Commissioning in term of television is basically the process of getting new ideas of television programmes; pitched by people that work both inside and outside of a network to the small screen and into the homes of television consumers nationally and internationally.
The job roles that would have to be taken on for an idea to go through to TV are many for example: Producers, commissioning editors, directors, script editors, writers and agents.
The producer has to take charge of the idea whether it be a cooking show, talent competition, sitcom, documentary, etc. They try to make sure everything stays above water and their show doesn’t sink before it makes it to screen which also means they have responsibility of making their show a reality and taking care of everyone a part of that show. Producers are also part of pitching their idea to the TV network to sell their product to the distributors if you were
Directors are usually taken on after the project has been written most commonly in the case of television series that aren’t factual programming. It is also often directed by multiple directors for each episode so producers and production managers half to decide on who to choose to reach out to directors based on their portfolio of past projects and experience. But once they take on the job, after they are sent a script and agree, they have control over the production with the influence from the producers, writers and most importantly network to keep consistent with the series.
Though often the director of a pilot is someone particularly close to the project because the network order a pilot to judge for both themselves and the audience to see whether
Script editors hold the interest of what the network wants because they usually work for the network. They edit a script that they receive from the network that the network want to consider. Script editors have the responsibility to understand the intentions of the original writer and work with the original writers but also advise on what improvements they should make to the script. They also have to proof it to make it appropriate for the network, the channel it may be aired on etc.
Agents are the people the casting crew reach out to, or vice versa, to get an actor the roles in the TV show. Networks like to have familiar faces from other TV series and even occasionally film to lead but TV is where many actors get their break from casting calls for various roles. Agents find these and if they are not reached out to then they put up actors that they work for to audition for the roles.
Lastly but most importantly the writer is the one that writes the pilot of a show and is the ‘creator’ because they are often the ones pitching it. Though I’ll get into the role of the writer in more detail later.
Like I’ve already mentioned about Networks, producers etc. These are some of the commissioning bodies that are required to produce the programme.
Corporations are the networks like the BBC, ITV, SKY, CHAN4 known in the UK and other example from the US would be NBC, CBS, FOX as well as streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Video and Hulu. They pay for the show that we watch. The production company makes the production. The corporation make the profit from the production.
Independent production companies have many responsibilities that overall control the making of the production under the corporation. They handle Budgeting, scheduling, scripting, supply of talent and recourses, organising staff, post-production, distribution and marketing and the production itself. Many corporations have their own production companies; these wouldn’t be considered ‘independent’. Independent companies are outsourced by the corporations but are not owned. They are paid an agreed amount to pay staff, talent and recourses, etc. though producers, directors, writers and actors may get royalties from the production in their negotiated contract.
Independent producers and directors are those that work more freelance and may be apart of their own production company e.g. J.J. Abrams’s Bad Robot. These type of directors and producers can often have a unique and stronger vision when it comes to a production of a series or film. J.J. Abram’s Bad Robot production company had a lot of influence in the production of Star Wars: The Force Awakens like the CGI and practical effects. It gives them more familiarity and control of what to do with a sense of less influence from the executives.
Writing competitions comes back the role of the writer. Writers are invited to write their own original stories based on whatever they desire but also what would be appropriate to be on screen as these are productions with the possibilities of reaching the big or small screens. These stories would compete to be possibly considered by picture companies and networks. It also helps the writer as a prompt to write something in hopes of furthering their career.
The writer is the first stage of pre-production. They write mock-up pilot or screenplay and edit until they believe in a close to final product before either it would be pitched or sent over if they were hired already. Many writers compete in this situation if they were asked to write for an established franchise like Star Wars. The best would be looked over many script editors and executives. Editors will work with the writer if the writer is asked to continue working on the project or they could just be paid for that story and add that production to their portfolio.
Working with directors and producers is very important if the original writing is very strong. The writer might want to bring his own original vision when thinking of these lines and actions that they had created. They must also respect and listen to the directors and producers interests and vice versa. There are often times when the writers don’t have any influence beyond their first draft that they handed to the network.
There are many legal and ethical constraints when writing for screen. Writing a book can have a lot more freedom than something that we may see on television someday. Copyright is the most important part of the legal issues when writing a script. A person that creates an original product it is there right to do with what they wish with it. Once that unique product, especially in terms of entertainment, is created it is protected by copyright. If large uncut sections of material of a writer is stolen from that writer with no consent, they have a right to sue.
This is also considered plagiarism but instead a writer would take someone else work and claim it as their own.
Ethics can often constrain a writer in what the writer can put into their work. This shouldn’t but at the forefront of their minds while writing but an afterthought when editing their script. Bias is a major issue when depicting a real life. Whether people, culture, religion, places, specific groups, etc. The documentary series Making a Murderer is often called out for being very bias towards the suspect Steven Avery to be innocent because the local police and prosecutors are presented in such a way to create doubt in them and even create a hatred towards them because it seems like they framed the suspect. Filmmakers have a responsibility to give us the truth rather than pushing their own agendas because that can majorly influence how people feel.
Censorship is something that comes between a network and the creators. This related to the watershed. After the watershed there is less censorship and series reach a more 15-18 range especially after 10 O’clock, after this TV series can show anything. Though it can still depend on the network or picture company. Disney is a perfect example of making films that they want to target to a young audience. Their movies can’t be too depressing or send a depressing and often shy away from sexual content and blood like in their marvel avenger movies as well as their new Star Wars film. They both reach a minimum of 12, 12A. They often do this to get more people to go see their movies.
Commissioning a project is a long process that takes a minimum of 1 and a half to 2 years for a Movie or entire series. There are many people attached from many different departments that are organised by the production company. The writer is the start of the production sending a script to be considered and maybe that script gives fruit.
