Online retail major Amazon.com said Amazon Studios is seeking scripts to produce its own comedy and children’s TV series.
If the script is accepted, Amazon would produce the show and then distribute it through its online-video service, Amazon Studios.
Amazon Studios is Amazon’s content development division that uses audience feedback to identify great, original entertainment customers will love.
The best comedy and children’s series will be distributed through Amazon Instant Video, Amazon’s digital video streaming service.
The move forms part of a wider effort by Amazon to expand its development efforts into comedy and children’s series, as it aims to produce its own content, where writers, animators and filmmakers around the world are now invited to submit comedic and children’s series proposals.
Amazon Studios director Roy Price said the division wants to discover great talent and produce programming that audiences will love.
"In the course of developing movies, we’ve heard a lot of interest from content creators who want to develop original series in the comedy and children’s genres. We are excited to bring writers, animators and directors this new opportunity to develop original series," added Price.
Amazon stated a project will be considered, if it will have a five-page description, along with a 22-minute pilot script for comedies, or an 11-minute pilot script for children’s shows.
Within 45 days of submission, the writers who submit the pitches will receive $10,000 if Amazon Studios will extend an option on the project or invite the creator to add the project to the Amazon Studios site.
If Amazon Studios chooses the project for a television-series, the creator will receive an additional $55,000 payment, and a 5% of Amazon’s net receipts from its merchandise, and other royalties and bonuses.
If a project is not optioned, creators may remove their idea from the Amazon Studios site or leave it to get community feedback.
Amazon Studios new series development is led by Joe Lewis, previously with 20th Century Fox and Comedy Central, and Tara Sorensen, formerly with National Geographic Kids.
Amazon Studios, which was brought in November 2010, has accepted more than 700 test movies and 7,000 scripts with 15 movie projects currently under development.
