SUBMISSIONS NOW CLOSED
Our submissions callout is currently closed.
Our last callout received over 1,000 projects! So please be patient while we review your materials.
SUBMISSIONS
Got a great idea? We’re looking for unique points of view and fresh voices from underrepresented talent.
Don’t worry if you don’t have an agent or if you’ve never made something before - you just need to be a creator with a new idea. We’ve built our entire company on our ability to spot and mentor talent, to nurture your vision and help you craft it into the next must-watch show.
We’re looking for creative work in all forms, from stand-up routines, character designs, graphic novels, animation shorts, scripts, to anything in between. If you’re passionate about your idea and think it could translate to the screen, we want to see it.
Here’s the deal. 3 winning projects will receive up to £10,000 of development funding. If we select your idea, we’ll help you develop it into a compelling package that can be pitched to a commissioner. That could be a script and a show bible, or it might be a script plus design work or an animation test – however we can most vividly capture your idea to give it the best chance of reaching global audiences. Rest assured, if we’re unable to progress the project, we’ll give it back to you clean – no strings attached or money to repay.
We specialise in TV shows aimed at audiences between the ages of 0 and 30, and we focus on character-led projects with a youthful perspective and sense of humour. We’re not developing factual or educational programmes.
Our submissions call-outs are aimed at new creators. If you do have an agent and would like to reach out, or if you're an agent and want to submit a project on behalf of your client, please contact us at development@wildseedstudios.com.
HOW IT WORKS
STEP 1
We agree what the next step should be with the project; a script, a pilot or test, a short film, an animatic, a sizzle reel or mood board – whatever!
STEP 2
We agree a budget from £1-10K. We ensure the majority of this goes towards developing the project – but a small amount can be allocated towards fees and salaries.
STEP 3
We either option, license or acquire the underlying rights (e.g. the characters and format of an idea) from you on an exclusive basis for a set period of time.
STEP 4
If we continue to commission new material with you or are successful in raising finance for your show, we have the ability to renew or retain our rights. And if we can’t, the rights return to you – we don’t sit on your material.
HUH?
If the above doesn’t make much sense, don’t worry! We will make sure it does before we start working together or ask you to sign any contracts.
It’s important we all understand and are happy with the way we work together, so we’ve gathered some of our most frequently asked questions below to start.
FAQs
WHEN CAN I submit an idea?
Our October 2021 submissions callout is now closed. Please sign up to our newsletter to be notified about future callouts.
How experienced do the people who submit ideas need to be?
We don’t require any track record or experience level. You just have to have a great idea!
Can I send in audio/video without a script?
Yes, we’re accepting videos and audio tracks. If you do send in a video or audio track, though - please do include a written document that describes how it would be adapted for television (how you would see this as a TV show).
Do you accept feature film pitches?
We do, but we will often want to talk about whether it could be adapted into a serialised TV series or a pilot for a TV series, as well as considering it as a film or single drama in its own right.
What happens if my idea is selected, what is the next step?
Initially, if we like a particular idea, we’ll reach out to you directly to set up a phone call to chat further. If our initial conversation goes well, we can talk about making things more formal.
Will I still own my idea?
Your ideas will always be yours up to the point that you sign a contract assigning rights to a third party. If Wildseed does want to get involved with you and your project and you don’t have a lawyer or an agent, Wildseed will pay for you to sit with an independent media lawyer to make sure you are happy that you understand the deal we offer you.
I have a very rough idea, but don’t know how to write a script or pitch doc. Can I still submit my idea?
Yes! Just remember to clearly explain your main idea, main characters, and what generally happens in the story.
How finished does the idea have to be to submit?
As long as your concept is clear, we don’t need a fully realised show. Simply writing the idea into a one page pitch (see below) is fine.
What does a pitch doc look like?
Usually a pitch is about one page long, but it can be more. While everyone likes to approach these things in their own way, we might expect a pitch document to include paragraphs on the overall concept, the central character and their arc, supporting characters, the world and an overview of the story or description of a typical episode.
How long will I have to wait to hear back about my idea?
