Anybody worked in TV production?

[Brown and Boris]

Being very distrustful of the media, and Tv in particular, I was approached by a TV production company to act as the 'expert' talking head for a planned 'real life' documentary series along possibly with some interpreation of evenets as they unfold in the series. The company is relatively new but I have googled the producer and it seems they have some decent and well regarded documnetary experience here and in the US. I have watched some of their work which was adapted from a US idea and it was approached seriously and not in the 'mockumentary' mode. The proposed programme is an off shoot of that series. I turned down a similar offer last year because the programme was too much about entertainment and not enough informing and entertaining.

So, what are the pitfalls? What shoud I be checking on? What should I be asking them to agree to in writing? What are their tricks of the trade to get me onboard and then stiff me?

Second bit, although there is some business advantage to me in doing this, as it would give my business some exposure (hopefully in the right way) should I expect a fee? I know some people would do it to get their face on TV but that certaibnly isn't me and I am a little reluctant. Days spent travelling for meetings, filming, reviewing the current research etc will be time consuiming. They could walk away and find someone else but it is very niche stuff and anybody else would have to come to me for the low down anyway so it feels like I am in a pretty strong position. Having said that they are a small company and may not be able to afford proper day rates until they sell it? Reasonable to aks for the fee to increase if it is sold overseas etc?

Edited by Brown and Boris on Monday 8th December 18:08

[V8mate]

You need an agent

[Lil' Joe]

Brown and Boris said:

Being very distrustful of the media, and Tv in particular, I was approached by a TV production company to act as the 'expert' talking head for a planned 'real life' documentary series along possibly with some interpreation of evenets as they unfold in the series. The company is relatively new but I have googled the producer and it seems they have some decent and well regarded documnetary experience here and in the US. I have watched some of their work which was adapted from a US idea and it was approached seriously and not in the 'mockumentary' mode. The proposed programme is an off shoot of that series. I turned down a similar offer last year because the programme was too much about entertainment and not enough informing and entertaining.

So, what are the pitfalls? What shoud I be checking on? What should I be asking them to agree to in writing? What are their tricks of the trade to get me onboard and then stiff me?

Second bit, although there is some business advantage to me in doing this, as it would give my business some exposure (hopefully in the right way) should I expect a fee? I know some people would do it to get their face on TV but that certaibnly isn't me and I am a little reluctant. Days spent travelling for meetings, filming, reviewing the current research etc will be time consuiming. They could walk away and find someone else but it is very niche stuff and anybody else would have to come to me for the low down anyway so it feels like I am in a pretty strong position. Having said that they are a small company and may not be able to afford proper day rates until they sell it? Reasonable to aks for the fee to increase if it is sold overseas etc?

Edited by Brown and Boris on Monday 8th December 18:08

I have worked as a producer, and in my experience if you are unsure you should ask for your consent on the final cut (ie the finished, ready for broadcast version) before it is sent to the networks. They might not be happy about this but get it in the contract. Tricks of the trade are to tell you one then but broadcast another... The contract is everyrthing so get a lawyer experienced in entertaiment to help you draw it up/go over it. Make sure everything that you are worried about is a) brought up with the producer and directer verbally so they know you expectations, and b) in the contract to cover you legally.
As far as a fee is concerned, it depends on the size of the company. A tiny independant might only be able to offer expenses, but a larger one may offer a small fee. For a documentary, it is usually standard to pay a set fee and not increse if it goes overseas, (unlike fiction), however it sounds like you have them over a barrel so maybe you could have something written into the contract about all expenses paid unless it is sold overseas when you would then collect a fee. I'll be impressed if you get this though but I dont know the subject/your position....
All IMO, and I HTH

[TWSTEEL]

As above and always remember that producers are a lot like journalists (no offence Joe) and you'll be swimming in shark infested waters. BTW these particular sharks are slippery as eels as well.

[poj]

A mate of mine used to tell people that he was a TV producer,If fact he worked in a factory that made TV tubes,he reckoned that the story got him a couple of shags every year.

[Brown and Boris]

Lil' Joe said:

Brown and Boris said:

Being very distrustful of the media, and Tv in particular, I was approached by a TV production company to act as the 'expert' talking head for a planned 'real life' documentary series along possibly with some interpreation of evenets as they unfold in the series. The company is relatively new but I have googled the producer and it seems they have some decent and well regarded documnetary experience here and in the US. I have watched some of their work which was adapted from a US idea and it was approached seriously and not in the 'mockumentary' mode. The proposed programme is an off shoot of that series. I turned down a similar offer last year because the programme was too much about entertainment and not enough informing and entertaining.

So, what are the pitfalls? What shoud I be checking on? What should I be asking them to agree to in writing? What are their tricks of the trade to get me onboard and then stiff me?

Second bit, although there is some business advantage to me in doing this, as it would give my business some exposure (hopefully in the right way) should I expect a fee? I know some people would do it to get their face on TV but that certaibnly isn't me and I am a little reluctant. Days spent travelling for meetings, filming, reviewing the current research etc will be time consuiming. They could walk away and find someone else but it is very niche stuff and anybody else would have to come to me for the low down anyway so it feels like I am in a pretty strong position. Having said that they are a small company and may not be able to afford proper day rates until they sell it? Reasonable to aks for the fee to increase if it is sold overseas etc?

Edited by Brown and Boris on Monday 8th December 18:08

I have worked as a producer, and in my experience if you are unsure you should ask for your consent on the final cut (ie the finished, ready for broadcast version) before it is sent to the networks. They might not be happy about this but get it in the contract. Tricks of the trade are to tell you one then but broadcast another... The contract is everyrthing so get a lawyer experienced in entertaiment to help you draw it up/go over it. Make sure everything that you are worried about is a) brought up with the producer and directer verbally so they know you expectations, and b) in the contract to cover you legally.
As far as a fee is concerned, it depends on the size of the company. A tiny independant might only be able to offer expenses, but a larger one may offer a small fee. For a documentary, it is usually standard to pay a set fee and not increse if it goes overseas, (unlike fiction), however it sounds like you have them over a barrel so maybe you could have something written into the contract about all expenses paid unless it is sold overseas when you would then collect a fee. I'll be impressed if you get this though but I dont know the subject/your position....
All IMO, and I HTH

That is just what I needed.

I don't think they will be offering/giving me the chance to have a say on the final cut because it is less what they make it look like I said, as the context of the rest of the programmes which could reflect badly on me as a professional if the programme itself isn't fair to the participants (cast). A bit like the 'experts' they have on some entetainment shows like Big Brother; it is the quality of what they do in the show and with which you are associated which causes the damage, not so much how they edit the what you might say. The cast may well be under 18 too so the various consents they would have to get from parents/carers and their own ethical guidelines might protect the quality a bit? Or am I being naive? At the moment it is the quality of what they have done previously which reassures me, unless they slip from 'Life on Earth' to 'The Fun Police' in one step.


Useful info on fees too as it helps me make a business decision on whether participation is worthwhile ( I may have to get them to document the committment up front so we are not doing numerous trips).