Writer’s Guide to Commissioner Research: Finding the Right Execs (Using Lee Mason & Sean Doyle as Examples)

Stop Guessing: How to Research Commissioners and Tailor Submissions That Actually Get Read

If you’re a writer sending scattershot one-pagers and generic submissions, you’re competing with hundreds of hopefuls who sound identical. The quick fix? Research the commissioner—their past shows, editorial voice, and strategy—and use that intel to shape a one-pager and pitch that feels bespoke. In 2026, with tighter slates, international commissioning, and data-led decisions at streamers like legacy broadcasters and streamers, tailoring is no longer optional; it’s table stakes.

Top takeaways up front

• Start with the person—not just the company: learn a commissioner’s credits, stated tastes, and recent promotions.
• Watch and map two or three of their recent shows to extract tone, format, and casting patterns.
• Use a commissioner-specific one-pager: 1 page for scripted, 1 for unscripted—front-load alignment to their slate.
• Document everything in a tracker that becomes your submission playbook.
• Leverage 2026 tools: AI for transcript analysis and trend spotting—but edit with human nuance.

Why commissioner research matters more in 2026

Streaming platforms and traditional broadcasters are consolidating commissioning power and sharpening slates to reduce risk. Executives like Disney+ EMEA’s Lee Mason and Sean Doyle—recently promoted to VPs of Scripted and Unscripted—are part of a trend: commissioning roles now combine editorial taste with commercial KPIs. That means commissioners look for projects that match both aesthetic sensibility and platform strategy: language, episode length, local star attachment, format recyclability, and cross‑market potential.

“Disney+ has promoted Rivals commissioner Lee Mason and Blind Date overseer Sean Doyle as it sets its team up for long-term success in EMEA,” reported industry press—an indicator of the high stakes on international slates.

In short: if your submission doesn’t signal you understand a commissioner’s brief—what they’ve already commissioned and where they want to grow—your script or treatment is less likely to make the shortlist.

Step-by-step research workflow (practical, repeatable)

1) Build a commissioner dossier

Start your research with a focused dossier for each target executive. Include:

• Bio & role: current title, region, team structure, and promotion history (use Deadline, Variety, company press releases).
• Credits: complete list of commissioned shows (IMDBPro and company pages are essential).
• Recent public statements: interviews, keynote talks, panel Q&As (MIPCOM, Canneseries, industry podcasts).
• Social & network footprint: LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram—look for programming announcements or comments.

Tools to use

• IMDBPro — credits, contact leads, agent details.
• Deadline, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter — trade coverage, promotions, quotes.
• Company press rooms (Disney+, Netflix Tudum, BBC Media Centre) — commissioning calls and strategy.
• LinkedIn & X — short-form signals and network changes.
• YouTube & podcast platforms — panels, interviews, and Q&As.
• AI transcript & sentiment tools (2026): use to scan interviews for repeated phrases / emphasis, but always validate manually. For practical notes on how teams use AI in research workflows, see our review of how marketers and teams use AI in 2026 (how B2B teams use AI).

2) Watch and analyze representative shows

Pick the top 2–4 shows the commissioner actually commissioned—ideally one recent and one older title—and watch with purpose. Your goal is to extract patterns, not just applaud the craft.

• Tone: is it sardonic, earnest, glossy, gritty?
• Scale: intimate single-location vs high-budget set pieces?
• Episode length & structure: 6 x 30, 8 x 45, limited series vs ongoing?
• Casting / talent profile: star-led, emerging local talent, celebrity-hosted?
• Serialized vs procedural balance: which stories are prioritized?

3) Map commissioner preferences to submission choices

Once you have patterns, translate them into concrete choices for your one-pager and submission packet:

• If a commissioner favors intimate, character-led dramas, emphasize stakes, character arcs, and compact locations.
• If they back unscripted formats with high social engagement, prioritize elements like interactive hooks, talent casting profile, and format adaptability for short‑form clips.
• If they commission international language shows, highlight localization plans and co-pro opportunities.

Case study: Lee Mason (Scripted) and Sean Doyle (Unscripted)

Use these two as models for how to tailor different types of submissions.

Lee Mason — pattern spotting for scripted projects

Lee Mason has been tied to titles such as Rivals and other scripted originals for Disney+ EMEA. From press and the shows themselves you can infer:

• Broad but cinematic tone: high production values with strong visual identity.
• Ensemble-driven hooks: multi-character dynamics and serialized stakes.
• International intent: projects that travel across EMEA, often with a localised cast.

