reasons Joke and I are sounding like stern parents.
Announcer: Music courtesy of Dave Pelman Music, davepelman.com
Biagio: Hey everybody she’s Joke.
Joke: He’s Biagio.
Biagio: We’re married, we make unscripted film and television and want to help you do the same, hopefully by teaming up with us. Well welcome to episode 30. Every single time we do a round number I feel like it’s a landmark episode. Don’t you joke?
Joke: Yes.
Biagio: Very simple yes. Well it’s actually is a landmark. It’s a big one today. Before we get started, I want to make a little announcement about our wink, wink latest production, Joke’s pregnant! Hey everybody!
There’s no classy way to say that. Yes! I knocked my wife up. We’re expecting our second child. Our daughter Haley, it looks like is going to have a little brother. So, that’s going to happen sometime in August.
We might end up missing a podcast episode up somewhere in there. Depending on when labor happens.
Joke: You mean, you’re giving me time off when I’m in the hospital?
Biagio: It depends but you know, I mean we can still record in the hospital. We got listeners Honey! No, no, no, of course. We might miss an episode coming up. But it’s only because we are creating life. Joke thank you so much for bearing our second child.
Joke: You’re welcome.
Biagio: You are the woman! Alright, now speaking of our latest production that’s is not a baby. Last episode, we talked about Sister Witches which is now in development in Oxygen. That came from Joey and Natalie. Two aspiring producers just like you.
And really that’s what this whole podcast is about. It’s about reaching out to aspiring producers and giving you a way to team up with us, giving you the help you need to launch you career. Right honey?
Joke: Uh-hmm
Biagio: Boy, she is pregnant and she is tired. Let me just add. Half the reason I announced the pregnancy is because, Joke is having a… you’re having a rough morning this morning aren’t you?
Joke: No! It’s just, you say this at the top of every damn episode.
Biagio: No! I don’t say it at the top of every episode.
Joke: Okay.
Biagio: A lot of the episodes. But here’s the point, we realized that a lot of you who are new, and maybe haven’t heard the top of every episode. Or even then, a lot of you who are a long time listeners, who might want to review some of the important points about the process of making reality TV and docs series. Who might be wondering where to start in this quickly growing resource we have that is Producing Unscripted.
Today on our thirtieth episode, We are creating the official Start here page. That breaks down step by step what to do both creatively and logistically before you pitch your show to us.
Joke: Yes. Some of you have been paying attention and are already doing this. Yeah! And some of you who are new or maybe not paying attention, have not. We’re going to put this as easy as possible and if you follow this steps, your pitches will stand out head and shoulders above a slew of pitches we get that usually again, are ignoring this common sense advice. Or just don’t really get with the program.
Biagio: They don’t get with the program. And honestly, those are the many, many, pitches that get rejected almost instantly. That’s not going to happen to you.
Joke: Because!
Joke and Biagio: Today, we present you with…
Biagio: Your pre-pitch checklist.
Motivated Person: I am so ready to kick some ass!
Joke: Biago is very excited about this.
Biagio: I am. Alright let’s jump right in. Step one, know what you are getting into people. Must, must, must review for every single one of you before you pitch us a show is the first eight episodes. Our first eight episodes, one hundred and ten minutes.
Fifty-five minutes if you listen to it at twice the speed, gives you everything that you need to know in order to avoid rookie mistakes. And really understand what makes a good reality TV pitch and what makes for a horrible one. What are some of the things that we covered in those first eight episodes Joke?
Joke: Well Biagio, you will understand the five magic words of pitching reality television. You’ll also learn what makes a good reality character. What makes a good reality world. And how to package your ideas, and maybe most importantly, what shows not to pitch us.
Biagio: That was so awesome Joke. You did not sound like you’ve read that off that piece of paper I wrote them on, at all! Now listen, good news for everybody! And I actually am really excited about this. With Joke’s permission, I was able to undertake another geeky project.
Joke: Wait, wait, wait let’s clarify permission.
Biagio: Ok, she looked the other way while I did it.
