Thursday, 14 March 2013

How do you get a script commissioned?

*How proposals get accepted?

All proposals for TV and online content ideas must be submitted online though e-Commissioning for BBC network content; however proposals will not be accepted through email.

*There are three things that you need to think about before you make a proposal – diversity, disability discrimination act and health and safety.

*Diversity: Your proposal should include a paragraph telling how the programme would fulfil our diversity commitment to reflect fully the licence fee paying public (on or off-screen.)

*Disability Discrimination Act: You should also explain how you will meet your obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

*Health and safety: You must know and tell about all necessary health and safety measures required during the course of any project. If any health and safety issues or concerns have occurred on previous projects commissioned by the BBC from your company, you will be required to include details of how such issues or concerns have been addressed, as part of any subsequent programme proposal submitted by your company.  

*Another thing you have to think about is cross-genre. Not all programme ideas fit under just one genre and some may fit under two or more genres, but that is not a problem because they welcome all cross-genre ideas and fully understands that their structure has to deal with a complex multi-genre multi-media world. You should select genre that you think is most appropriate. However if you do submit the idea to more than one genre then you must indicate this on each submission.

*To provide clarity as to whether an idea should be targeted at Factual or Entertainment try to define it by which of the following criteria it fits the most: subject matter or approach.

*Before you submit your idea, don’t forget to read through BBC code of practice and commissioning guidelines which will tell you more details about how you should write your proposal.

*Process of what they will do with your script. 
-The process to responding to proposal are set out in BBC Code of Practice. 
-After submission, all proposals receive an acknowledgement of proposal within one week of receipt. 
-within six weeks, Commissioning Editor will wither reject or progress the proposal further. 
-The final decision will be no later than 20 weeks from receipt of the proposal. A successful proposal will be given approval by the relevant Commissioning Editor.
-Some projects may be held over in exceptional circumstances but only with the formal agreement of the supplier. 

* Ideas from the public
- If you are a normal member of public and you are willing to submit your script to BBC, first thing you will need is work with an independent production company or a BBC production department to get ideas to the screen. 
-It would be also helpful if you would have understanding of the television process. 
-The best way of getting in touch with an interdependent production company is to do some research upon about the companies who produce the type of programmes that you have an idea for (it would be a good idea to see some programmes on TV that are similar in your story).
- Only place in BBC that accepts scripts from public is BBC production department, so if you don't have an independent production company that works with you, then your best choice would be BBC production department. 
- you should also contact your business affairs manager for any HD advice on specific titles. 
-The tariffs cover any direct costs that are from time to time agreed and incurred by the BBC such as insurance and development (which are recharged to the production).

1 comment:

  1. Good, can you add in something on about their process what they will do with your script.


    Then all in need you to do now is to look at the last two links. The first one is about what the BBC recommends you do if you have an idea for a program and the last link is about the money that the BBC might give you. For the last question imagine you are trying to get you story outline from John or Dan's class commissioned. How much might the BBC give you for that?

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