How to tailor a one-pager for Lee Mason (scripted):

1. Start with a one-line that signals platform fit: “An 8x45-minute ensemble thriller in the tonal wheelhouse of Rivals, built for Disney+ EMEA’s push on cinematic local-language drama.”
2. Include a short “Why this fits” paragraph (2–3 lines) referencing specific aspects of Rivals you matched—tone, scale, or serialized nature.
3. Provide a succinct episode map and showrunner attachments or comparable credits—Mason commissions teams he trusts.
4. Localisation & commercial hooks: speak to cross-market casting, episode cadence for binge vs weekly release, and merchandising or international format potential.

Sean Doyle — pattern spotting for unscripted projects

Sean Doyle has overseen shows like Blind Date and other high-engagement unscripted formats. Signals suggest:

• Format-first thinking: easily explainable central mechanics that create social moments.
• Talent-casting potential: hosts or participants who can generate clips for social amplification.
• Scalability: formats that can move across territories or be repurposed.

How to tailor a one-pager for Sean Doyle (unscripted):

1. One-line format hook: “A 10x60 social experiment series where participants X, generating weekly social clips and live audience involvement.”
2. Mechanics and social pull: lead with the central hook and 3 moments guaranteed to create shareable content.
3. Format adaptability: quick bulleted list on how the format can be cut down to 10–12 minute social episodes or localized per market. For practical delivery and vertical-cut workflows, read about scaling vertical video production.
4. Production & budget profile: provide a realistic cost band and suggested production partner or producer with relevant credits.

One-pager templates — practical, commissioner-focused

Below are condensed templates you can adapt. Keep them to one page in PDF when sending.

Scripted one-pager template (1 page)

• Header: Title | Genre | Format (e.g., 8 x 45)
• One-line (platform fit): “A [tone] [genre] in the vein of [existing show]—ideal for [platform/commissioner].”
• Logline (1–2 sentences): Main conflict + protagonist arc.
• Why it fits [Commissioner Name]: 2–3 bullets mapping your project to shows they commissioned (tone, scale, market).
• Series hook & arc: 3–4 sentences about season-long stakes and character trajectories.
• Episode map: Bullet for episodes 1, midpoint, finale.
• Showrunner & attachments: short credits list and producer names.
• Commercial notes: local language, co-pro potential, approximate budget band.
• Contact details: Agent/producer/email/phone.

Unscripted one-pager template (1 page)

• Header: Title | Format | Episode length & count
• Format hook (1 line): The simplest, most viral-ready explanation.
• Three signature moments: Bullet the three most shareable/decisive beats per episode or series.
• Format rundown: 4–6 bullets describing the structure and how an episode flows.
• Why it fits [Commissioner Name]: 2 bullets mapping format to their slate (engagement metrics, talent type).
• Production notes: suggested crew, sample budget band, deliverables for social.
• Rights & adaptability: local versions, short form, licensing possibilities.
• Contact: Producer/manager details.

Pitching etiquette & outreach strategy (network strategy)

Getting the right message to the right inbox is part craft, part timing. Use this 2026-friendly outreach blueprint:

1. Identify the sweet spot: Not just the commissioner, but their deputies, senior producers, and development leads. Promotions like Mason and Doyle’s often shift who reads what—update your list after announcements.
2. Email subject lines (short + clear):
   • Scripted example for Lee Mason: “Series idea — 8x45 | [Title] — fits Disney+ EMEA scripted tone”
   • Unscripted example for Sean Doyle: “Format pitch — 10x60 | [Title] — social-first unscripted format”
3. First contact body (50–80 words): One-line hook + one ‘Why you’ line + “attaching one-pager” + CTA (30-minute call or pass). Keep it human and succinct.
4. Attachments & links: Always attach a single-page PDF one-pager. If you include links (sizzle, bible), host them behind a short, clean URL—avoid large files or messy Google Drive folders. If you want modern outreach options beyond email, consider secure mobile channels and RCS for controlled notifications (beyond email & RCS).
5. Follow-up cadence: 1 week — polite nudge; 3 weeks — final follow-up; if no response, archive and revisit after 4–6 months with a new angle or update.

