6.1 Pre-production: Writing and Development
2 min read•august 9, 2024
Pre-production is the foundation of TV magic. It's where ideas transform into scripts, and visions become storyboards. Writers craft compelling narratives, develop characters, and fine-tune to bring stories to life.
The process continues with , budgeting, and scheduling. Producers present their concepts to executives, plan finances, and create timelines. Casting, location scouting, and set design round out the pre-production phase, setting the stage for filming.
Script Development
Writing and Conceptualizing the Script
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- Script writing transforms ideas into structured narratives for television production
- Concept development involves brainstorming and refining core ideas for the show
- Writers create character profiles to define personalities, motivations, and backstories
- Dialogue crafting focuses on natural-sounding conversations that advance the plot
- Scene descriptions provide visual cues for directors and production designers
Storyboarding and Visual Planning
- translates written scripts into sequential visual representations
- Artists sketch key scenes to illustrate camera angles, character positions, and actions
- Storyboards help directors and cinematographers plan shot compositions
- Sequential panels demonstrate scene transitions and pacing
- Annotations on storyboards include technical notes for lighting, sound, and special effects
Pitching and Planning
Pitching the Show Concept
- Pitching involves presenting show ideas to network executives or production companies
- Pitch meetings require concise, engaging presentations of the show's premise and potential
- Presenters highlight unique selling points and target audience demographics
- Visual aids like mood boards or scripts enhance pitch effectiveness
- Successful pitches lead to script orders or pilot episode production
Budgeting and Scheduling
- Budgeting outlines all anticipated costs for production, post-production, and marketing
- Line item budgets break down expenses for categories (talent, equipment, locations)
- Production scheduling creates timelines for pre-production, filming, and post-production
- Gantt charts visualize production schedules, showing task dependencies and deadlines
- Contingency planning accounts for potential delays or unexpected costs during production
Pre-production Logistics
Casting and Talent Selection
- Casting directors organize auditions to find actors suitable for each role
- Callbacks allow directors to see promising actors perform scenes multiple times
- Chemistry reads assess how well potential cast members interact on screen
- Contract negotiations determine actors' salaries, schedules, and obligations
- Ensemble casting considers how different actors complement each other in group scenes
Location Scouting and Set Design
- Location scouts search for filming sites that match the script's requirements
- Scouting involves assessing practical concerns (parking, power sources, noise levels)
- Location permits and insurance are secured for all filming sites
- Set designers create detailed plans for building or modifying interior and exterior sets
- Production designers ensure visual consistency across all locations and sets
Key Terms to Review (18)
Character arc: A character arc is the transformation or inner journey of a character throughout a story, showcasing their growth, change, or development. This evolution is crucial to engaging audiences as it reveals how characters respond to conflict, challenges, and experiences. It connects deeply with storytelling elements, allowing viewers to relate to the character's struggles and triumphs while enhancing the overall narrative structure.
Cliffhanger: A cliffhanger is a narrative device used in storytelling, particularly in television, that leaves the audience in suspense at the end of an episode or season. This technique encourages viewers to continue watching by creating anticipation for what will happen next, often involving unresolved plot points or critical character dilemmas. Cliffhangers are integral to maintaining viewer engagement and can be found across various genres, especially in drama series, where they help build emotional investment in characters and story arcs.
Cold open: A cold open is a narrative technique used in television where a show begins with a scene before the opening credits or theme music, immediately grabbing the viewer's attention. This technique serves to establish context, set up a plotline, or introduce characters quickly, often with humor or drama. The cold open can be an essential part of the storytelling strategy, creating intrigue and encouraging viewers to stay tuned.
Dialogue: Dialogue refers to the written conversation between characters in a narrative, whether in film, television, or literature. It's not just about words; it reflects character development, motivations, and relationships, playing a crucial role in storytelling. Good dialogue should feel natural and contribute to the plot and character arcs, enhancing the overall narrative experience.
Episodic structure: Episodic structure refers to a storytelling format where individual episodes or segments are self-contained, often featuring a distinct storyline and characters, while still contributing to an overarching narrative. This structure allows for episodic content to appeal to viewers by providing satisfying resolutions within each episode, while also encouraging audience engagement through character development and long-term arcs. This format is widely used in sitcoms and serial dramas, adapting to viewer preferences for continuity and episodic satisfaction.
