Since launching in 2005, the NYTVF has served as the premiere platform for independent television, bringing the work of writers, producers and directors to the attention of the industry's decision-makers. Never before in the history of television has there been a greater demand for original, quality content and the NYTVF is dedicated to continue providing the opportunity to meet that demand.
The following is a list of questions most commonly asked by pilot-makers who are submitting or considering doing so. For a full list of rules and guidelines, please download the New York Television Festival Independent Pilot Competition Official Entry Rules. If you have any further questions, please contact us directly by email or in the “Ask the NYTVF” section.
Q: Why should I submit to the NYTVF?
Q: I noticed a change in the time restrictions for the 2008 Independent Pilot Competition. What’s the reason behind this?
Q: Online and mobile? But that’s not television, right?
Q: Does this mean I should make shorter pilots?
Q: I have a successful independent Web series already going, but my pilot episode is under 4 minutes in length. Is it eligible for the competition?
Q: What does the NYTVF do to promote their Pilot-Makers and to help educate them as to what industry executives are looking to buy today?
Q: What if I can’t afford to make my pilot look like shows that are already on television?
Q: What prevents the New York Television Festival, or any attendees, from stealing my ideas?
Q: Should I be concerned with clearances and copyright when shooting my pilot?
Q: Are there any language or other broadcast standards I must stick to when making my pilot?
Q: Does an independent producer or production company retain the rights to the show after submitting?
Q: How will the New York Television Festival use my pilot, in regards to the Exclusive Broadcast Rights?
Q: Can I submit my pilot to other festivals?
Q: Is the New York Television Festival also looking for original teleplays/scripts?
Q: What if I have more than one episode of my show?
Q: What does the NYTVF require in press kit material?
Q: What type of photographs are you looking for when submitting?
Q: What format do I need to provide my pilot on for the submission process?
Q: Should the trailer and “bonus footage” be included on the same DVD as the pilot or separate DVDs?
Q: Why should I submit to the NYTVF?
A: There is no better way for independent television creators to get their work noticed by the industry. Winners in previous years have sold to major networks such as NBC Universal Television Studios and A&E. In 2005, the winner of the Audience Award and Best Reality Pilot, Off the Hook, was developed and aired as a series on the Versus network.
In addition, Pilot-makers continue to report that they are finding work and developing projects as a direct result of the connections and relationships they made at the New York Television Festival. Being screened at the NYTVF as an Official Selection has led to numerous writers and producers finding representation at major talent agencies, and annually it results in dozens of development meetings between artists and various production companies and networks. A partial list of the companies that have contacted our pilot-makers during or after the NYTVF includes: A&E, Bravo, CAA, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, E! Networks, ESPN, FOX, FX, HBO, HDNET, ICM, Lionsgate, MTV, NBC, N.S. Bienstock, Paradigm, Showtime, Spike TV, TLC, TV Land, Warner Bros., William Morris, and VH1. The NYTVF is an unprecedented opportunity for aspiring artists looking to make inroads in the TV industry.
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Q: I noticed a change in the time restrictions for the 2008 Independent Pilot Competition. What’s the reason behind this?
A: The limits on pilots eligible for the 2008 Independent Pilot Competition are now running times between 4 and 22 minutes. This change is being made to allow producers more creative freedom to create and submit pilots for shows that are more adaptable to emerging platforms, such as online and mobile.
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Q: Online and mobile? But that’s not television, right?
A: We disagree. In this new era of television programming, more and more opportunities are opening up for producers on new media platforms, which are equally as hungry for new voices and content as the networks. The line has already started to blur between content made for television and for emerging digital platforms, and this trend will only continue in the future. We feel it is our responsibility to give our artists the opportunity to explore these new programming frontiers by submitting pilots that are more adaptable to new media.
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Q: Does this mean I should make shorter pilots?
A; No, it simply means that if you have a terrific idea for a new show that would work well in shorter episodes, the NYTVF wants to give you the opportunity to showcase it for the entire industry. Your pilot should be exactly as long as it needs to be to properly introduce and convey your idea for your series. If you envision your series as being primarily aimed at television, you should produce it with the length, pacing, and structure of a television pilot in mind. If you envision it as an online show, you should produce it accordingly. Or, throw out all conventions and produce something completely original and innovative. Ultimately, a broader time limit gives the artist more flexibility.
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Q: I have a successful independent Web series already going, but my pilot episode is under 4 minutes in length. Is it eligible for the competition?
A: In cases such as these, the Festival permits you to submit the pilot along with as many additional episodes as it will require to meet a minimum running time of 4 minutes. We will not display just the pilot, because we want to be able to show executives that your idea can be sustained for at least 4 minutes of content.
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Q: What does the NYTVF do to promote their Pilot-Makers and to help educate them as to what industry executives are looking to buy today?
