I've been fielding a ton of questions in DMs and got this great one from @Theredkeys11 about how to attract a showrunner for your project. I have a lot of thoughts! 
It goes without saying that we have to have a personal connection to the material! Whether it’s the characters, world, or premise, we have to love it enough to go all-in because that’s what it takes to make it through the development gauntlet.
We want you to have a strong pov, voice, and vision… BUT you have to be open to collaboration. The biggest reason we’re going to say no is because you’re locked in to your way of doing it.
I know this is tough to hear emotionally, but attaching a showrunner is hiring your own boss and the network is trusting THEM to run “your” show. It’s their responsibility to produce the series on time and on budget and make it great.
Of course, a showrunner has to respect your opinion and hopefully will have a good relationship with you, but you absolutely have to understand that if you are a hindrance to the success of the show, they will be forced to fire you!
No showrunner wants to be in that position. So no showrunner wants to get involved in a project where the creator has even the whiff of being non-collaborative.
One important caveat and digression. If you already sold the show and got a pilot or series order and the network wants to bring on a showrunner at that point, that’s kind of a different ball game. You can interview showrunners and ask if they’re going to honor your vision.
We had a pilot order & did this exact thing. Some potential showrunners said yes, if it’s a tie they’d go with our creative call. Most did not. They said, sorry but if you hire me, I’m in charge and I’m obligated to do it the way I think will be the most successful for the show.
But if you’re talking about attaching a showrunner at the development stage, to take out to buyers, first of all, that’s a MUCH bigger ask. You’re asking them to use their name and relationships to help you sell your project.
So in that situation you have to be absolutely willing to let go of the ego and be open to DOING IT DIFFERENTLY.
Long preamble to answer the question… counterintuitively, the more you have worked out, the more I’m going to think you’re locked in. You come to me with a pitch deck and a bible and seasons 1-9 all worked out, I’m running for the hills.
Don’t create a box you can’t mentally get out of!
To attract a showrunner, you need an amazing idea, character, world, etc. but also an amazing attitude. You want to learn! And the only way to learn is to keep your eye on the ball and get the pilot ordered and the show on the air. Then you can run your next show.
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