Hello everyone!
I’m new here and really excited to be in a community where we all get what makes a story truly shine.
I stumbled upon something I truly believe is made for TV—a family that feels completely authentic, without the polished, scripted feel. It’s the kind of dynamic that just can’t be created. It’s loud, chaotic, hilarious, emotional, and yet, it’s grounded in real-life challenges that truly matter.
At the heart of it is a mom who absolutely commands attention—unfiltered, bold, and naturally magnetic. She’s raising a family with big personalities and real complexities, and the way they navigate life together is unpredictable in the best way. It’s a world where a simple idea can turn into a fully booked trip in minutes, where every conversation could take a wild turn, and where humor and heart coexist perfectly.
I’ve started developing this as an unscripted/docu-series concept (think high-energy, character-driven, with real emotional depth), and I have a feeling this is something bigger than just an idea—it’s something people would actually watch and connect with.
I’m here because I want to take this seriously and do it the right way.
For those of you who have experience getting projects in front of producers or developing unscripted content:
• What’s the most effective way to get something like this seen?
• What actually makes a producer stop and pay attention at this stage?
• And what mistakes should I avoid early on?
I appreciate any insight—I’m looking forward to learning from all of you.
Thank you,
Alicia
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Hi Alicia Charette - i’ve actually sold an unscripted project to two different networks E! and USA. Is this family that you are wanting to write about an actual family? If so, you’ll have to work on getting the rights to tell their story. I would recommend putting together a pitch document that outlines your characters with photos and unique traits, as well as locations that you envision your unscripted series is taking place, and then a breakdown of what you think could potentially happen to this family in a season arc.
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also, I think you’ll find this webinar really helpful: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/what-makes-an-unscripted-show-attractive-to-a-cable-or-streaming-buyer
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Welcome! I hope you get everything you need out of this platform. The blogs are great and Geoff F. gives a serious amount of weekly insider intel to keep us all informed as to what is happening in the industry. Also, the Open Houses are good to attend so keep an eye out for those. Cheers!
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Hi Alicia, welcome! This sounds like a really strong concept, especially since it’s rooted in real personalities and dynamics, that’s usually what makes unscripted stand out.
From what I’ve been learning, clarity seems to be key at this stage — being able to communicate the core idea, tone, and why this specific family is compelling to watch.
I’ve also seen people mention that having a clear proof-of-concept or a strong pitch deck can really help when approaching producers.
Curious to see how this develops — it sounds like something with a lot of energy and heart!
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Hi everyone! Thank you for the feedback! I really appreciate it all!
Amanda Toney Yes this is an actual family, and I have their permission to advocate for them, for this project. They are 100% on board!
I know the pitch is currently focused on Vanessa being at the center of it all- which she is, there is also another concept with Cody, the 18 year old, childhood brain cancer survivor, who sees life through his own lens and doesn’t let his disability hold him back. He is an absolute riot, very strong personalities all around here. Currently, I have a lot more content on Cody than I do Vanessa, as Vanessa has always been the one behind the camera. Vanessa and Cody together are priceless, but they’re both very strong personalities individually as well. I have been working on Cody’s social media accounts, and people are loving him!
I feel like there is too much content for this to be strictly on social media, and for it to be successful, they would need a camera crew following them around. With their unique lifestyle and circumstances, there are always, constant and natural occuring arcs, that the average, normal family doesn’t experience, along with those in which are relatable.
I think I am going to work on creating a pitch deck, to document everything you mentioned, and can use past real-life experiences and events as potential arcs/plotlines.
Thank you again!