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Why should I submit a pilot to the New York Television Festival? |
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This is an exciting time for television, akin in many ways to the movement of independent film in the early 1990’s. With new outlets and new platforms constantly emerging, there is a demand for new voices and innovative ideas outside the scope of the usual television development process.
The New York Television Festival's Independent Pilot Competition provides an opportunity for aspiring writers, directors, and producers to screen their original pilot programs directly for network and cable executives looking for the next hit show. In addition, the competition will give these aspiring artists a platform to showcase their talent to the managers, agents and other industry figures in attendance. |
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Did any pilots sell at the 2005 NYTVF? |
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The Official Comedy Selection Criss-Cross became the first independent pilot to be sold after premiering at the NYTVF. The pilot was purchased and put into development at the A&E network under the working title I Never Said That. The award-winner for Best Animation Pilot, The Back Brace, was signed to a distribution deal to be featured in six European countries. Talks between pilot-makers and networks continue, and the Festival anticipates additional announcements soon. |
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Who were pilot-makers able to meet with as a result of their project being named an Official Selection at the 2005 NYTVF? |
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Our pilot-makers have indicated to us that they met with the reps from the following networks and agencies during and after premiering their projects at the 2005 NYTVF: A&E, CAA, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, E! Networks, ESPN, Fox, Fox Sports, HBO, HDNET, ICM, Lionsgate, Management 360, Metropolitan Talent Agency, Mosiac Media, NBC, N.S. Bienstock, OLN, Showtime, Spike TV, TLC, TV Land, William Morris, and VH1. |
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What did the winners of the pilot competition receive in 2005? |
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The pilots that won the top prize in Drama, Comedy, Reality, Documentary, and Animation each received $2,000 from TV Guide. |
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Who were the panelists and speakers at the 2005 NYTVF? |
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Panelists at the 2005 NYTVF included some of the top producers and executives from all fields of television. For a complete list of panels and panelists featured in 2005, click here. |
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What if I can’t afford to make my pilot look like shows that are already on television? |
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Obviously, a polished pilot is more impressive than one with low production values, but the New York Television Festival supports the idea that talent will be the determining factor in what entries are selected as finalists. The Festival organizers and the industry figures attending understand that an independent producer putting together a pilot does not have the same budget as a studio, so an innovative idea bolstered by strong writing and good performances will be far more important than an expensive-looking pilot. The budget for Criss-Cross, a comedy pilot that sold to A&E, was reportedly less than $500. |
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Can I expect my pilot to air on television immediately following the Festival? |
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This is unlikely. The purpose of the Festival is to provide a forum in which independent producers, writers, and directors have direct access to television executives to sell an original concept or a premise for a show. In very few cases will a finished, ready-to-air product be sold. |
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What prevents the New York Television Festival, or any attendees, from stealing my ideas? |
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Anyone who has ever pitched an idea in the entertainment business is mindful about having ideas stolen. The New York Television Festival offers unique protection for independent television makers attempting to promote their ideas by providing an open marketplace in which to showcase their pilot. At the Festival, thousands of industry figures will see your name attached to your project, and this degree of visibility offers far more protection of your idea than you would have in conventional channels such as a pitch meeting. |
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Does an independent producer or production company submitting to the Festival retain the rights to the show? |
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Yes. At any time, you are free to make a deal with a network or production company to sell the concept or any other part of your show. The New York Television Festival retains no rights over the show that you are trying to sell but does retain rights to the pilot submission itself for a period of 6 months (as explained in the Exclusive Broadcast Rights period). |
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How will the New York Television Festival use my pilot, in regards to the Exclusive Broadcast Rights? |
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The Exclusive Broadcast Rights applies only to winning pilots in competition, and the NYTVF retains this right in the interests of promoting pilots after the Festival has concluded. We regard this arrangement as beneficial for all sides, as both the NYTVF and your pilot will gain valuable exposure through these promotional opportunities. |
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Can I submit my pilot to other festivals? |
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The NYTVF does not restrict your ability to submit your pilot to other festivals; however, it will only consider for Official Selections those pilots which have not been screened or are not scheduled to screen at other festivals or online before or during the 2006 NYTVF. Official Selections to the 2006 NYTVF will be announced around August 1st. If your pilot is chosen to be an Official Selection, and then it is accepted to screen concurrently at a different festival, then you must withdraw your pilot from the other festival to remain eligible as a 2006 NYTVF Official Selection. |
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Is the New York Television Festival also looking for original teleplays/scripts? |
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At this time, the New York Television Festival is only accepting completed pilots for its competition. No verbal or written pitches are being accepted. |
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What if I have more than one episode of my show? |
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The NYTVF asks that you select one episode that you feel best represents your program to submit to the competition. |
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What does the NYTVF require in press kit material? |
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The Festival is looking for information about the pilot and about the cast and crew, including a list of principal actors and the roles they play. Brief biographical info about the crew and any relevant production notes or anecdotes which can be used to promote your pilot in official literature is also very helpful. |
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What type of photographs are you looking for when submitting? |
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We are looking for photos showing a screen shot and perhaps a behind-the-scenes shot of production. These photos will be used to promote your pilot in official literature, so please no head shots. If possible, we would prefer to receive these pictures in a digital format, such as on a CD or DVD. |
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What format do I need to provide my pilot on for the submission process? |
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Submissions may be entered on VHS or DVD. For a complete list of submission guidelines, please download the official submission form. |
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Why does the NYTVF only ask for 15-22 minute pilots? I have an idea for an hour-long show. |
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Unfortunately, television is a medium of instant gratification, and it demands that you be able to present your ideas in a limited amount of time. Hopefully, the time restrictions will force pilot-makers to distill their best ideas into the pilot, leaving a much more memorable impression on the executives and industry figures watching the show. |
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Should I be concerned with clearances and copyright when shooting my pilot? |
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Yes. The Festival will not be able to accept as Official Selections any pilots that contain copyrighted music, images, or other materials. We ask that pilot-makers take great care to prevent any copyrighted material from appearing in their projects. |
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What is the NYTVF looking for in the Educational category? |
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The Educational category covers a broad spectrum of programming that includes pilots for documentary series, children’s series, and other shows that cannot neatly be summed up as nonfiction or reality television. The primary mission of a pilot submitted for the Educational category should obviously be to instruct the viewer about a particular topic or range of topics. |
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Is there a category that would be appropriate for game shows? |
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If the quality and originality of the pilot demands that the show appear in competition, the NYTVF will find a place for it. In the specific case of a game show, the pilot may be categorized as Comedy, Reality, or Educational, depending on the premise and the content. It should be noted that the NYTVF reserves the right to create new categories based on the volume and quality of the submissions it receives. If we receive a number of quality game show pilots, we may deem it necessary to create a Game Show category. |
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