In the last issue of the Creative Screenwriting Magazine a new series started: “Know your show”. It is about spec script writing for running shows to get a writing assignment.

The show market in the United States is a really tough one, in the rest of the world the topic of spec script writing is definitively a topic, but can´t really compete with it (just take a look how many U.S. shows are running on TV and how many of your own country).

So right now is the best moment to write, or better, to pitch a spec script for a running show to get a foot into the business and, if you are lucky, get a writing assignment. Most of the shows final episodes have hit TV, so if the show is still hot enough a spec script could be a huge chance.

The article is really worth reading, especially the tips on how to watch a show and analyze it so that you can hit the tone and the structure of that show in your spec script. Here is a quote of the article:

» Tape, TiVo or take good notes while you watch several episodes of your chosen show. Get scripts and read them. Break an episode down into acts and scenes. Beside each scene, write down the beat, a brief description of what happens. Generally, an hour-long drama will have 13 to 15 beats.

» Break the show down into the A, B and C story lines. then take note of the plot and subplots. Eventually a pattern will emerege. This will become your template for the show.

» Think about which characters stand out for you. Consider the tone of the show. Does it have a strong central voice, and if so, what is it and how is it expressed?

» Are the story lines resolved in each episode or is it serialized? If it´s serialized, decide how you plan to handle that.

» Take note of the set pieces the show might include in its format week after week, as well as any other repeating elements. Does the show usually open with a tesaer? How long is it? Don´t forget to include those elements.

» Now that you´ve been watching for a while, look at the big picture. Decide for yourself what the show is about. What´s the premise? What problem is the show set up to solve or explore? How can you interpret this on a level that resonates for you personally and excites you as a writer? Now you´re ready to come up with your springbord, the premise that will set your spec episode apart.

[Creative Screenwriting Magazine, Vol. 14. No. 6, P. 51]

I believe that those tips are not only helpful if you want to write a spec script for a show, if you keep your eyes open when watching a movie (especially bad movies that don´t suck you in too much) it can be a good practice to analyze them. Try to identify the inciting incident, the different plot points, foreshadowing and pay off, etc.

By doing that you get a better understanding on how movies are structured and when each action or twist has the most impact (or could have a better impact if placed somewhere else). Quite often i´m struggling not to over-analyze movies since i want my attention on the story, not on the movie structure…

I´m really looking forward to reading the next part of the series “… Write it like a pro”.



5 comments zu “Watch it like a pro - Analyzing a show”

  1. Jill Golick

    , 15. January, 2008 at 11:23 pm

    Hey,
    Cool site. Over at my blog, Running With My Eyes Closed, I routinely break down shows using the methods described above. Some of the shows I’ve done recently include The Wire, Mad Men, Seinfeld, Jekyll, Feel free to drop by and use it as reference when you’re spec’ing.
    Jill

  2. michael

    , 15. January, 2008 at 11:30 pm

    Hey Jill,

    thanks for commenting on my post, to be honest i´m flattered since i read your blog and very much enjoy it.

    I really like the concept of Story2Oh! and i´m curious for this way of storytelling to unfold…

  3. Jill

    , 15. January, 2008 at 11:42 pm

    Flattered right back at you, babe. I’m just as curious as you to see how it unfolds, too. Spread the word.

  4. Jill

    , 15. January, 2008 at 11:44 pm

    PS What are you spec’ing? That’s always an interesting topic. Which is the right show to showcase your talent and that’s going to have the longevity as a series so that your script is good to send around for a couple of years. Last thing you want to do is to spec a show that’s going to get canceled.

  5. michael

    , 16. January, 2008 at 8:56 am

    I´m not really writing a spec script for TV right now, as much as i would like to it´s not quite promising to write for a show in Austria, or any other german speaking country.

    It´s a sad but true fact that (in my opinion) there are no write-worthy shows here, so i focus on writing movies. And writing a script in english is too risky for me, i understand and speak it well, but to really hit the tone of each character and really express what i want to say, that´s another thing.

    Well, nevertheless i like to keep track of spec writing in the US and Canada, it´s an really interesting (and hard) topic.

    And yeah, i will spread the word ;)


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