Video Library: Industry Leaders Share Their Keys to Success
The Funding Workshop – MIPDoc 2013
The Smithsonian Channel’s Do's & Don'ts for Getting the Right Partners on Board
David Royle, EVP Programming & Production, Smithsonian Networks, USA
Moderator: Peter Hamilton
David shares his programming team’s strategies for developing three tiers of programs: Signature ‘tent pole’ specials (‘Titanboa’); Prime time Specials & Series (‘The Shot Felt Around the World’; ‘Treasures Decoded’); and Popular Formats (‘L.A. Frock Stars’).
Note to file: ‘The Shot’ is a production of Pittsburgh’s Steeltown Entertainment, a valued client. It captures Jonas Salk’s struggle to develop his polio vaccine. Bill Gates is interviewed in the film. Stephanie Dangel and Peter Hamilton are co-Executive Producers
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New Frontiers in Archival Footage – MIPDoc 2013
The ‘MLK Assassination’ Case Study
Tom Jennings, Executive Producer & Founder, 1895 Films, USA
David Royle, EVP Programming & Production, Smithsonian Networks, USA
Moderator: Peter Hamilton
Tom Jennings and David Royle explore in great detail the development and commissioning of Tom’s Peabody Award-winning documentary.
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We recorded two short interviews on the fly in Cannes at MIPDoc.
New Frontiers in Archive: Case Study - 'MLK The Assassination Tapes' #1
Peabody Award winning producer Tom Jennings describes the challenges of clearing the MLK archive.
New Frontiers in Archive: Case Study - 'MLK The Assassination Tapes' #2
Smithsonian Channel EVP David Royle on the opportunities and risks involved in working with the MLK archives.
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AIDC Bites are short interviews recorded on the fly at the 2013 Australian International Documentary Conference.
AIDC Bites #1 - The Importance of Character
Steve Burns, Rollercoaster Road Productions
Suzi Taylor, Fingerprint Productions
AIDC Bites #2 - The Perfect Pitch
Pat Ferns, Ferns Productions
AIDC Bites #3 - Trends in China
Steven Seidenberg, LIC-BCBC China
Peter Hamilton, DocumentaryTelevision.com
AIDC Bites #4 - A Short History of 'The Pitch'
Pat Ferns, Ferns Productions
AIDC Bites #5 - Documentary Distribution in our Digitized World
Tim Sparke, Mercury Media International
Sam Collins, Sam Collins Media
AIDC Bites #6 - Screen Territory in the Northern Territory, Australia
Penelope McDonald, Screen Territory
AIDC Bites #7 - Documentary making for the Classroom
Andrew Pike, Ronin Films
AIDC Bites #8 - New Trends in Children's Factual Television
Thierry Bled, ABC Children’s Television
AIDC Bites #9 - Documentaries in 3D?
Torsten Hoffmann, 3D Content Hub
AIDC Bites #10 - Documentary Ethics
David Tiley, Screen Hub
AIDC Bites #11 - A Conference Wrap-up
Peter Hamilton, DocumentaryTelevision.com
Videographer // Sean M. Elliott
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How Do Networks Evaluate Pitches?
What Works? What Kills a Deal!
H2, ZDF-Germany, CNN Documentaries, Smithsonian Channel, Nat Geo Channel
In this step-by-step guide, five commissioners of documentaries and factual programs reveal how they schedule, take, process and approve pitches.
The session from Impact Summit 2013 analyses the entire commissioning process, from concept to green light… from “what works!” to “what kills a deal?”
Panelists
Paul Cabana, Head of Programming, H2
Claudia Ruete, Politics & Current Affairs, ZDF Germany
Jennifer Hyde, Director of Development, CNN
David Royle, EVP, Programming & Production, Smithsonian Channel
JC Mills, Director of Development, National Geographic Channel
Peter Hamilton, Moderator, DocumentaryTelevision.com
'How To Pitch', Impact Media Summit, Part 1
Introduction:
- What are your channel’s key filters?
Questions:
- How are pitch meetings best arranged?
- Are your doors open to new producers?
- What are the most common killers of a pitch meeting?
- Paper or video: What are the formats that channels prefer for pitches?
- How important is video?
- How much should producers spend on their pitch? Do they need to bring co-production funds?
'How To Pitch', Impact Media Summit, Part 2
Questions:
- What are the steps taken by channels internally to approve a concept?
- What is the typical timeline?
- What happens after final approval of a concept?
