cfc tv pilot program

8/14/2019 CFC TV Pilot Program

1/7

2489 Bayview Avenue | Toronto ON | M2L 1A8 | Canada | Tel: (416) 445-1446 | www.cfccreates.com

CFC TV PILOT PROGRAM

OVERVIEW

Fast-track your series to immediate broadcaster consideration Do in months what usually takes yearsby submitting your series idea to the CFC TV Pilot Program.

The TV Pilot Program is designed as a fully-mentored, thorough immersion in dramatic television seriesproduction and packaging, from concept right through development, to prep, production, post anddelivery.

The Program seeks to introduce new creators and producers to the realities of the broadcast businessand provide them with a professional television development and production experience where they willbe trained to effectively deliver on their series idea. The program also trains the creative team on how tobest package and sell their series in the marketplace.

The CFC works with broadcast partners to select up to 3 series concepts to further develop, produceand deliver hour presentation pilots for hour or hour-long show concepts. 2006 Broadcast Partnersincluded CTV, CBC, Global, CHUM, The Comedy Network, Showcase, The Movie Network, MovieCentral, Family, and YTV.

Creators and producers complete the program with a broadcast-quality hour presentation pilot thatshowcases their creative and professional abilities, increases their skills, and exposes them and their

newly-developed series to the television marketplace.

Please note that program details may be subject to change.


2/7

2 CFC TV Pilot Program 2007 Application Package

PROGRAM TIMELINE

APPLICATION DEADLINE MULTIPLE DEADLINES EACH YEARThe CFC will conduct phone interviews with teams moving forward for broadcaster consideration.

SHORT-LISTED APPLICATIONS SENT TO BROADCASTERSThe CFC shortlists projects based on project readiness, the creator and producer team, as well as marketand broadcaster needs.

BROADCASTER PITCHESBroadcasters short-list projects for pitch meetings. Short-listed teams are prepared by the CFC ExecutiveProducer in Residence on how to take the meeting and how to best represent their series.

PROJECTS AND TEAMS SELECTEDBroadcasters inform the CFC of the projects that they would like to greenlight for development andproduction.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT PHASE I APROX. 10 WEEKSThe creative team works with mentors to develop the script and series according to both broadcasterand CFC considerations and notes. At this point the teams also participate in individually tailoredtraining and workshops in order to both make the team better able to complete the pilot, as well as toimprove their professional skill set beyond the program.

TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT AND PREP PHASE II APROX. 4 WEEKSThe team makes final changes to the script, assembles creative keys for CFC and broadcaster approval,holds rehearsals and table reads, and readies the pilot for production.

PRODUCTION WINDOW 5 DAYSTeams will go into production only when all broadcaster and CFC approvals have been met.

POST AND PACKAGING 12 WEEKS

FINAL DELIVERYTeams will deliver a presentation pilot for broadcaster evaluation and testing


3/7


APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS

The application and selection process for the CFC TV Pilot Program is intended to reflect the real worldof television development as accurately as possible.

Applicants apply with a full proposal for their TV series. The application must include:

- Series pitch (5-7 pages), including a one paragraph overview of the show, concept, tone,character descriptions, several sample season I storylines, and the potential direction for seasonII.

- Pilot script (or other representative script for the series) hour-long shows should submit anhour-long script, which will be altered to fit production parameters during development.

- Bios and CVs for creator(s) and producer(s)- Preference will be given to teams with television experience or credits the producer must have

60 minutes of produced credits or be pre-approved by the CFC

- The creator and producer must apply as a team.Creators who do not have a producer should contact the TV Pilot Program well in advance of theapplication deadline to discuss potential producers. Producers who are interested in meeting withcreators in order to participate in the TV Pilot Program should also contact the CFC as soon as possible.

All live-action narrative genres will be considered drama, comedy, mock-doc, serial, teen, family andchildrens. The CFC will shortlist projects according to their creative excellence and series potential, as

well as their market viability. Technical and creative innovation is encouraged, with an eye to low-budgetproduction.

Each prospective broadcaster will be approached with those series proposals appropriate to theirprogramming needs.

All short-listed projects are guaranteed to be read by a minimum of one broadcast partner. Broadcasterswho are interested in moving forward with any of the series proposals will take pitch/story meetings withthe relevant teams.

Broadcast partners will provide an expedited decision process. Up to three projects per year will begreen-lit, each with its own broadcast partner

Short-listed projects which are not selected for development through the TV Pilot Program remain theproperty of the Creator and Producer team, and the CFC has no further obligation to the project.


4/7


TRAINING OVERVIEW

The TV Pilot Program is an extended training program for emerging television creators and producers.

