The Search for Talent and Ideas

With so many reality TV shows airing these days, do you ever wonder. “why not me?” What makes all the sporadic Americans on TV today better than me? For those for those of you who feel that the world would be better off knowing of your existence, or anyone who could easily win that million dollars, you do have a chance. There are a multitude of internet sites boasting the ability to give anyone their season of reality fame. Most people probably look at reality TV as a joke, but for those of you who think they have what it takes, here are some of the more promising internet ways of getting your rightful place on prime time TV. Reality Access (www.realityaccess.com) brags it’s the place where “real people become real celebrities.” The website lists a few reality series that are still looking for actors. One of the highlighted audition opportunities is for a show called “reunited.” Currently. “established” casting directors are looking for men and women over the age of 18 who have been separated from their biological parents since infancy. They are also looking for parents who gave up their children, and have not seen them since infancy. Another show that will be airing in the near future is “Hells Kitchen,” for aspiring chefs who are looking for a culinary opportunity of a lifetime. Other shows still looking for cast members are “Mr. Romantic,” looking for “handsome, athletic, fit, and outgoing men,” as well as a search for the Craziest Person in America. Below the headline reads “are you the craziest?” One can only wonder what the winners of this category will be subjected to. Sure being on TV will give you a great chance at stardom, especially if you have an actual talent, but think of how many reality TV contestants we have seen over the years. A few Blistex ads later, the majority of memorable characters fade back to where they were before they first appeared on TV. On Reality Access, you must register to see what shows are available, and what directors are looking for. This is free, but if you would like to actually submit a resume, you must pay three dollars. Reality Access claims to be different from other casting sites in a few ways. They claim that “no other website offers you the ability to submit yourself via the Internet though a special program to casting directors, producers and television executives. In addition, Reality Access is the only multi-faceted website that will offer exclusive access inside the world of reality television.” Another site that brags the ability to help you get discovered is InstantCast (www.instantcast.com). InstantCast takes a more direct approach. When you register, they send casting calls to your cell phone. If you see a part you would like to try for, all you have to do is send your resume and picture, then wait for them to call back. Seems so easy, doesn’t it? InstantCast attempts to give you a leg up on the competition because you will know about a call instantly. Text messages are sent, informing you of TV, commercial, movie, and music videos auditions. Most people get about seven calls a week, sometimes with more than one in a day and some days, there are no calls. Instant Cast brags that you can begin receiving calls the same day that you register with them. The executives behind InstantCast say they have “decades” of worldwide casting experience, and that they hand-pick casting calls that are not generally available on-line. They say they give you opportunities you could only get with an agent. It doesn’t matter where you live, but if you do get a callback, you may be expected to travel to the audition site, which usually takes place in a large city, most commonly New York, Boston, or Los Angeles. The site says that while they cannot guarantee you will be employed, they can promise that regularly reviewing and responding to calls “helps increase your odds.” Registering with InstantCast is free, although most cell phone subscribers may have to pay substantial fees for the amount of text messages that may be sent to you. Maybe you have a great idea for a show that hasn’t been made yet. Not to fear, there are places you can go to submit your ideas, even if you don’t want to act in them. The Television Writers Vault (www.tvwritersvault.com) is a database used by production companies to find ideas in many categories, including Drama Series, Made-for-TV-Movie, Documentary, Game or Talk Show, and Life Story Rights. All you need to do is register, and you can sell your scripts or ideas to a major production studio. What the page neglects to mention, however, is that once you sell your idea, your part is done. The producers can change your idea, and if it becomes the next Seinfeld, you don’t get any additional royalties over the cost you sold the original idea for. The same thing can happen if you sell the rights to your poetry or short stories. They could become famous, and you get nothing. Sellatvshow.com says they can help you find the right people to pitch your reality TV show idea to. Rick Green, creator of Collector Inspector on the Home and Garden TV station has “discovered the secret” of getting a reality TV idea on the air, and he wants to share it with us! You can sign up for a free newsletter that gives you ideas, as well as the best places to go to pitch your ideas. There are a few important basics that every reality TV writer should know. Develop your idea, write a proposal, protect the idea, identify producers, and then pitch your idea. It’s that easy! For those that take this idea seriously, there are more detailed answers for the questions you may have about selling your ideas. You can get a lifetime membership to “The Idea Club” for $99.00. The membership allows you to talk regularly with Green and submit your protected ideas to him for evaluation. You can order the download-only version of his guidebook for $49.00. The book gives a ten-step plan to selling your ideas. For $50.00, you can have a private consultation with Rick Green himself. The two of you will meet on-line for half an hour, where you can pitch your idea. He can give you advice, and if your idea is really great, he’ll even “take you on as a partner.” Do these ideas really work, or is it all just a scam to con stupid, over-confident people to part with their money. The likelihood that your idea or audition will be chosen depends also on how many other people audition, which is most likely millions. If you have a great idea, or think you are one of the worlds greatest undiscovered acting talents, by all means go for it, and scope out the help you need. If you see ads in the newspaper or on-line that require a picture to be sent, check to see if it is a reliable company. Some directors could merely be looking for pictures of pretty women in bathing suits. Also, if a company is asking you to you’re your wallet before they do anything to help you, be extra cautious as well. Some companies may not give you any helpful information, and others may not ever reply. Basically, be smart before exposing your body or your credit card number to any “get discovered quick” advertisement. Get great ideas copywrited, and then they are yours for good. There are legal ways to copywrite your work, but there is a much cheaper and faster method of copywriting that doesn’t require any legal fees or time. Simply send a hard copy of your work in a self-addressed envelope, and don’t open it. In the courts, the date on the untampered envelope is enough proof that your great idea was first.