Screaming Flea Productions matches reality programs and networks

What: Screaming Flea Productions, in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood

Who: Matt Chan, 55, president and general manager

Mission: Create and produce nonfiction "reality" programming for specialty-cable networks.

Tailor made: "We look at this like a business," Chan said. "We come up with a great show idea that will be appropriate to the particular network. There are certain requirements, like having a dangerous job, interesting characters and a time limit for getting the job done."

Shooting schedule: The company produces about 100 hours of programming each year. The shows portray a slightly exaggerated aspect of real life, from "Test Drive" (taking out a fancy car under real-world conditions) to "Three Sheets" (basically a drinking show).

Improvisation: "We are always looking for a new twist," Chan said. "We want to find people with unique lives and interesting situations. But nothing is planned. If someone in the middle of the story goes on a bender and disappears for five days, we just have to shoot around them and hope it works out."

Employees: 35

Financials: The private company is "profitable," Chan said, with gross annual revenues of $8 million to $9 million.

Help wanted: The company is seeking a subject for the next season of "Startup Junkies," which traces a nascent company through the funding and product-development processes. As the story unfolds, the focus may turn to the "back story" of a particular character. It may portray a spouse or peripheral player who adds to the mix in some way.

Corporate vs. creative: "It might be more lucrative shooting videos for Microsoft or Starbucks," Chan said. "But any of those guys would rather be on the scoreboard and work on a successful TV show."

— Charles Bermant