What Do Executives Want To See In A Television Series Pitch? - Erik Bork

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In this Film Courage video interview, Author/Screenwriter Erik Bork on What Do Executives Want To See In A Television Series Pitch?
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[@heeeresjohnny7503]

So, basically, a TV series is kinda like renewable energy; its gotta keep producing more stories from its own story....

[@filmcourage]

Indeed.

[@lolitamoonprod]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼😂😂🌠🙌🏼

[@MrOldboy1971]

@@filmcourage look, I've been struggling for months now, do u know who to pitch a show to. At this point I don't care which service or company, pls for advice😬😬😬😞

[@ConcealedWeaponry]

@@MrOldboy1971 Disney, CN or any streaming service that has a good amount of users. Ignore Nick if possible. They'll just fuck over your show

[@yougottrolled5799]

@@ConcealedWeaponry fuck Disney too they'll make you shit woke if you're not careful.

[@azyeamen2649]

All good points here. Having an understanding of what the structure is for each episode is also important. Example: is it a procedural (Law &Order), hybrid (Scandal), serial (Ozark), or long form (Queen’s Gambit). Following a specific will create a nice, tight container to rinse and repeat.

[@lonjohnson5161]

I am a movie writer because the first book I ever read on the craft was The Complete Book of Screenwriting by J. Michael Straczynski. In it he says a new writer should write either feature spec scripts or sample scripts for existing shows, but don't waste time on developing a series, since as an unproven writer nobody will let you be the captain without first climbing the ranks in the writer's room. (Even though he is immensely qualified to talk on the subject, he purposefully left that part of screenwriting as incomplete. Ironic, but understandable.) Since then, every series I wrote a spec script for got cancelled before I could send them a finished script (it probably wouldn't have been good enough at the time anyway). Now, thanks in part to Film Courage, I am aware that new writer can pitch a series, probably due to the huge number of platforms that are hungry for content. Now I am a decade behind in my education with regards to series development and I'd like to catch up. Will Erik's book teach me what JMS opted not to? Do I really have a shot at selling my series, even though I haven't proven myself on another show?

[@ryannixon4138]

Nice comment, best of luck Lon

[@junkybabes]

Change your name to Don... you never know, some reader my fall for it mate.

[@XlWolfMaster]

It's always your decision to make. Show the skill, and you can seek the rewards. Anything you could possibly want to do is possible, you will just have to transform yourself into someone else.

[@Darfaultner]

I don't think I'm alone when I say I want to see professional pitch deck, and have it explained in detail about what is expected, what quality it needs to be, what you actually do with it, who you give it to, etc..

[@Stormymatt]

My biggest idea has me with concerns. 1. How much of the story do I pitch to them to make it seem compelling, but not enough to where they just tell me no and make a similar project effectively stealing my idea? 2. With no experience or anyone to back me. How do I make sure I maintain creative control without them hijacking the show and ruining the story? (I'd love to hear input and ideas from anyone, but I don't want the story taken away from me, like in concern 1) 3. How much licensed music (if any) can I use in it? (Theres about 70 songs I'd love to use in it) 4. As stated in concern 2, how does someone outside the industry even get through the door?

[@theopenauthor8386]

You seriously should look at doing a course on how to write for TV.... Your questions are VERY naive. I'll try to answer them, but you have loads to learn. 1) Yes. Sell them the whole story. 2) You don't maintain creative control. You are just the screenwriter. If you want to produce TV shows, that's a different route in altogether. Don't study TV writing. Study TV producing. 3) The answer to that is ZERO. You should not write music into your screenplay. Score and sountrack is not the writer's job. 4) Study. Network.

[@DatDuckfan]

This might be a weird question, but has anyone came in and pitched a whole season. Like had it done and everything.

[@ryannixon4138]

Id lile to know this as well

[@FAQ4201]

Ive pitched 2 shows to Netflix middle east and the package (bible) you send is comprised of 1. Pilot episode script 2. Episodic outlines for season 1 (2 paragraphs) 3. Attached talent or production company 4. Character bios 5. You can give an overview of future seasons to show them that you have a vision and a plan. They replied to our pitches and have given us useful feedback to come back with future projects.

