Episodic Television. What is the concept? This is the first question youre going to be asked by producers, network executives, and/or agents. The concept.

Episodic Television

What is the concept?

This is the first question you’re going to be asked by producers, network executives, and/or agents.

The concept must be fleshed out on paper and must sound like an idea that can continue for at least 3 to 5 seasons. Why?

Organic is everything. If the concept doesn’t immediately evoke a feeling of flexibility, it won’t sell.

The Concept/The Idea

The characters must be centric to the series.

Audiences must be able to identify with them on a realistic and emotional level.

Back stories are the most important element to characters. Without them, the characters have no sense of history and therefore no future.

The Main Characters

The Peripheral Characters

Without strong sub-characters, the main characters do not have anyone to be challenged by, to confide in, or to relate too.

These characters must have as much life in them as the main characters and must appear frequently in order to create a sense of consistency in the world of the series.

The Peripheral Characters

Where are these characters from?

What motivates them to seek a goal?

What character flaws challenge them?

The Back Story

Story arc refers to the overall growth and development of the path of the characters through their challenges.

All good arcs will motivate change within the characters.

Characters will attempt to reach a goal while encountering difficult trials and obstacles.

The Story Arc

Remember, replacing your ANDS with BUTS or THEREFORES is an excellent way to let your audience in on the fact that a twist or turn is coming.

The Evolution of the Story

Each episode must have a pay off (even if it’s a cliffhanger).

Each season must have a pay off.

Each series must have a pay off.

The Payoff

The PilotOnce a network or production

company shows interest in producing an episodic series, the Pilot must be shot.

Rarely will any network produce a series without a pilot.

The pilot does not guarantee final approval on a series.

The pilot will be tested before audiences and future episodes will be adjusted based on the response of test audiences.

“6 Days to Air”

Basic Show Creation

Story/ConceptLocationCharactersActionConflictResolution

Basic Show Creation

Target AudienceNetworkMarketingSimilar/Successful ShowsProduct Placement

Paperworkhttp://www.filmtvcontracts.com/index.html

http://filmmakeriq.com/2009/04/588-free-film-contracts-and-forms/

The “Why?”-Factor

Why the arbitrary groups?So you can see firsthand the importance of YOUR team.

Why stress Cliffhangers?To emphasize the importance of creating a reason for your audience

to care.

Why so harsh on safe ideas?It changes the dynamic of the room and creates a sense of unexpected realism. Ideas need legs to run, safe is dead.

Why did the hit/miss criteria change for some teams?

Every pitch is different. Every single one.

The “Why?”-Factor

Why didn’t we all get equal time?Pitch times vary, you are NOT guaranteed any time at all.

Why did you interrupt us and let others finish?Every person you pitch to will respond differently, being prepared

for unexpected changes will keep you from panicking.

Why couldn’t we use a laptop/projector?Your pitch could wind up anywhere. Relying on anything other than the story, and your knowledge of it, is a mistake.

Other teams got more feedback.Some points bear repeating, some don’t. Feedback during this exercise is meant to be advice for everyone.