From Idea to Cooking Show Concept

From Idea to Cooking Show Concept

An idea cannot be copyrighted.  If you tell your idea to another person that person is free to take your idea and run with it.  You must act on your idea and make your idea a “concept”.

In the early nineties the cooking channel was just getting started.  I had an idea for a cooking show.  Now I needed funding.  Briefly, it took time and determination to find contacts and direction, but I actually got into a room with the opportunity to pitch my idea for production money.

“The Money” – that’s the nickname in the industry for whoever finds/puts up the funds for a filming project – really liked the cooking show idea.  Then The Money asked the crucial question:

“Let’s see a couple scripts.”

I was done.  I exited the room just like I went in – empty-handed.

I hadn’t thought past the idea.  There were no scripts written, no menu ideas outlined, nor even a detailed sketch of the kitchen set.  Nothing.

Not even in my head.

It would be years before I would find the Concept.