Ideas and Characters for Television Scripts

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Ideas and Characters for Television Scripts
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Creating an effective series idea
An effective series is clearly and consistently
about something
Seinfeld
Star Trek
X-Files
Friends
NYPD Blue
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An effective series has an inherent idea that is
desirable
- the basic setting/arena should be interesting
- the concept should represent some sort of wish
fulfillment for the audience
- the concept should be somewhat relatable to
real life.
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• An effective series has the ability to sustain
  itself over many episodes
• characters should not be able to resolve their
  conflicts easily or quickly
• -there should be potential for new conflicts

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An effective series has conflict stem from
between characters
An effective series can be classified in a genre
and sticks to that genre also should follow pop
culture media patterns
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Terms for new series
Pilot test episode of a series usually
produced and aired before series is accepted and
new episodes are taped by the network.
Showrunner on-site writer/producer of a series
Concept blueprint for the arena, characters,
and conflicts for the series
Series presentation concept pilot story and
ideas for future stories. AKA treatment
Series bible detailed information including
pilot script, character bios, character arcs, and
detailed storylines.