Using technology wisely (2026 trends)

AI tools in 2026 can accelerate research—automatically pulling quotes, building credit lists, and summarizing panels. Use them for speed, not substitution:

• Use AI to: create a first draft dossier, extract recurring phrases from interviews, and flag shows with overlapping themes.
• Don’t use AI to: invent quotes, overfit language to a commissioner’s perceived taste, or write your entire one-pager without human revision.
• Privacy & safe practice: never expose private materials or non‑public attachments when reaching out; follow GDPR norms for EMEA contacts. If you plan to run LLMs over private materials as part of research, use a vetted template for legal & privacy controls (privacy policy templates for LLM access).

Legal & rights basics writers must know

Commissioners want clean submissions. Keep in mind:

• Clear chain of title: be ready to show rights ownership or an option agreement.
• Confidentiality: if the project involves sensitive IP, use NDAs only when requested—don’t push them unsolicited.
• Credit & compensation norms: understand the local industry standard (e.g., UK versus continental Europe) and be transparent about what you control.

Measurement: How a commissioner decides (what to track)

Commissioners balance editorial taste and measurable risk. When tailoring, emphasize metrics commissioners care about:

• Audience fit and market size (language territories and subscriber cohorts).
• Production cost vs. expected impact (brand-strengthening or subscriber retention).
• Social engagement potential and format adaptability (short-form clips, local spinoffs). For practical dashboards and KPIs you should track, see the KPI dashboard approaches to measuring authority across search, social and AI answers.

Checklist: What to include before you hit send

• 1-page commissioner-tailored PDF one-pager
• 50–80 word outreach email body prepped
• Trailer/sizzle link (optional) hosted cleanly
• Credits & chain of title note (1 paragraph)
• Budget band or production note for unscripted
• Follow-up calendar entries: 7 days, 21 days, 90 days

Example tailored one-pager snippets (ready to adapt)

For Lee Mason (scripted) — opening lines

“A 6x50 intimate noir about a disgraced football coach who returns to his hometown to clean up a decades-old scandal. In the cinematic, ensemble-driven tradition of Rivals, this series balances glossy production with intense character study—plan for an EMEA-first release and bilingual casting to maximize cross-market appeal.”

For Sean Doyle (unscripted) — opening lines

“A 10x60 social experiment where strangers swap careers for a month and must convince the new workplace they belong. Each episode generates three guaranteed social moments (a reveal, a failure, a mastery), and the format can be localized for multiple territories, ideal for Disney+’s short-form and linear clip strategy.”

Pitfalls to avoid

• Don’t claim private relationships or name-drop to imply access.
• Don’t over-customize to the point of losing your project’s voice—fit matters, but so does originality.
• Avoid sending speculative full scripts unless requested—commissioners prefer curated, concise packages.

Final notes: Relationships beat transactions

Research is your entry ticket; relationships are the game. Use your commissioner dossiers not only to tailor one-pagers but to prepare meaningful, informed conversations at festivals, markets, and panels. Follow execs’ public activity after promotions—like Mason and Doyle’s recent moves—and recalibrate who to contact and when.

Action plan you can do today (30-minute sprint)

1. Pick one commissioner on your target list.
2. Spend 15 minutes building a mini-dossier (IMDBPro + recent trade article + 1 interview).
3. Watch the first episode of one of their shows and take five notes about tone and format.
4. Draft a 1-line “platform fit” sentence and drop it into your one-pager template.

Resources & next steps

• Templates: scripted & unscripted one-pager PDFs (download at moviescript.xyz/templates)
• Tracker: commissioner dossier spreadsheet (column templates included)
• Community: monthly feedback clinic for one-pagers and loglines (apply via the site)

Call to action

If you want ready-to-edit one-pager templates and a commissioner-dossier spreadsheet, download the 2026 Commissioning Kit at moviescript.xyz/templates. Join our monthly clinic and get direct feedback on one-pagers tailored for real executives—bring Lee Mason‑style scripted samples or Sean Doyle‑style formats and get practical notes from industry mentors.

Related Reading

• How B2B Marketers Use AI Today — practical notes on using AI safely for research and transcript analysis.
• Scaling Vertical Video Production — workflows for social clips and deliverables commissioners expect.
• Beyond Email: RCS & Secure Mobile Channels — alternatives for clean outreach and notifications.
• Privacy Policy Template for LLM Access — a template for safely using LLMs when processing private materials.
• KPI Dashboard: Measure Authority Across Search, Social and AI Answers — what metrics to show when you pitch.
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