Golden Age of Television: The Golden Age of Television refers to a period during the late 1940s to the early 1960s when television became a dominant form of entertainment in American households. This era is characterized by innovative storytelling, high-quality production values, and a focus on dramatic programming, setting the stage for the evolution of television genres, especially drama series and the pre-production process involved in creating impactful content.
Miniseries: A miniseries is a television program that tells a story in a limited number of episodes, typically ranging from two to ten, which are often aired over consecutive nights or weeks. This format allows for more in-depth storytelling than regular episodic series, often featuring high production values and extensive character development, making it an attractive option for both networks and audiences looking for a cohesive narrative experience.
Peak TV: Peak TV refers to the significant increase in the quantity and quality of television programming, particularly drama series, that has emerged in recent years. This phenomenon is characterized by a surge in original content produced by traditional networks and streaming platforms, leading to a highly competitive landscape where creative storytelling and production values have reached new heights. The expansion of Peak TV has transformed audience expectations and consumption patterns, emphasizing the importance of intricate narratives and character development in modern television.
Pilot episode: A pilot episode is a standalone episode of a television series that serves as a prototype to sell the show to a network or streaming platform. It is usually the first episode produced and designed to establish the tone, characters, and storyline of the series, providing a glimpse into what viewers can expect from future episodes.
Pitching: Pitching is the process of presenting an idea or concept for a television show or film to potential stakeholders, such as producers, networks, or investors, with the aim of securing funding or approval for development. This process is crucial during pre-production as it helps convey the essence of the project, showcasing its unique selling points and potential audience appeal. Successful pitching involves crafting a compelling narrative and effectively communicating the vision behind the project to captivate the audience's interest.
Screenplay format: Screenplay format is a standardized way of writing scripts for films and television that ensures clarity and consistency in the presentation of the story. This format includes specific rules regarding margins, fonts, spacing, and the arrangement of dialogue, action descriptions, and character names, making it essential for pre-production writing and development. By adhering to these guidelines, writers can communicate their vision effectively to directors, producers, and other members of the production team.
Script development: Script development is the process of crafting a television or film script from its initial concept to a polished draft ready for production. This process involves brainstorming ideas, outlining the narrative structure, writing dialogue, and revising based on feedback to ensure the story resonates with the intended audience.
Scriptwriter: A scriptwriter is a creative professional responsible for writing the scripts that form the foundation of television shows, films, and other visual media. They develop characters, dialogue, and plotlines, working to create engaging narratives that resonate with audiences. Their role is essential in the pre-production phase, as a well-crafted script is crucial for guiding the entire production process.
Showrunner: A showrunner is the individual who has overall creative and managerial control of a television series, responsible for guiding the show's vision, writing, and production. This role combines the responsibilities of a head writer with those of an executive producer, making the showrunner a crucial figure in the development and ongoing success of a series. They often oversee the writing staff, manage budgets, coordinate between departments, and ensure that the series stays true to its intended tone and narrative.
Storyboarding: Storyboarding is the visual representation of a narrative that outlines the sequence of events, scenes, and key elements in a production. This process is essential in planning how a story will be told, allowing creators to visualize scenes, camera angles, and transitions before filming or animation begins. By breaking down the script into manageable parts, storyboarding helps ensure that the storytelling flows smoothly and effectively.
Target demographic: A target demographic refers to a specific group of people identified as the intended audience for a product, service, or in this case, a television show. This group is often defined by characteristics such as age, gender, income level, education, and interests, allowing producers to tailor content that appeals to them effectively. Understanding the target demographic is crucial in the writing and development phase as it influences storytelling, character development, and marketing strategies.
Treatment: In the context of television production, a treatment is a detailed document that outlines the key elements of a television show or film project. It typically includes a summary of the plot, character descriptions, themes, and visual style, serving as a blueprint for the project. A treatment is crucial for pitching ideas to networks or studios and helps guide writers and producers during the development process.
Viewer engagement: Viewer engagement refers to the degree of interest, emotional connection, and active participation that audiences have with a television program or series. It encompasses how much viewers are invested in the characters, storylines, and overall content, influencing their viewing habits and willingness to interact with the show, whether through social media, fan discussions, or continued viewership. This concept is crucial in understanding how different storytelling techniques and pre-production choices impact audience connection.