High-end crime series (Action-Thriller)

Closing date 24/07/2017

Channel: M-Net 101, 20:30 weekday, weekly slot (PG13) or 21:30 weekday, weekly slot (PG16)

Episodes: 10 x 48 min

References: Night Of, The Fall, The Missing (UK version), Top of the Lake, Breaking Bad

Audience: Premium M-Net 101 audience, Primary: 25-45 age group

Language: An organic mixture of South African languages but the primary language is English (70% English ratio)

Editorial Guide

What ‘High End Drama’ means to the M-Net 101 audience is a sensory experience evoking a range of emotional responses from curiosity to anger, empathy, irony and humour.  It is of an exceptional production quality and pushes the boundaries of visual and visceral storytelling.

The M-Net 101 audience consumes mostly international content yet they want to South African stories told in an authentic and realistic manner. The characters in the world of the story should safely provide a voyeuristic viewer experience. Concepts can be based on major South African events that have remained in the psyche of our society (excluding political themes), and would intrigue our audience. However, it needs to be in line with productions such as ‘American Crime Story’ (O.J. Simpson miniseries). Original concepts should be take an exciting new angle with well-plotted storylines and rounded characters e.g. the miniseries ‘The Night Of’. Concepts should be over-arching and not stand-alone episodes with a definitive ending.The tone should be edgy, gripping and entertaining. The story-lines and pace must have nail-biting tension that will keep the audience glued to the small screen.

Creative Requirements

• Must bring a rich understanding of the genre, adhering to the required pace and structure of storytelling.
• Must be willing to collaborate with an appointed foreign/local script doctor/producer of the broadcaster’s choice who will assist in the development and/or production of the series. 

Submission Requirements

• Brief synopsis of the concept and series including a Controlling Idea,
• Dramatic Question, Premise, Logline
• A statement of intent – why is this series / story important? Why do you think it should it be produced?
• A clear and powerful world of the story
• Character biographies for the main characters including their traits, goals, needs and flaws as well an indication of relationships
• Characters references - either visual or written are welcome
• A summary of the main characters’ arcs/journeys
• Episode summaries for 10 episodes and series structure
• Proposals should be no longer that 50 pages
• Full script OR treatment of first episode.

Cost Per Minute: R1 050.00