Screenwriting : How does one pitch their content to aggregators? by Gabriel Wettenstein

Gabriel Wettenstein

How does one pitch their content to aggregators?

I'm looking to pitch my original TV series to Netflix, and someone there told me that I have to get it to a content aggregator. What I have written so far is a full pilot episode, 3-season treatment with 60 original episodes/loglines and a series bible. What's the best way to go about doing so? Also, I found few sites that supposedly get writers such as myself through the gatekeepers, such as Quiver, Distribber & Tunecore. Are any of those good? Or are they just looking to take your money? What have your experiences been in this regard?

Jerry Robbins

I'm on Tunecore with the cast recording of my musical, but I thought that site was just for selling music; they in turn post it to Amazon, iTunes, etc. Distribber seems to be the same idea... a place to get your completed movie out there. Maybe Netflix thought you had the content produced?

Gabriel Wettenstein

I just realized that I need to have content made first before I do anything with a distribution company. So first, I have to enlist a production company, so I'll have something to pitch to the networks?

John Ellis

Indiewire has a good article on how indie show, 'Residue' got on Netflix:

http://www.indiewire.com/2015/04/how-to-sell-a-tv-show-to-netflix-63562/

Things to note: the creator of the show had solid business contacts; the story was good enough to attract well-known cast, as well as financing; they went ahead and shot it before pitching it; the production was good enough to attract distributors.

In general, this is a solid way to approach any production. Now, if you personally know a greenlighter at Netflix (or anywhere) well enough to get a first meeting, you can save a couple of steps, but the concept should still be awesome, and the writing has to be excellent.

And the last thing (and this is true for any meeting under any circumstances) is to make a great first impression. Because, under everything else, the exec will be asking himself/herself, "Can I work with this person? Do I want to?"

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