RVS

Question 1

What is the difference between a Network and a Studio? (site several examples)

Answer 1

Studio: Produces programming for a distributor.

Network: A distribution outlet that distributes programming to it’s viewership and generates revenue through advertising (broadcast and cable networks), subscriber fees (cable, satellite) and premium subscriber fees (HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc.). Networks essentially rent (or license) shows from studios to air on their respective network.

Question 2

What is the difference between an

Agent and a Manager?

Answer 2

Agent: Responsible for the day-to-day procurement of work for his/her client and is licensed to negotiate deals.

Manager: Generally more concerned with the long-term career strategy and also may produce or co produce programming.

Question 3

What are the Top 4 Agencies?

Name 3-5 additional talent agencies
that work in television.

Answer 3

Top 4 Agencies:
•	WME2 – William Morris Endeavor 
•	CAA – Creative Artists Agency
•	ICM – International Creative Management
•	UTA – United Talent Agency

3-5 Additional Agencies:
 Innovative Artists  Gersh Agency
 Kaplan Stahler Agency  APA
 Rebel Entertainment Partners  Paradigm

Question 4

What are the Top Management Companies?

Answer 4

Top Management Companies:

• Brillstein Entertainment Partners
• Mosaic Media Group
• Untitled Entertainment
• 3 Arts Entertainment
• Anonymous
• Management 360

Question 5

What are the Big 5 Broadcast Networks?

Answer 5

ABC, NBC, CBS, FBC, CW

Question 6

Name at least 5 Television Studios

and their technical names.

Answer 6

Television Studios Technical Names:

• ABC Television Studios
• Imagine Entertainment
• Twentieth Century Fox Television
• Universal Television
• Regency Television
• DreamWorks Television
• Warner Brothers Television
• Sony Pictures Television

Question 7

Name at least 12 Cable Networks.

Answer 7

Cable Networks:

  A&E		  Bravo	  ESPN	  FX
  FSN		  GSN	  HBO	  MTV
  SyFy		  TNT	  TBS	  USA
  Comedy Central		  Discovery Channel
  Disney Channel		  E! Entertainment
  Lifetime			          Nickelodeon
  Oxygen			          Showtime

Question 8

Name at least 5 genres of Reality Television:

Answer 8

Genres of Reality Television:
•	Game Show
•	Talk Show
•	Elimination/Competition
•	Vérité
•	Dating Relationship
•	Documentary
•	Sports
•	Event Programming
•	Hidden Camera

Question 9

What is the pecking order of writers of scripted programming from top to bottom?

Answer 9

Writers Scripted Programming Pecking Order:
•	EP 	– Executive Producer
•	CoEP 	– Co-Executive Producer
•	SuP 	– Supervising Producer
•	P 	– Producer
•	CoP 	– Co-Producer
•	ESE	 – Executive Story Editor
•	SE 	– Story Editor 
•	 	– Staff  Writer

Question 10

What is a Development Executive?

Answer 10

Development Executive: works with writers and producers to develop the next slate of original programming, primarily by hearing pitches from writers and producers of television series ideas.

Question 11

What is the difference between a rating and a share?

Answer 11

Rating: One point is one percent of the total potential TV audience in the market.

Share: This is the percentage of television sets in use tuned to the program.

Question 12

What is an Overall Deal?

Answer 12

Overall Deal: This is a development deal that a network or studio makes with a particular writer or producer.

Question 13

What is a Competitive Report?

Answer 13

Competitive Report: A report that details the projects in development at each competing broadcast network, cable network and/or studio. For example, a broadcast network competitive report wold list all the drama projects, comedy projects and non-scripted projects at each network: NBC, ABC, CBS, FBC and CW

Question 14

What is a Blind Script?

Answer 14

Blind Script: This is when a network or studio makes a deal with a writer to write a script, but the specific idea has not been determined yet and will be determined in the future. The goal is to secure a project from a particular writer even if that writer does not have an idea at the present time that is suitable for that particular network or studio.