- The program runs for approximately 6 months- While not a full-time in session commitment we require that the creator and producer make it

their first priority

- The TV Pilot Program provides mentorship throughout the entire process- The TV Pilot Program is not designed for creators or producers to take on additional key creative

responsibilities (ie. director or editor).

Training is designed to address the individual needs of each team and project. A more comprehensiveplan and schedule will be developed as soon as the projects are green-lit. However, all teams willactively participate in:

1. DEVELOPMENT: PHASE I

As soon as a project has been accepted for development with a broadcaster, training begins. Theprimary purpose of this training phase is for the creator and producer to understand the collaborativeand consultative process of episodic television. The team must learn to serve the creative, while meetingbroadcaster considerations.

The Executive Producer in Residence shepherds the creator and producers individual training, ensuringthat key consultants are available during development and production. For example:

- For creators with significant episodic experience as writers or story editors, the training willemphasize their eventual role as Creators on their own series

- For producers with significant episodic production experience, the training will emphasize theircreative and broadcast negotiating skills

The first aspect of episodic production that both the creator and producer will be exposed to is the keyrole of the broadcaster and their input into the shows that they develop. The team will take meetingswith broadcast executives, and receive notes on how the series can best fit the broadcasters brand.

- Each team will be matched with a story consultant who has significant episodic television credits- The story consultant acts as a creative collaborator in the further development of the bible and

pilot script, and to help the team negotiate and implement broadcaster notes as the script andbible undergo rewrites

Depending on the needs of the individual creator and their project, the series consultant could beanother writer, or they could be a story editor, story consultant, creator, or executive producer they willnot act as writers on the pilot or bible.


5/7


The story consultant will have no further obligations to the CFC or the series after the delivery of thepilot. Likewise, the CFC and creative team will have no further obligations to the consultant.

The teams will participate in workshops and seminars throughout the course of development. Some ofthese workshops include:

- Funding available and application procedures- Clearances and E&O insurance- Marketing and publicity realities and audience development opportunities- Key casting- Budgeting for a series- Packaging of the series- Domestic & international marketplace/distribution- Shopping the series to executive producers/production companies and managing the executive

producer relationship

- Building a writing team- Protecting interests and rights- The business of music- Business affairs and legal workshops- New technologies and how to expand content beyond conventional broadcast.Teams will also meet with the various production/post suppliers and the CFCs production departmentto determine and negotiate the resources required to produce their pilot.

2. DEVELOPMENT/PREP: PHASE II

The team proceeds into formal prep. They shortlist and present creative keys including the director,editor and cast for Broadcaster approval, as well as hold acting workshops/rehearsals in order to addressany final creative and production considerations.

The teams will work with experienced professionals including a location manager, production designer,costume designer, casting director, and other key roles in order to both learn the considerations of theirpositions, and to address the pertinent issues of individual projects. These industry professionals willhave no further commitment to the team or the project, but if required, they may be brought on asmentors by the CFC.

At the end of Phase II, the team will have made all necessary adjustments to the script, assembled thecreative and production team, and readied the presentation pilot for production.


6/7


3. PRODUCTION & POST-PRODUCTION & DELIVERY

These pilots will demonstrate industry standard production values.

- Each pilot will be shot within a 5-day shooting schedule, and will adhere to CFC union/guildagreements and reporting procedures

- Like all of the other CFC productions, the pilots will recruit experienced and emerging volunteercast & crews

- Each production team will be given modest cash budgets and access to in-kind deals withTorontos top production suppliers and post facilities

- Each team will have up to 12 weeks for post-picture & sound and delivery- Technical specifications of individual broadcasters will be met- The program will introduce the creator and producer, as well as their series, to a number of

production companies in order to solicit their interest, feedback and support of the show andteam. This process will ideally help broker future relationships between the teams, executiveproducers and production companies

The CFC owns the completed pilots, but the creator retains copyright of his or her written work subjectto the CFC having the rights needed to facilitate placing the project with a production company and/orbroadcaster.


7/7


THE ROLE OF THE BROADCASTER

Broadcasters are involved in every stage of the process, and the creative team should expect to gothrough the normal rigors associated with broadcaster input. In keeping with standard practice, thebroadcaster will work closely with the teams to provide feedback, counsel and approvals, some of whichinclude:

- Creative input into the direction of the pilot script, series package, key cast & crew, andproduction concerns/decisions

- All crucial stages of production and post production, including rough cut and fine cut screeningsand final mix

Broadcaster development of the TV Pilot does not include a license to broadcast. However, broadcasters

will have:

- the option to license and broadcast the completed pilots- the option of further developing the concept, test-marketing, or ordering the series for

production

- the right of first negotiation to license the series for production with the teams at industrystandard rates

If you are interested in applying, or require more information, please contact the CFC TV PilotCoordinator at [email protected].

cfc tv pilot program

Documents