Joke: And there were months of begging and pleading. I mean you just wore me down.
Biagio: Okay, I wore her down people. But I did it for you. For all of you, I wore my wife down and the first eight episode are now converted to YouTube’s slideshows with clickable table of contents. And that, is eventually why Joke gave in and let me do this slideshows. Because you can actually go to YouTube, go to producingunscripted.com slash YouTube.
It will take you right to the page where you should subscribe immediately because, there are more videos coming. More of that in a second. But there is a clickable table of contents for each of these eight episodes. You can read the table of contents and click, and go directly to the section you want a refresher on, or maybe you don’t understand. It is the easiest way to jump into the podcast in different areas, and know exactly which part you’re listening to.
Joke: So here, let me explain my reluctance. This is a hard business to get into, and if you can’t listen to the podcast, which we are providing for free, and take your own notes. I’m not sure if you’re ready for this business. But Biagio, has a much kinder heart than me. And he is making it even easier for you guys.
Seriously people, at this point you still can’t do it. Just find another job.
Biagio: I admit. At this point, you just give up. But listen we also, a lot of the tips are geared specifically towards pitching to us. I do think that the YouTube channel is going to be very helpful. And in addition to slideshows, Joke and I have already recorded a bunch of new short videos, with brand new tips that are being edited as we speak.
They are going to be going up, not on a regular basis because as you know we are in production. It won’t be as regular as the podcast. So you want to make sure that you subscribe. We do think that the information that we are going to put up on YouTube channel is going to help you even further. Step one, review those first eight episodes, really know what you’re getting into.
Joke: Then again, the YouTube channel makes it super easy.
Biagio: Super easy. producingunscripted.com/YouTube, producingunscripted.com slash YouTube will take you right to the page. Now if you haven’t already done it, it’s time for Step two. Sign up for the newsletter, and access the member’s only portal. It’s a two step process and this is where I’m going to take Joke’s advice, and just say yes, sign up, and follow directions, to have access to the member’s only portal.
I will say you could sign up for the newsletter in a lots of different places. It is the same newsletter at JokeandBiagio.com as it is on producingunscripted.com. If you’ve already sign up for one you’re already on the list. And in your welcome email it tells you what you need to know. I’ve said enough, right Joke?
Yes, again, you know, I’m not trying to be difficult but, the whole portal makes it easier on our end which allows us to review more pitches in a timely fashion. And seriously when we were trying to break in to the business we would’ve personally not have a single issue with any of the things we’re asking you to do. On the contrary we would have been super duper excited
Biagio: We would have been delighted, we would have been so jazzed.
Joke: So for the very few of you who like to write us emails complaining about this step. Too bad, it’s not changing just do it.
Biagio: Just do it. There’s no production company in the world who has television shows on the air like we do that has actually created a way this simple for people to pitch. And this by the way we are not speaking to the most of you this is for the one or the two of you, you know who you are. Who have driven me bonkers. The rest of you are awesome, hundreds of you have signed up and the pitches have been getting better and better.
Okay, that brings us to Step three. Log in to the members only portal, you know have access to. Check out the list of shows that we are looking for right now.
Joke: Yeah, once in awhile we talk to the networks on a daily basis And once in awhile they kind of put out new mandates. Here’s a hole we are trying to fill, or this is a new direction that our network is going in. This is the part on the members only portal were we share some of the information with you in case you happen to be sitting on exactly that show that they are looking for. In terms of you looking for shows. These mandates, “or the searches”, are fairly broad and they’re really geared to helping you, kind of look at the shows that you already have, and see if it could fit or if that works. It doesn’t mean that you could only pitch us those shows.
Biagio: Obviously, we are open to other shows. But sometimes people are like, I don’t even know where to start and you might be sitting on an incredible reality TV world or character in your own backyard. Maybe these suggestions will help you discover that and realize, “Oh wow, I’ve been sitting on a great reality show this whole time and didn’t even realize it”.
Joke: We’re hoping they’re inspiration.
