1. Streamlining the Greenlight Process
Research Idea: “Designing an Efficient Decision-Making Framework for TV Show Greenlighting in Streaming and Broadcast Networks.”
Aim: Investigate the bottlenecks in current development pipelines and propose a more transparent, data-informed, and time-bound greenlight process.
Methodology: Case studies, interviews with producers, and a comparison between fast-track projects (like the Scooby-Doo prequel) and traditionally slow-moving ones.
2. Reimagining the Writers’ Room Under Budget Constraints
Research Idea: “Agile Writers’ Rooms: A New Model for Script Development in the Era of Budget Pressures.”
Aim: Develop a more flexible, iterative model of scriptwriting that reduces unpaid labor while preserving creative collaboration.
Methodology: Pilot a hybrid (virtual/in-person) writers’ room, test productivity tools, and assess outcomes via writer satisfaction and script quality.
3. Redesigning the Pitch Process for Equity and Efficiency
Research Idea: “Breaking the Pitch: Creating a Fair and Feasible Model for Television Show Proposals.”
Aim: Examine how much unpaid work goes into pitching a TV show and propose an alternative model that includes micro-compensation or tiered development funding.
Methodology: Surveys with early-career writers, economic impact analysis, and consultation with unions or guilds.
4. Adaptive Contract Models for TV Writers
Research Idea: “Rethinking If-Come Deals: Proposing Adaptive Compensation Structures for Scripted Content Creation.”
Aim: Design contract structures that balance studio risk with writer sustainability.
Methodology: Legal framework analysis, interviews with contract negotiators, and simulation of alternative deal structures.
5. Executive Turnover and Project Vulnerability
Research Idea: “The Impact of Executive Turnover on TV Project Development Lifecycles.”
Aim: Quantify and analyze how staff changes in studios disrupt project continuity and offer policy or management solutions.
Methodology: Track development projects over five years, mapping cancellations and changes linked to leadership changes.
6. Transparency in Development Timelines
Research Idea: “No More Black Box: Creating Transparent, Trackable Timelines in TV Development.”
Aim: Create a digital dashboard model for writers and producers that tracks progress, stakeholders, and approval stages.
Methodology: Prototype development using UX research, interviews, and feedback from creators.
7. The Psychology of “Free Labor” in Creative Industries
Research Idea: “Moral Motivation or Exploitation? Understanding Writers’ Tolerance for Unpaid Work in TV Development.”
Aim: Explore the psychological and cultural factors that normalize unpaid work and test interventions to challenge this model.
Methodology: Focus groups, interviews, and behavioral experiments.
8. Budget-First Development: Creativity Under Constraint
Research Idea: “Writing to the Wallet: How Early Budget Constraints Shape Creative Storytelling.”
Aim: Evaluate how pre-budgeted pitches affect innovation and storytelling depth.
Methodology: Comparative analysis of projects developed with vs. without early budget restrictions.