Question 15

What is a Lay Off?

Answer 15

Lay Off: Since most projects are produced by a studio and distributed by a network, sometimes a writer goes into a network and pitches an idea without a studio attached at that time. If the network likes the idea, they will “lay it off” at a studio to produce it in the future.

Question 16

What is a One Off?

Answer 16

One Off: A televised special (a la Rudolph or MTV Music Awards) as opposed to a series (Friends, ER, etc.).

Question 17

What is a General Meeting vs. a Pitch Meeting?

Answer 17

General Meeting: When a Development Executive meets a Writer or Producer for the first time to just talk and get to know each other.

Pitch Meeting: When a Writer or Producer has a specific idea that (s)he wants to pitch to a development executive.

Question 18

What is a Line Producer?

Answer 18

Line Producer: Responsible for all the physical aspects of the production. S(he) is responsible for the budget, production calendar and physical nuts and bolts of the show, including negotiating below the line deals (craft services, set, lighting costs, etc.). They deal with all the day-to-day aspects of the show (gaffers, grips, editors, shoot schedule, not shooting into overtime, etc.) and making sure that those aspects stay within the parameters of the budget.

Question 19

What is a Creative Producer?

Answer 19

Creative Producer: Makes sure that the original creative vision of the show is realized before, during and after the production of the show. His/her job is to make sure that the format, characters, actors or contestants, host, look, tone, writers and directors are all working towards that vision. The creative producer also works with the executives at the studio and the network to realize that vision.

Question 20

What is Deficit Financing?

Answer 20

Deficit Financing: When a studio produces a show for less than what the network is paying/leasing for the show in hopes of recouping it’s costs through syndication, sales and rentals.

Question 21

What is the difference between Current Programming and Development?

Answer 21

Current Programming: Television shows that are already on the air.

Development: The next wave of original programming.

Question 22

What is a Drive On?

Answer 22

Drive On: A pass to enter a (studio) lot.

Question 23

What is a Show Runner?

Answer 23

Show Runner: Responsible for the day-to-day operation of the television series and the primary person who is ultimately responsible for the creative vision of the show. In television, the Show Runner usually outranks the director and is traditionally the creator or co-creator of the series. In a long running series, often the creator of the show moves on, and day-to-day responsibilities of show running devolves to other writers or writing teams.

Question 24

What is the difference between a

Presentation and a Pilot?

Answer 24

Presentation: A shorter, cheaper version of a pilot which ranges from 5-6 minutes up to 15-20 minutes for a half hour show.

Pilot: 22 minutes for a half hour show and 44 minutes for an hour long show.

Question 25

What are Zig Gautier’s credits and positions held?

Answer 25

Zig Gautier’s Credits: • Spring Break 24/7 - Senior Producer • Model Employee - Supervising Producer • Auction Hunters – Producer • Top Shot – Segment Producer • Ghost Hunters – Story Producer • Hookers: Saved on the Strip – Field Producer • The Othersiders – Executive Producer (Associated with Red Varden Studios)

Question 26

Name Base Camp Film’s Credits.

Answer 26

Base Camp Film’s Credits: * Six Degrees of X * Worldwide Web Games * Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive * Street Racing: Pedal to the Metal * Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Question 27

What are the most important commodities in Hollywood?

Answer 27

Time and information

Question 27

What is First Run Syndication?

Answer 27

First Run Syndication: Selling an original program to affiliates and local stations on a market-by-market, city-by-city level, as opposed to selling it nationally all at once to a broadcast or cable network. The “First Run” means the first airing of a program and not a rerun. By doing so, producers have more control over the content but there is a cost for this; often the show needs to either play to a low common denominator (Springer, Blind Date, etc) or be talent driven (Oprah, Ellen, etc.) in order to generate ratings.

Question 28

What are the 6 casting documents?

Answer 28

- Casting Candidate Outreach - Casting Candidate Summary - Craigslist Template - Facebook/ Email Template - Press Release - Flyer