Biagio: Yeah, we’re hoping they’re inspiration. Now, I do want to take a second and say, then again you’ll understand what these words mean because you’ve listened to the first eight episodes. I want to take a second and say, you’re going to have, probably better success pitching to us either a follow doc or hybrid than you will a format. We’re open to formats. As a matter of fact Frank, you know who you are, that’s all I’m going to say for now.
We’ve just teamed up on a format that I can’t believe we’ve teamed up on but, this was really a funny format. But for the most part, it’s going to be easier for you to make yourself valuable and get our attention if you have either a follow doc or hybrid with real people, or real business, or real entity attached. Then again we’ve talked about that in the first eight episodes. So, just a little tip for you, not closed to formats but you’re going to have a better chance if your to head your bets with a follow doc or a hybrid.
Joke: Its also because a lot of formats that people are pitching that aren’t in the industry. Because again, it’s hard to come up with new ideas when you’re outside of the bubble and you don’t know what’s going on inside of the bubble. You might be thinking, and flushing out the most amazing format, and then we tell you from inside the bubble that’s been pitched a hundred times and hear other reasons why it will never go.
We don’t want you wasting time necessarily on things that you may not have a lot of traction on. Also, it’s hard for a new and up and coming producers to be really valuable on the format.
It’s a lot easier for networks to go like, “Oh, thanks for the idea and now walk away.” As opposed to, when it involves a piece of talent that you have a relationship with, whether it’s a full blown docu-soap or more of a hybrid, you actually add something to the project. It will be much easier for that to be a launching pad in your producing career.
Biagio: Yeah, and again we want people who want to work in this industry, I don’t want to take just take your idea and run away with it. Our goal is, like you heard from the last episode with Joey and Natalie, ProducingUnscripted.com/029, we are looking for partners. Our goal is to train you and teach you how to work in this business, and if you go off and start your own production company one day, that would make us so happy to know that we helped you get there. Let us help you make yourself more valuable.
Okay, we’ve just gone through the first three steps, and if you’ve done these three steps to this point, you’ll know how to avoid rookie mistakes, you’ll know a good pitch from a bad one, you’ve got access to the pitch portal, you know what kind of show we are looking for. Now it’s time for step four.
Gather your best materials. Now we’ve talked about this in the episode four, how to develop shows without going broke. And really this is where you want to put together the stuff that you want to use to convince us that you have a show there. This could be photographs of your characters, it could be Skype interviews, like Joey and Natalie did and talked about in the last episode. It could be really simple interviews that are cut down to a couple of minutes each that you’ve shot on a flipcam or an iPhone.
It could even be an inexpensive pitch tape you’ve put together if you want to impress us with your filmmaking skills. We are happy to look at a pitch tape but just please, like what we always say, do not spend money making a pitch tape. But this is where you’re going to gather the materials that you really want to use to convince us you have a show there.
Joke: Just know that if it involves a character, which we would highly recommend, we must see a video on that character. And whether that’s existing YouTube links that are out there, maybe they’ve already done some stuff. Whether it’s a home video that they have that you can upload or whether it’s these Skype type interviews. But if you are pitching a character we have to see that character on tape.
Biagio: We have to see it on tape. Now, we do mention in the episode about you pitching shows without going broke, that if you are on the fence about something or you have an incredible character, incredible world that you have some great photos that you want to run it by us, you can pitch it and say, “I’m thinking about shooting some tape here, is this a world that you’d be interested in?” And we’ll try to let you know right away.
That said though, it’s always be better if you show us some kind of tape at first. And it’s up to you how fancy you want to get with that tape and how much you want to try to impress us. But please, by all means, do not spend a ton of money.
And quick side note, it has come to my attention that there are companies out there that are charging a ton of money to do a pitch tapes. I just heard about two more yesterday, and they’re basically, “Hey, you have an idea for a reality show? We can create a pitch tape for you for five thousand dollars or ten thousand dollars.” Listen, when it comes to pitching to us, you don’t need to do that.
We’ve outlined how to pitch to us without going broke. I don’t want to see anybody spend a ton of money out of their pocket to try and convince us that they have a show, when chances are we’re going to pass because most ideas are known.