The job roles that would have to be taken on for an idea to go through to TV are many for example: Producers, commissioning editors, directors, script editors, writers and agents.
The producer has to take charge of the idea whether it be a cooking show, talent competition, sitcom, documentary, etc. They try to make sure everything stays above water and their show doesn’t sink before it makes it to screen which also means they have responsibility of making their show a reality and taking care of everyone a part of that show. Producers are also part of pitching their idea to the TV network to sell their product to the distributors if you were
Directors are usually taken on after the project has been written most commonly in the case of television series that aren’t factual programming. It is also often directed by multiple directors for each episode so producers and production managers half to decide on who to choose to reach out to directors based on their portfolio of past projects and experience. But once they take on the job, after they are sent a script and agree, they have control over the production with the influence from the producers, writers and most importantly network to keep consistent with the series.
Though often the director of a pilot is someone particularly close to the project because the network order a pilot to judge for both themselves and the audience to see whether
Script editors hold the interest of what the network wants because they usually work for the network. They edit a script that they receive from the network that the network want to consider. Script editors have the responsibility to understand the intentions of the original writer and work with the original writers but also advise on what improvements they should make to the script. They also have to proof it to make it appropriate for the network, the channel it may be aired on etc.
Agents are the people the casting crew reach out to, or vice versa, to get an actor the roles in the TV show. Networks like to have familiar faces from other TV series and even occasionally film to lead but TV is where many actors get their break from casting calls for various roles. Agents find these and if they are not reached out to then they put up actors that they work for to audition for the roles.
Lastly but most importantly the writer is the one that writes the pilot of a show and is the ‘creator’ because they are often the ones pitching it. Though I’ll get into the role of the writer in more detail later.
Like I’ve already mentioned about Networks, producers etc. These are some of the commissioning bodies that are required to produce the programme.
Corporations are the networks like the BBC, ITV, SKY, CHAN4 known in the UK and other example from the US would be NBC, CBS, FOX as well as streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Video and Hulu. They pay for the show that we watch. The production company makes the production. The corporation make the profit from the production.
Independent production companies have many responsibilities that overall control the making of the production under the corporation. They handle Budgeting, scheduling, scripting, supply of talent and recourses, organising staff, post-production, distribution and marketing and the production itself. Many corporations have their own production companies; these wouldn’t be considered ‘independent’. Independent companies are outsourced by the corporations but are not owned. They are paid an agreed amount to pay staff, talent and recourses, etc. though producers, directors, writers and actors may get royalties from the production in their negotiated contract.
Independent producers and directors are those that work more freelance and may be apart of their own production company e.g. J.J. Abrams’s Bad Robot. These type of directors and producers can often have a unique and stronger vision when it comes to a production of a series or film. J.J. Abram’s Bad Robot production company had a lot of influence in the production of Star Wars: The Force Awakens like the CGI and practical effects. It gives them more familiarity and control of what to do with a sense of less influence from the executives.
Writing competitions comes back the role of the writer. Writers are invited to write their own original stories based on whatever they desire but also what would be appropriate to be on screen as these are productions with the possibilities of reaching the big or small screens. These stories would compete to be possibly considered by picture companies and networks. It also helps the writer as a prompt to write something in hopes of furthering their career.
The writer is the first stage of pre-production. They write mock-up pilot or screenplay and edit until they believe in a close to final product before either it would be pitched or sent over if they were hired already. Many writers compete in this situation if they were asked to write for an established franchise like Star Wars. The best would be looked over many script editors and executives. Editors will work with the writer if the writer is asked to continue working on the project or they could just be paid for that story and add that production to their portfolio.
Working with directors and producers is very important if the original writing is very strong. The writer might want to bring his own original vision when thinking of these lines and actions that they had created. They must also respect and listen to the directors and producers interests and vice versa. There are often times when the writers don’t have any influence beyond their first draft that they handed to the network.
There are many legal and ethical constraints when writing for screen. Writing a book can have a lot more freedom than something that we may see on television someday. Copyright is the most important part of the legal issues when writing a script. A person that creates an original product it is there right to do with what they wish with it. Once that unique product, especially in terms of entertainment, is created it is protected by copyright. If large uncut sections of material of a writer is stolen from that writer with no consent, they have a right to sue.
This is also considered plagiarism but instead a writer would take someone else work and claim it as their own.
Ethics can often constrain a writer in what the writer can put into their work. This shouldn’t but at the forefront of their minds while writing but an afterthought when editing their script. Bias is a major issue when depicting a real life. Whether people, culture, religion, places, specific groups, etc. The documentary series Making a Murderer is often called out for being very bias towards the suspect Steven Avery to be innocent because the local police and prosecutors are presented in such a way to create doubt in them and even create a hatred towards them because it seems like they framed the suspect. Filmmakers have a responsibility to give us the truth rather than pushing their own agendas because that can majorly influence how people feel.
Censorship is something that comes between a network and the creators. This related to the watershed. After the watershed there is less censorship and series reach a more 15-18 range especially after 10 O’clock, after this TV series can show anything. Though it can still depend on the network or picture company. Disney is a perfect example of making films that they want to target to a young audience. Their movies can’t be too depressing or send a depressing and often shy away from sexual content and blood like in their marvel avenger movies as well as their new Star Wars film. They both reach a minimum of 12, 12A. They often do this to get more people to go see their movies.
Commissioning a project is a long process that takes a minimum of 1 and a half to 2 years for a Movie or entire series. There are many people attached from many different departments that are organised by the production company. The writer is the start of the production sending a script to be considered and maybe that script gives fruit.