Read Writing the TV Drama Series 3rd Edition: How to Succeed as a Professional Writer in TV Online
Authors: Pamela Douglas
Writing the TV Drama Series 3rd Edition: How to Succeed as a Professional Writer in TV (45 page)
PROCEDURALS.
Clue-driven series that solve puzzles or mysteries and close at the end of each episode. Examples include
CSI
and
House
.
PRODUCER.
Most TV producers are writers whose titles have improved because of experience and credits. Producers may supervise and rewrite other writers. This differs from a line producer who is responsible for physical production.
PRODUCTION.
Actually shooting the show, when cameras roll. Sometimes a series described as “in production” includes both preproduction (writing, casting, set-building), and postproduction (editing, music, effects).
PROLOGUE.
See
TEASER.
PROTAGONIST.
The character who drives the action and makes key dramatic decisions; the person the audience roots for.
RESIDUALS.
Additional payments to writers and other talent when a show reruns.
REWRITE.
A significant revision of a script that may include re-structuring and creating new characters and scenes.
SCENE.
The smallest dramatic building block, usually a step of the action, or a beat, with complete dramatic structure. In production, it is sometimes defined as the action in a single time and place.
SCENE HEADING.
See
SLUG LINE.
SEASON.
A television season encompasses the months a show airs. Though the traditional network season runs September to May, cable and other outlets have different schedules.
SECOND DRAFT.
A script that has been rewritten after receiving notes from a producer.
SERIAL.
A series whose stories continue across many episodes in which the main cast develops over time.
SHOOTING SCRIPT.
The final draft which goes into production.
SHORT ORDER.
A
PICK-UP
that commits to airing less than a full season, sometimes only a few episodes of a new show.
SHOWRUNNER.
The top
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
in charge of a series, the one who determines the course of a show and supervises all aspects.
SLUG LINE.
Some screenwriting software uses the term
SCENE HEADING.
In a script,
INT.
or
EXT.
is followed by the location of a scene, and time.
SPEC SCRIPT.
A speculated screenplay written as a sample or in the hope of being sold. Beginners may write a spec of an existing series to demonstrate their skill.
SPRINGBOARD.
A situation in a show that provokes action; aspects of a
FRANCHISE
that provide premises for episodes. Example: In a medical drama, the arrival of a new patient creates a springboard for a story.
STAFF WRITER.
The first rung in the ladder of a writing staff, usually a beginner; also called “baby writer.”
STEP DEAL.
A writing contract which provides “cut offs” after each step of writing. For example, if a writer’s outline doesn’t work for the show, he may be cut off, not hired to proceed to the first draft.
STORY EDITOR.
A member of a series writing staff above
STAFF WRITER
and below
PRODUCER
who writes and rewrites episodes.
SUPERVISING PRODUCER.
A high-level writer-producer who may run the writing room.
SYNDICATION.
The system of selling television series as packages to groups of stations and foreign markets after a network run is complete, usually requiring at least 88 episodes. A lucrative process that follows a show’s first-run broadcast.
TEASER.
Also called
PROLOGUE
and
COLD OPENING.
Dramatic material before titles that may or may not be related to the story in the episode which follows, but often does provide a
HOOK
or inciting incident.
TELEPLAY.
Screenplay written for television.
TRADES.
Daily or weekly newspapers that cover the entertainment industry, mainly
Variety
and
The Hollywood Reporter
.
TREATMENT.
A narrative of the film, technically the entire script in prose without dialogue, but often abridged to a short summary.
WEBISODES.
Episodes made for Web or Internet distribution. They may be auxiliary episodes of existing shows or original productions.
WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA.
The professional union that represents screenwriters. It has two branches, West (in Los Angeles) and East (in New York City), as well as affiliates in other countries.
A
BOUT
T
HE
A
UTHOR
Pamela Douglas is an award-winning screenwriter with numerous credits in television drama. She was honored with the Humanitas Prize for
Between Mother and Daughter
(CBS), an hour drama that was also nominated for a Writers Guild Award.
She received an Emmy nomination and an NAACP Image Award for writing
Different Worlds
, an hour drama on CBS. Twice, her shows won awards from American Women in Radio and Television — her original drama,
Sexual Considerations
, and her episode of the series
A Year in the Life
(NBC).
As a developer, she wrote the pilot, bible and 13 episodes of the acclaimed PBS series
Ghostwriter
. Additional series credits include
Star Trek: The Next Generation, Frank’s Place, Paradise, Trapper John, M.D.
, and many others.
She has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Writers Guild of America.
At the University of Southern California, she is a tenured professor in the School of Cinematic Arts, where she teaches screenwriting.
Ms. Douglas is available for consulting and seminars. Further information and excerpts from previous editions of this book are on her website:
or contact:
[email protected]
.
THE WRITER’S JOURNEY
3RD EDITION
MYTHIC STRUCTURE FOR WRITERS
CHRISTOPHER VOGLER
BEST SELLER
OVER 170,000 COPIES SOLD!