This is a numbers game, you’ll going to need to pitch to us at least a few times probably to get something we’re interested in. Don’t go and spend five thousand dollars three times making pitch tapes when you could have just had a conversation with us, early on.
Joke: Yeah, and that is also, everyone is trying to run their business and I totally understand that but, they’re providing videography services in a way and some people are really good at that. But don’t take their interest in your project as a sign that you have a sellable show here. Because all they want is the money to make the pitch tape. They don’t care if the show sells or doesn’t sell. You know what I mean? It’s like when you pitch to us we’ll tell you what whether or not we’re interested in investing our money.
Biagio: Yeah.
Joke: If we are saying, “Hey I think there is something there.” Then that actually mean something. Because we’re not asking you to put up the money, we’re willing to put up our own money for it. Just know when you’re running your ideas to other people, what’s in it for them? What are they getting out of this?
Their enthusiasm doesn’t necessarily mean you have a sellable idea. A lot of these companies aren’t plugged into the business and don’t know what are sellable either. I understand they are like, “Listen, if you are going to shoot something on a crappy little video camera and you don’t know how to use it. I could make it look really good.” Sure. But what we’re saying is you don’t need to do that.
Biagio: For us.
Joke: You can give it to us on a crappy video camera. Because the truth of the matter is, if the characters don’t pop on a crappy video camera chances are they are not going to pop on a fancy cameras either.
Biagio: Just please be careful about giving your money to anybody and just know that we are never going to ask you to go and spend a ton of money, or ever to give us money. We will ask you to invest some of your time. We may ask you to invest some of you ingenuity. We may ask you to go and shoot some more footage on a crappy camera and do what you can with your time, and your personal resources.
We’re not going to ask you to put in your own money if we think something needs to be done, we’ll do it. Because we are a production company, that’s what we do. That’s what we offer, that’s part of teaming up with us.
Okay, I’m giving up my soapbox. You’re going to gather your best materials on step four. And that moves on to step five, right your paper pitch.
What is that look like, well it just so happens we have an entire podcast dedicated to helping you write your paper pitch. Head over to producingunscripted.com/023 and follow directions on how to write a paper pitch, we lay it out for you.
Joke: I can’t believe that was already like seven episodes ago. It goes over five sections we look for, and kind of the length of the paper pitch etcetera like we said, do what it says, go listen to that. No need for me to repeat it all here.
Biagio: The people that have listened to it, it’s really obvious because we get your paper pitches they followed that format exactly and we smile and go, “Oh this is someone we want to work with.” And that brings us to Step six. Log in to the pitch portal and follow directions to what Joke?
Joke: Submit your show ideas.
Biagio: To submit you show ideas. Again, I’m not going to give you step by step directions. I hinted at this earlier, if you don’t have the patience and the attention to detail to make it to this point and to actually follow the correct steps pitch us the show. Trust me, you’re not the kind of person we want to work with. Again, I am not speaking for the vast majority of you.
But I will get this random emails from people that claimed that they signed up for the newsletter, They’ve claimed they have read it, and are just clueless. If you’re clueless when it comes to following simple directions, there is just no way you’re ever going to be able to deal the complexity of producing a television show. Again, for the vast majority of you this is not a problem. Log in, follow the directions, submit the show.
Joke: Let me just sell you this. It’s not like only MIT students have figured this out. Okay, but we’ve had a wide variety of people who’ve had zero problems with it. For the few of you that keep complaining about it, it just means that you’re not paying attention.
Biagio: You’re not paying attention. The fact that so many of you are now members of the members only portal. It goes to show that it is extremely doable. Do not send us emails that say that you can’t get a hold of our lawyer or our agent at CAA. Do not send us emails saying that you’ve read and re-read the directions and have no idea where to get the submission agreement.
Joke: Ask for help. Ask somebody next to you to read it.
Biagio: Yeah.
Joke: Maybe you’re missing something.
