Outline a specific concept. Everyone has a good idea. The difference between an idea and viable production is the detail you can provide to the program concept. For example, instead of describing a family that has some unusual characteristic, describe the specific characters. How those characters interact and what makes those interactions so entertaining.
Highlight moral (or immoral) themes. The most successful reality based TV programs focus on themes of greed, ambition, jealously and romantic fidelity. Interactions between those who have moral character and those who don’t keep viewers tuned into future episodes.
Find social archetypes. People are looking for characters they can identify with. For example, the Warner Brothers reality series “High School Reunion” succeeds by highlighting the jock, the nerd, the beauty queen and the loner as it builds the program around a 10-year high school reunion.
Produce a pilot. Once your concept is well articulated, assemble a cast based on the concept. Enlist crew members with specific production skills in camera operation, field audio recording, editing and graphics production.
Defer cast and crew wages until the pilot is sold. Communicate clearly that wages are paid only if the program is sold to a network.
Create tension and conflict. No one wants to watch a reality television program where everyone gets along and there are no problems. If a problem or conflict does not exist, create one by setting up a task, living condition or circumstance that will ignite the differences in characters.
Coach your subjects. Though reality television may be unscripted, it is not unrehearsed or untouched by the producer and director. Make sure to communicate to the cast the qualities of each character that need to be exaggerated or focused on to maximize the entertainment value.
Edit the final production to include only most vivid examples of character interaction.
Choose a marketable title. The title should tell us both what the program is about and arouse curiosity. Use no more than two or three words. Make sure those words inspire a desire to know more about the program.