See why this book has become an international best seller and a true classic.
The Writer’s Journey
explores the powerful relationship between mythology and storytelling in a clear, concise style that’s made it required reading for movie executives, screenwriters, playwrights, scholars, and fans of pop culture all over the world.
Both fiction and nonfiction writers will discover a set of useful myth-inspired storytelling paradigms (i.e., “The Hero’s Journey”) and step-by-step guidelines to plot and character development. Based on the work of Joseph Campbell,
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The updated and revised third edition provides new insights and observations from Vogler’s ongoing work on mythology’s influence on stories, movies, and man himself.
“
This book is like having the smartest person in the story meeting come home with you and whisper what to do in your ear as you write a screenplay. Insight for insight, step for step, Chris Vogler takes us through the process of connecting theme to story and making a script come alive
.”
– Lynda Obst, Producer,
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“
This is a book about the stones we write, and perhaps more importantly, the stories we live. It is the most influential work I have yet encountered on the art, nature, and the very purpose of storytelling
.”
– Bruce Joel Rubin, Screenwriter, Stuart
Little 2, Deep Impact, Ghost, Jacob’s Ladder
CHRISTOPHER VOGLER is a veteran story consultant for major Hollywood film companies and a respected teacher of filmmakers and writers around the globe. He has influenced the stories of movies from
The Lion King
to
Fight Club
tu
The Thin Red Line
and most recently wrote the first installment of
Ravenskull
, a Japanese-style manga or graphic novel. He is the executive producer of the feature film
P.S. Your Cat is Dead
and writer of the animated feature
Jester Till
.
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SAVE THE CAT!
®
THE LAST BOOK ON
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BLAKE SNYDER
BESTSELLER
He’s made millions of dollars selling screenplays to Hollywood and now screenwriter Blake Snyder tells all. “Save the Ca!t
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• The seven immutable laws of screenplay physics.
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• Mastering the Beats.
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• How to get back on track with ironclad and proven rules for script repair.
This ultimate insider’s guide reveals the secrets that none dare admit, told by a show biz veteran who’s proven that you can sell your script if you can save the cat.
“
Imagine what would happen in a town where more writers approached screenwriting the way Blake suggests? My weekend read would dramatically improve, both in sellable/producible content and in discovering new writers who understand the craft of storytelling and can be hired on assignment for ideas we already have in house
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– From the Foreword by Sheila Hanahan Taylor, Vice President, Development at Zide/Perry Entertainment, whose films include
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“
One of the most comprehensive and insightful how-to’s out there
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“
Want to know how to be a successful writer in Hollywood? The answers are here. Blake Snyder has written an insider’s book that’s informative — and funny, too
.”
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Raising Helen, Walking Tall, Bringing Down the House, Monk
(TV)
BLAKE SNYDER, besides selling million-dollar scripts to both Disney and Spielberg, was one of Hollywood’s most successful spec screenwriters. Blake’s vision continues on
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.
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MASTER SHOTS
100 ADVANCED CAMERA TECHNIQUES TO GET AN EXPENSIVE LOOK ON YOUR LOW BUDGET MOVIE
CHRISTOPHER KENWORTHY
Master Shots
gives filmmakers the techniques they need to execute complex, original shots on any budget. By using powerful master shots and well-executed moves, directors can develop a strong style and stand out from the crowd. Most low-budget movies look low-budget, because the director is forced to compromise at the last minute.
Master Shots
gives you so many powerful techniques that you’ll be able to respond, even under pressure, and create knock-out shots. Even when the clock is ticking and the light is fading, the techniques in this book can rescue your film, and make every shot look like it cost a fortune.
Each technique is illustrated with samples from great feature films and computer-generated diagrams for absolute clarity.
Use the secrets of the master directors to give your film the look and feel of a multi-million-dollar movie. The set-ups, moves and methods of the greats are there for the taking, whatever your budget.
“
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.”
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The Cursed
“
Though one needs to choose any addition to a film book library carefully, what with the current plethora of volumes on cinema
, Master Shots
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.”
– Scott Essman, Publisher,
Directed By
Magazine
“
Christopher Kenworthy’s book gives you a basic, no holds barred, no shot forgotten look at how films are made from the camera point of view. For anyone with a desire to understand how film is constructed — this book is for you
.”
– Matthew Terry, Screenwriter/Director, Columnist
www.hollywoodlitsales.com
Since 2000, CHRISTOPHER KENWORTHY has written, produced, and directed drama and comedy programs, along with many hours of commercial video, tv pilots, music videos, experimental projects, and short films. He’s also produced and directed over 300 visual FX shots. In 2006 he directed the web-based Australian UFO Wave, which attracted many millions of viewers. Upcoming films for Kenworthy include
The Sickness
(2009) and
Glimpse
(2011).
$24.95
•
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