A: No one does more than the NYTVF to help up-and-coming television producers connect with the decision-makers in the television industry and get their work seen. All Official Selections to the Independent Pilot Competition are sent to the development departments at top networks and to talent agencies on a DVD in the weeks leading up to the Festival. During the Festival, the NYTVF holds closed-door industry chats with representatives from networks and production companies such as A&E, Comedy Central, NBC, Bravo, E!, and MSN. The Festival also holds several industry-only events offering artists the chance to meet with development and programming people from top networks and production companies.
In 2007, the NYTVF launched its Fellowship Program, which pairs the most promising artists in the Independent Pilot Competition with some of the most prominent producers working in the industry today. The four recipients of NYTVF Fellowships were hand-selected by these producers, who will act as mentors for the pilot-maker on his or her next television project. The mentors participating in this inaugural year of the program include Michael Davies, Tom Fontana, Mitchell Hurwitz, and Phil Rosenthal.
Thanks to an exclusive arrangement with Signature Sponsor MSN, all Official Selections are broadcast online for people all over the country to enjoy, maximizing the exposure our artists received for their work. Furthermore, in 2007 the NYTVF announced its TV Festival PassPort Program. As part of this unique program, our Fellowship recipients will be invited to attend and screen their work at television festivals around the world. Partners in the program this year include the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival in the U.K. and the Rio de Janeiro International Television Festival in Brazil.
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Q: What if I can’t afford to make my pilot look like shows that are already on television?
A: 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 in the hundreds of dollars.
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Q: What prevents the New York Television Festival, or any attendees, from stealing my ideas?
A: Anyone who has ever pitched an idea in the entertainment business is mindful of 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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Q: Should I be concerned with clearances and copyright when shooting my pilot?
A: Yes. The Festival will not be able to accept as Official Selections any pilots that contain music, images, or other materials that can be interpreted as infringing on another¹s copyright. We ask that pilot-makers take great care to prevent any copyrighted material from appearing in their projects unless they have secured clearances for Festival and online use of that material.
Copyright infringement is a subjective matter, and the easiest way to avoid a situation in which the Festival screening committees must make a judgment on the use of copyrighted material in your pilot is to avoid this material altogether. If you are concerned about the use of copyrighted material in your pilot, this link leads to a helpful primer on the fair use of copyrighted materials in online video:
http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/resources/publications/fair_use_in_online_video
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Q: Are there any language or other broadcast standards I must stick to when making my pilot?
A: You are free to include content in your pilot that would be acceptable on a show airing on a premium cable network. From a rating standpoint, this is roughly equivalent to a TV-MA or an R-rating in film and all ratings below. That being said, the majority of development and programming people who watch your pilot work for networks and companies that are restricted by broadcast standards, and the inclusion of adult content might affect their impressions of your show. If you choose to feature adult content, bear in mind that you are also potentially narrowing the size of buyers who would be able to air your program as well as the our ability to promote it.
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Q: Does an independent producer or production company retain the rights to the show after submitting?
A: 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 ownership rights over the show that you are trying to sell but does retain the right to promote your work by broadcasting the pilot submission on the air or over the Internet. If you are successful in selling your show, the NYTVF will voluntarily relinquish its rights to further publicize your pilot if that is your wish.
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Q: How will the New York Television Festival use my pilot, in regards to the Exclusive Broadcast Rights?
A: The Exclusive Broadcast Rights applies only to 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 you and your pilot will continue to enjoy valuable industry exposure through these promotional opportunities.
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Q: Can I submit my pilot to other festivals?
A: The NYTVF does not restrict your ability to submit your pilot to other Festivals. One caveat: in determining what pilots represent the Festival as Official Selections, preference is often given to fresh pilots that have not yet been seen by the industry. This is only a rule of thumb and by no means a hard-and-fast rule.
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Q: Is the New York Television Festival also looking for original teleplays/scripts?
A: 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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Q: What if I have more than one episode of my show?
A: If the show has episodes running longer than 4 minutes, the NYTVF asks that you select one episode that you feel best represents your program to submit to the competition. If your show features multiple episodes that run under 4 minutes in length, you may include more than one episode to meet a total running time that exceeds 4 minutes. The NYTVF wants to be able to show executives that you are capable of sustaining you idea for a minimum of 4 minutes.
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Q: What does the NYTVF require in press kit material?
A: 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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Q: What type of photographs are you looking for when submitting?
A: 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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Q: What format do I need to provide my pilot on for the submission process?
A: Submissions must be provided on DVD. For a complete list of submission guidelines, please download the official submission form.
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Q: Should the trailer and “bonus footage” be included on the same DVD as the pilot or separate DVDs?
A: We will accept either, though it is easier for us to process the trailer and bonus footage materials if they are on a separate DVD. Whichever method you choose, please remember to label clearly which DVDs contain the pilot and which contain the other materials.
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