Biagio: Figure it out. You know what, if the directions aren’t crystal clear, by the way I think they are. But if they’re not, figure it out! Part of producing, part of working in the entertainment business…
Joke and Biagio: Is problem solving!
Biagio: If you can’t solve this simple problem, you’re in trouble. Okay, enough said on that. That brings us to our seventh and final step. Wait, yes you’re going to have to wait for a little while as Joke will tell you. We honestly do try to give a personalized response to every single submission.
All of them. Sometimes it’s a very short email but it’s personalized. It’s not a form email. We want to try to, if it all possible, point you into the right direction. We want to try and tell you what’s working or what’s not working or at the very least, point you at one of our podcast episodes that may help you solve the problem in your pitch.
Of course we may also want to team up with you and make your show. We’ve teamed up now with a handful of you. But just know, that because of that it usually takes us two to four weeks to get back to any pitch, it could be longer if we’re in production. But know, we wait this long and even longer to hear back from networks when we go in for pitching. Waiting is part of the game.
Showbiz is slow biz. We will get back to you. If you haven’t heard from us in two to four weeks, you are welcome to write a follow up email, and the email that you can write to is included in the directions, and the responses that you get when you submit.
Joke: Polite persistence is fine. It’s just you have to understand that there is a process, and waiting is part of showbiz. There’s a reason why it’s called slow biz at times. If there is any specific deadline that you’re working with, in terms of an agreement with the talent running out, or something major is happening and you want to know whether or not if it’s worth it for you to go and shoot it or something like that. Just make that part of your submission pitch.
There’s plenty of areas on the form where you can draw our attention with a couple of stars and say, “Urgent, would love an answer by X,Y, Z for this reason.”
Biagio: Plenty of areas of the form.
Joke: Do not take advantage of that!
Biagio: No, if I think people are starting to take advantage of that, then I’m going to start ignoring the stars.
Joke: Yes, so for the few of you that actually do have an urgent request. Please don’t ruin it for them.
Biagio: Yes. Alright, I hope that this was helpful episode.
Joke: I feel like I was a parent on this.
Biagio: I feel like we came across like as an angry. We’re not angry and we love all of you. There’s a few of you that we’re angry with. But we really want this to be your start here. This is how you do it.
Because we do want to team up with you. And if you pitch us a show and you pitch us another show and you’re following these directions. Eventually we are going to find one to do together. We really will. That’s our goal.
You heard from Joey and Natalie last week. You guys have seen Caged on MTV. You’ve seen Ghost Inside my Child on Bio. You’ve seen Secret, Lies, and Sex on MTV. All shows that came from people just like you.
So this is real, this is the real thing. We really want to do this. We want to do it the right way. We want to save you from wasting thousands of dollars. You don’t need to waste.
We want to spend your time wisely. And honestly, we want you to bring your shows so we can have more shows on TV too. Alright, to recap. Step one, know what you’re getting in to. Go hit producingunscripted.com/YouTube subscribe and watch those first eight episodes.
Step two, sign up for the newsletter and access the member’s only portal. Step three, Login into the members only portal and see the list of show that we’re looking for right now. Step four, gather you best materials. Step five, right your paper pitch. Learn how at producingunscripted.com/023
Step six, login into the pitch portal and follow the directions to submit your show. And step seven, hang on a minute while we get back to you.
Joke: It is your pre-pitch checklist ladies and gentlemen.
Biagio: Your pre-pitch checklist. We are so excited to hear from each and every one of you. Please follow directions and again if we sound a little stern at times. Know that it’s not aimed at the vast majority of you. We do want to make this as easy as possible.
And we really do want to work with you. Please let celebrate this thirtieth episode by giving it a bunch more pitches and hopefully teaming up with more of you.
Joke: Woot-woot!
Biagio: Alright, we’re going to have a baby.
Joke: What?
Biagio: Hopefully before the next podcast episode.
Joke: Good god.
Biagio: Joke and Biagio checking out!
Joke: Bye-bye.
Biagio: Peace.
Announcer: Producing Unscripted with Joke and Biagio.
