NYTVF, truTV comedy initiative offers indie creators shot at 25K development budget

The NYTVF announced, in partnership with truTV, the first-ever truTV Comedy Breakout Initiative, providing independent television creators with a unique development opportunity to create new formats for the comedy-centric network.

Seeking both scripted and unscripted ideas, truTV is offering the winning creator(s) a shot at a development budget of up to $25,000 to further hone their idea in collaboration with its executive team.

The NYTVF is coming off of a record-setting year that culminated with the twelfth-annual New York Television Festival in October. This new initiative with the returning Festival partner marks the indie TV organization’s first development initiative to be announced for 2017.

With the Comedy Breakout Initiative, which will begin accepting submissions on January 25th, 2017, truTV is seeking premium creator-driven comedic formats with distinct points of view. In a creative brief for the initiative, the network highlights its current hits including Adam Ruins Everything, Billy on the Street, The Carbonaro Effect, and Jon Glaser Loves Gear as guideposts for the kind of distinct, individual concepts that capture a comedian’s unique voice in a repeatable format structure from which submitting creators should draw inspiration. A committee of NYTVF officials will narrow the pool of entrants down to a selection of finalists to be considered by truTV, and at least one winning creator or creative team will be selected to further develop a project in partnership with the network.

“Terence and the NYTVF do a great job of uncovering fresh voices and ideas in the creative community. We’re excited that this initiative gives us another opportunity to partner with them to find more original comedic talent & content,” said Marissa Ronca, executive vice president and head of programming for truTV.

The new initiative will be supported by an event in New York City on Monday, January 9th, 2017, at which truTV and the NYTVF are teaming with UCB Comedy to reach out to independent talent interested in creating comedic TV formats. The free event, hosted at UCB’s East Village theater at 153 East Third Street, will include a panel discussion featuring truTV EVP and Head of Programming Marissa Ronca, along with creators, production executives and talent from the network’s current comedy line-up, with more details to come. It will be recorded for and distributed via UCB Comedy’s podcast following the event, with ticket information is available here.

“This is an exciting expansion of our long-term relationship with truTV and one that we’re thrilled to bring to our expansive community of comedy creators as we wrap up a landmark 2016,” said NYTVF Founder Terence Gray. “If you look at the trajectory of truTV over the past few years, they have been very much ahead of the curve in recognizing the potential of comedy and comedic formats in the episodic marketplace. With a talent roster that is a who’s who of rising comic talent – from Billy Eichner to Jon Glaser – truTV’s Chris Linn, Marissa Ronca and their team have tapped into a very cool new avenue for comedy and I think this is an incredible and very tangible opportunity for the NYTVF’s independent artist base.”

To enter the initiative, content creators and writers must submit: (a) a series overview (up to four pages), (b) a current C.V., and (c) a project proof of concept in the form of one of the following: (1) a produced comedy pilot and/or series (up to 20 minutes), (2) a produced “in progress” work (minimum four minutes), or (3) a paper-developed format (up to eight pages).

There is no fee to submit to the truTV Comedy Breakout Initiative, and the digital submission platform will be open from January 25th, 2017, through February 17, 2017. For submission details, a full creative brief, and additional information, visit the official initiative website right here.