[@stephenarts1422]

@@FAQ4201 Was any of your pitches greenlit???

[@ryannixon4138]

Good video! What about mini-series, which combine the pacing of movies with the length of a show?

[@andylyons2869]

He explained this so well. Great answer to the question

[@fotisthomos5939]

Ozark is a phenomenal show a masterclass for having a good show even.

[@artboymoy]

Seems it would be hard to tell the people what a typical episode will be like it it's really serialized. I mean, if you have three storylines going all you can really say is that each storyline progresses until they cross over...

[@thepanman8]

I find writing to be like a conversation meeting somebody new. You need to keep adding to the conversation, and that is gonna also entail "filler", but those filler bits usually lead to something right away, or something thats gonna be BECAUSE of those filler bits later on. Every character i write...i become that character in that moment. Any conversation dialogue, i am that character, and i react to the scene as if i was in their head. Its weird. But it becomes, what would i do in that situation..and it goes for any sort of media...animation, real life...whatever..you are that person. Filler bit for me, can be something mundane like a guy is walking down the street, and he sees a road rage incident play out...has nothing to do with the story, but it transitions to the next scene...you gotta occupy space to keep an audience engaged, or even asking why, even when it doesnt have an answer

[@travisitio]

Writing is hard

[@danbee998]

Writing well takes experience. Experience is gained through practice.

[@c.sexton4819]

Yes indeed. It holds its own agony and ecstasy however, as the other commentor said, practice makes it a little easier...hopefully. All the best to you!👍

[@kyrier9827]

Yes!

[@close2reality]

Yep. If it were easy, everyone would do it.

[@divittokelly5603]

This was incredibly helpful. Thank you!

[@filmcourage]

Cheers! You may also enjoy this one - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqPJonSkrtmfZpo

[@ChildKika]

Wow. This video is a jewel. Minutes 2:30 - 3:05

[@MariWakocha]

How long time do you typically have for a tv pitch? Seems like a lot of things to go through if you only get 5 minutes?

[@nolovelostthewebseries]

Just released my 1st web series. Would love for some input from some creative writers. I never went to school for filming but my passion is great.

[@sunlightpictures8367]

Is there a standard number of episodes in a series or does that depend on if it's network, cable, streaming, as well as half hour or hour-long?

[@thefakesplendorpodcast]

What would be your short advice when one has done the pilot episode completely (I mean filmed and edited as well)

[@wordsmithasheesh2497]

Can you please do a detailed program on story structure of TV series vs TV serial vs TV soaps?

[@biteme1918]

How do you go about contacting and meeting with networks or streaming platforms to pitch to? Will they still meet with you if you don’t have experience in the tv/film industry?

[@SashaYery]

Thank you😁🏁 (🤔im on the inside track)

[@3Noah3]

How can I get my tv show on big networks

[@filmcourage]

Here's how it works - kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6OUZaijn6qmqcU

[@antoniobrewer13]

Thank you. Very useful information. Again I say, thank you

[@nolovelostthewebseries]

Just released my 1st web series. Would love some input from some creative writers. I never went to school for filming but my passion is great.

[@tymkoc3293]

I have a question: How can a writer try and convert a feature screenplay that's several hundred pages long (it was meant to be a trilogy) into a TV series script? Seems an impossible task.

[@ianmcnally373]

Personally, I would outline every major event and try to outline each episode around that.

[@kirkmccosker2430]

do shows need a seasonal or series story arc to be viable these days?

[@Mexicunny]

Imma do that then

[@justinfossa1254]

It would be nice to see a show where each episode was like a small survival movie. For example trapped in a freezer.

[@josephandy21]

I think the TV show supernatural does a great job at doing this.

[@1995yuda]

"that endlessly story generating situation" - this is as close as it gets guys, pay attention