We endeavour to respond as quickly as we can, but it will depend on how many submissions we receive. Please be patient with us -- we promise to get back to you when we are able to!
Do you accept preschool?
No, we are not developing preschool shows.
I already have a production company interested, will you partner on my project?
No, sorry, we are looking to become exclusive partners on the projects we take on - we give the projects we select our everything and want as direct and undiluted a relationship with the creator as possible in order to do this.
Do submissions need to be from British citizens, or is this an international call?
We accept submissions from all over the world, but if the content of your idea is very specific to a country outside the UK, we might ask if we are the best people to take it on.
What format do you accept for submissions?
We’re open to accepting a variety of formats -- videos, web links, designs, graphic novels, etc, just as long as it’s accompanied by a written proposal of the TV show idea to go along with it. It’s absolutely fine for the document you include to be short (one page).
I have designs for an idea, what else do I need to submit with it?
If you are submitting designs, please also include a short written document describing your idea of how those designs could be translated into a TV show.
Can I submit a published book/graphic novel?
Yes, absolutely! Please also include a one-page document describing how you’d like to adapt the book or graphic novel into a TV show.
I have an idea for a documentary/factual show/reality tv, can I submit this?
We are not developing documentary/factual/reality TV ideas. We specialise in scripted content.
Can I hand in multiple ideas?
You are welcome to hand in up to 3 ideas, but please make sure each one has a fresh take and unique point of view. Also, we don’t accept reworked pitches that we have previously passed on.
Will I be paid?
You are not paid for submitting ideas. However, if your idea goes on to be selected as a project we develop, we would offer up to £10K to help develop it with you.
I don’t know what to hand in, can you give me a template or an example?
It will depend on what creative material you’d like us to see. Please read these FAQs to find out more.
Protecting your ideas
COPYRIGHT
You own the copyright of your ideas and materials until the moment you sign a contract with anyone that assigns copyright to them.
It’s very hard to protect copyright in a general idea. If you sent us an idea which was ‘A Heist Movie with Dogs’ that is unlikely to be protectable by copyright, it’s too generic. It is much easier to protect copyright if the idea has an element of originality and has been incarnated as a design or written down. So, for example, if you sent us character descriptions and/or designs of an idea which is unique and original you would definitely be protected by copyright.
Depending on the level of investment we make and the stage of the project we are working on together we may ask for an assignment of copyright from the beginning (copyright reverts to you if we do nothing with the project) or we may map out a path for the assignment of copyright to us (or to a platform) at some point in the future.
THEFT
People get very worried about having ideas stolen but it doesn’t happen very often (and never with Wildseed Studios).
Companies would much rather buy the rights to an idea than take the risk of getting involved in costly legal actions further down the line. All investors want to see the underlying rights are cleared before they risk investment money.
Usually an idea comes to us needing work and modification. What we do is say: “Hello, this idea has promise, we have faith in you as a creator – would you like to collaborate with us to try and develop your idea into something great?” It isn’t just your idea we’re interested in – it’s your originality we want and nobody can steal that.
We have to protect ourselves against people sending generic ideas, similar to ones that we have already received, or are working on ourselves against people ‘trying it on’ (more common than people stealing ideas). We have a disclaimer notice on our submissions page (when the portal is open) which gives us very basic protection – but this does not allow us to steal content, which is illegal.
TRADEMARK
We rarely recommend trademarking. Your work is protected by copyright to the fullest extent that it can be without you having to do anything.
It is advisable to create a record of when you came up with your idea in case of future disputes, the easiest way to do this is to commit it to paper and post it to yourself registered delivery and don’t open the envelope.
Trademarking should be undertaken when it’s likely there is trade in your idea and you’ve created a successful piece of Intellectual Property that others might want to copy, or make something similar, that creates confusion in the mind of a consumer.
In our opinion, wait until you know if you have a successful project on your hands, at which point it then trademarking becomes vital. If in doubt take sensible legal advice.
It is a good idea to check your idea doesn’t infringe an already existing trademark. It’s a complex issue that requires professional advice but you can look online, at the Intellectual Property Office website in the UK or the United States Patent and Trademark Office Website in the US to get more information and do an initial search.