- What are deal killers following approval of a project
Videographer: Eli Brown
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History Makers Panel – 2012
The Panelists
Peter Gaffney, Senior Vice President, Programming Strategy, Scheduling & Acquisitions: History / H2
Dirk Hoogstra, Senior Vice President, Development & Programming: History / H2
Piero A. Corsini, Series Producer, Rai Educational
History Makers Panel. Pt. 1. The 'New' H2. Intro. H2 Branding. Sizzle Reel
Moderator Peter Hamilton welcomes the delegation of producers led by Singapore’s Media Development Authority. He opens the conversation. History’s Dirk Hoogstra & Peter Gaffney: The H2 mandate is to be entertaining and relevant. “Information AND entertainment!” Pipeline: 180 hours. They present the H2 sizzle reel.
History Makers Panel. Pt. 2. H2: Entertainment- or Content-driven? History's Signature Series
Information is the star, but it must be entertaining. What keeps people engaged? The “WOW! Factor”. Rebranding isn’t a slam dunk. ‘Ice Road Truckers’ was a lucky break in the risky process of introducing character-driven series to History. Failure is an opportunity to learn. Takeaways from History’s misses. H2 is open to new genres, even Comedy. The development structure at History and H2: 15 developers. And everyone both develops and oversees programs.” How open is History to pitches from new producers? How do History’s classic signature series, like ‘America The Story of US’ fit into their programming strategy? What’s next?
History Makers Panel. Pt. 3. Rai Educational. Case Study: Programming for a Big Anniversary
Because of his audience’s appetite for WW2-era docs, Rai’s Piero A. Corsini jokes that it was the Nazis who used to pay his producers’ salaries. But a series on the 150th anniversary of Italy’s reunification avoids the ‘boring’ trap and earns both big audiences and acclaim. He has 1,066 hours to fill: 50 % are acquisitions and 50% in house productions. How many are International copro’s? Like Public TV everywhere, Rai’s budgets are getting tighter and tighter. Plus a glimpse of a handsome Toscanini doc. See the clips.
History Makers Panel. Pt. 4. The 'New' H2 / Rai Educational. Q+A
H2′s target demo / H2′s appetite for presenter-led programs / Rai demo’s / Cord-cutting and TV viewing trends in Italy and U.S. / Is there a place for international characters on H2? / Thoughts on dramatizations / The Kennedy’s? / So where’s the diversity?
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Pawn Stars Panel: Anatomy of a Hit Reality Series – 2011
The Panelists
Brent Montgomery, Leftfield Pictures
Rob Miller, Peleton Entertainment
Mary Donahue, Executive Producer, History Channel
This panel discussion was created by Peter Hamilton, editor of the ‘indispensible’ business newsletter DocumentaryTelevision.com, and Pamela Jones, Attorney (www.PamelaJonesEsq.com).
Pawn Stars Panel Pt 1: The Rise of Leftfield
Part 1. Peter Hamilton recaps the ratings impact of Pawn Stars. Brent Montgomery describes how he worked his way up the production ladder, and what he learned before he established Leftfield Productions. Agent Rob Miller says ‘casting’ and ‘execution’ are keys to success.
Pawn Stars Panel Pt 2: Reality Talent - A 'How To'
Part 2 is a discussion of how producers find and compensate great talent for reality shows. How should talent view their compensation?
Pawn Stars Panel Pt. 3. Concept & Pitch
How the Pawn Stars concept was developed and pitched, and the various contributions of History’s Development team, Leftfield and agent Rob Miller.
Pawn Stars Panel Pt. 4. A Series for Hard Times
Part 4 is a discussion of how History’s development team shaped the series concept using references to standout shows from different eras. Was ‘Antiques Roadshow’ a model? Mary Donahue was inspired by the appetite for screwball comedies during hard times. Brent emphasizes ‘stakes’ and ”the haggle.’
Pawn Stars Panel Pt. 5. Keeping a Series Fresh
Part 5 is a discussion of how networks and producers sustain a hit show like Pawn Stars.
Pawn Stars Panel Pt. 6. Mechanics of the Deal
Part 6: Q&A. The deal: Can producers evolve beyond the work-for-hire model.
Pawn Stars Panel Pt. 7. Q&A. More on 'The Deal'
Part 7. Q&A. What happens when networks want revenue shares with talent? Discussion of season renewal deals.
Pawn Stars Panel Pt. 8. What's Next for Leftfield?
Part 8. The end of the Q&A. Leftfield looks for broadcast commissions and more cable hits. Mary says that History is open to pitches, PROVIDED that producers have done their homework on the brand!
