![]() My giddy-panicked Googling actually produced fruitful results. And once you know the formula, it makes it much easier to write them, and much harder to watch them without seeing that formula-the “sitcom code”-everywhere you look. Find more of her work on her website, or follow her on Instagram.įor all the latest ScreenCraft news and updates, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.From The Simpsons to Seinfeld, from Everybody Loves Raymond to Everybody Hates Chris, from Taxi to Arrested Development to Parks & Recreation, there is a highly-specific, minute-by-minute recipe used to write the vast majority of sitcoms out there. She loves vintage typewriters, the Cincinnati Reds, and her dog, Indy. When not buried in a book or failing spectacularly at cooking herself a meal, she’s probably talking someone’s ear off about the last thing she watched. Hopefully, the pilot will have set up a few questions audience members want answers to… (And that will be answered in episode two…?)īritton Perelman is a writer and storyteller based in Los Angeles, California. Go out with a bang! What’s the very last scene of your episode? WHAT COMES NEXT? You might even have more than one (especially in hour-long scripts). This can be a long monologue or a short, simple line. Usually somewhere during a pilot, one of the main characters will say something that perfectly encapsulates the core theme of your show. What’s the biggest moment of your episode? The culmination of the drama? The crazy situation that could only happen in your show? THEME(S) STATED THE BIG MOMENTĪlso probably known as the climax. It typically happens two-thirds or three-quarters of the way through the pilot, depending on episode length. The Twist is that final hurdle, the last challenge or wrench in the plan that causes your characters some trouble. The Turn is usually roughly one-third of the way through your pilot, depending on pacing. What do your characters encounter that makes them reevaluate? When do they realize they’re headed in the wrong direction? If the inciting incident got the ball rolling, the turn is the bump in the road that causes your plot to change course. As long as you can point to the source of the drama in your pilot, you’re good to go! THE TURN What is the primary conflict in your episode? This could take the form of a question, a conflict between characters, or a situation. ![]() What event/action gets the ball rolling in your pilot? What is the source of all the action and drama? (Note that you might have several for your varying storylines.) MAIN CONFLICT What is the very first scene the audience sees? INCITING INCIDENT What kinds of details are essential to your story? Is there a running gag? Does every episode include voiceover? These are the things you need to know! OPENING SCENE Pilots typically establish certain details, themes, or motifs that they will adhere to throughout the series. What is the atmosphere of the setting? How does it contribute to the story? IMPORTANT MOTIFS / DETAILS Where does your pilot take place? This is more than just time and place though. How many characters are introduced, by name, in your pilot? Who are they? SETTING Half-hours usually have A, B, and C storylines, while hour-longs can have A, B, C, D, E, and even F storylines. If you write without acts… what’s the beginning, middle, and end? Lay out the broad strokes! STORYLINES How many acts does your pilot have? Is there a cold open or tag (comedy)? What about a teaser (drama)? There are so many different structures for television shows. If TV Guide wrote a blurb about your episode, what would it say? Keep it simple! ACTS Here are the elements we’ll be using, which you can then use for your own work, or some of your personal favorites: SPECS In this series, we’ll break down the pilot episodes of both dramas and comedies, current and past, streaming and network. ![]() Have you already written a great pilot script? Enter the ScreenCraft TV Pilot Screenplay Competition here. And one of the easiest ways to learn how to write your own pilot episode is to break down those that already exist. One of the key elements in a screenwriter’s portfolio is an original pilot - especially if that screenwriter hopes to land a seat at the table in a writer’s room.
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