My April 3 Writers Store webinar on “What Makes a Great TV Idea: Learn What Hollywood Looks for in an TV Idea and Pilot Script” is now available in their online store for $79. This “archive” version is basically the same thing as being there live.
In the 90-minute audio/powerpoint presentation, I encapsulate all the key things I’ve learned in my years developing both half-hour and one-hour series ideas to pitch to my agents, producers, and studio and network executives — and what I’ve learned from writing pilots, both on assignment, and on spec.
SOME OF WHAT I COVERED:
- “What’s the franchise?” – and other annoying questions executives ask
- Why doctors, lawyers and cops always seem to dominate prime time
- “Wanting something they can never have”: the key to good TV characters
- The emotional thrill ride that is the annual series development cycle
- How most aspiring writers think of television storytelling the wrong way
- The (superficial) differences between broadcast, basic, and pay cable
- How “procedural” and “personal” are the only two kinds of TV stories
- How “3-act structure” works on TV, despite shows not having 3 acts!
- Juggling A, B, and C stories, and the characters who “get” them
- What a “premise pilot” is, and why you really shouldn’t write one
WHO MIGHT BENEFIT:
- Writers who are considering writing television scripts (of any kind)
- Writers who think they have a great idea for a series (or wish they did)
- Writers who are tired of the negatives of feature screenplay writing
- Writers who think television is possibly the best place for them
- Writers interested in getting on a TV writing staff
- Writers who live in L.A. or outside of L.A.
- Writers who have a television script they think is ready
- Writers looking for inspiration and guidance from someone just like them
