You have an idea for a reality television show, what do you do next?

Most people will advise you to write what is known as a ‘treatment’ for your idea. There are number of good books on how to write a treatment including “Writing Treatments That Sell” by Kenneth Atchity. Of course, his subtitled, “How to Create and Market Your Story Ideas to the Motion Picture and TV Industry” is likely to give you the impression that you might be able to sell your idea with a simple one to five page synopsis. Treatments do get purchased, but typically only if your last name is Burnett, Trump, Bunim or Murray. For first time producers, the treatment is a great way to a) protect your idea and b) to help others understand what you are trying to accomplish. For example, here is one of the treatments we wrote for MotorSport Ranch:

Concept: Luxuriously rustic Texas country club, where eccentric and wealthy members meet, entertain, socialize, and race exotic dream cars and motorcycles.

Think: Dallas (Miss Ellie & JR) meets The Apprentice meets NASCAR.

Synopsis: At MotorSport Ranch, our members play neither golf nor tennis. There is no pool. We do not host Easter egg hunts. Just fifteen minutes outside of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, free from conventional big city confines, this rustic Texas country club boasts a 1.7 mile road course, club house and private garages for members. Our well-to-do members race supped-up exotic cars, open wheel formula racers and track ready motorcycles. The Club Pro is a professional formula racer ready take your driving to the next level.

This is not a Hollywood set! MotorSport Ranch has been a fully operational country club for racing enthusiasts for the past six years, run by ranch-owner Jack Farr, his trusted ranch-hands and the Club Pro. Our affluent members are doctors, dentists, lawyer, jewelers, oilmen, and land-barons. All are serious car racing enthusiasts who periodically escape the real world to compete in their dream cars, which range from Ferraris to Dodge Vipers.
MotorSport Ranch is the setting for our one-hour, reality show of the same name. Its well-heeled members are the cast. As in “The Apprentice” and “The Bachelor,” we begin the season with twenty of our ultra-competitive male and female racecar drivers. Each have agreed to have their on- and off-track lives filmed in exchange for a chance to win a place on a professional racing team. Ala “The Apprentice,” our Ranch-owner, his trusted ranch-hands and the Club Pro offer accolades, impart advice and eliminate competitors.
Each week, we profile MotorSport Ranch competitors and showcase their coveted cars or motorcycles. Viewers watch members train, socialize, and compete in on- and off-track competitions. The final segment of the each episode, “The Show Down,” features remaining members in a two-part competition. Part one is a sponsor-driven event; for example FedEx might provide trucks for each driver to race around the track or Jiffy Lube might provide the drivers with oil changing stations where each driver would have to change their own oil. Part two is a highly competitive trial of speed. The winner would receive the penultimate trophy, his moment in the spotlight and a full week of bragging rights. Most importantly: he, alone, would receive the XM Radio (or other appropriate sponsor) immunity “idol” providing him immunity against the episode’s elimination round.
On the season finale, one driver will prevail and be awarded The Title, hailed “MotorSport Ranch Champion!” and given a highly coveted spot on a professional racing team. Tease: He (and perhaps others) will return next season.

Format: First Episode (2-hour pilot)—

Introduction to MotorSport Ranch. Set the scene. Meet the Ranch-owner, Ranch-hands, the Club Pro, the banker, the investors and the prevailing Title-holder or “top gun.” Briefly meet each competing member both on- and off-track and behold his (or her) spectacular car or motorcycle. Initial competition: “Show Down, 1.” Several drivers are eliminated based on various factors. Tease season’s future episodes.

Next Episodes— Set the Scene: Brief visual review: concept of MotorSport Ranch as a country club. Re-introduce the Ranch-owner, Ranch-hands and the Club Pro.

Meet the Members: Remaining eccentric, affluent members and their dream cars profiled. Viewers are granted a glimpse into their opulent real worlds.

Practice: Members prepare for The Show Down. Viewers are compelled to select and root for their favorites including phone and web voting, SMS, and public events.

Dinner party: Members meet and interact in a posh social setting the night before The Show Down. Dinner party theme and menu will vary. Alternatively, if Brinker International is interested in a sponsorship we could hold the dinners at the local Chilies right outside of the track.

The Show Down: The two part, climatic, electrifying weekly race! Length and style will vary.

Spotlight on the Winner: Cocktail after-party. Victor is toasted by members/staff. The spine-tingling elimination. Tease next episode.

I recommend finding a scriptwriter very early on to help you with your project. Despite the fact that you are making a reality program, i.e. what is known in the business as an unscripted drama, you could really use the help of a skilled writer. The scriptwriter’s first task will be to turn your rough draft into a final draft. This is another piece of advice that I never got, but sorely wished I had by the time we were done. Hire a scriptwriter!

Once you have drafted your treatment take the time to register it with the Writer’s Guild of America (http://www.wgawregistry.org/). Registration is only $20 and lasts for up-to five years. The purpose of registering your material with the WGA is to establish a completion date, providing a third-party record of the writer’s claim to authorship. Us the registration number provided by the WGA on your treatment before you send it out.