Some examples of serial shows are Narcos, Breaking Bad, WandaVision, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. One episode leads to the other, and the events in one episode sequential impacts another. Here are some key decisions you are going to have to make before you put your fingertips to the keyboard.Ī serial TV show that has a continuous storyline that spans throughout the series. Writing a TV pilot comes in many different formats. After that, writing the actual pilot is so much easier. Know why you’re writing the pilot before you write it. What is familiar about this pilot, but also never-seen-before? Is your show a doctor procedural…but twists a modern-trope in one important way? Start the pitch strategy right now, so if a development executive asks, “Why you?” you already have an answer.ĭoes your show lean into a classic murderer-detective formula…but has a totally new perspective on the world? Really assess your motivations and why your pilot will stand out from others. Once you have a clear answer to these questions, you can start to craft your TV pilot (and series).
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If you haven’t read my TV bible guide, how to format a screenplay or how to write an unforgettable scene post, you can check them out.
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So what are the elements of a TV series pilot that you NEED to have? And what can a writer do to raise your chances of being read and your pilot being commissioned into a series? Over the years, I’ve learnt that whether you live in Asia or the United States, the general rules still apply. For others, I was simply there to write the pilot, pitch it, and move on. For some projects, I’ve stayed on and written the entire series. This includes everything from knowing your genre, story engine, formatting, crafting an un-put-downable first 10 pages, and how to “beat out” a story through action.įor myself, I’ve pitched and written countless pilots. Screenwriters can learn countless lessons while writing a television pilot.