19th February

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Claire Yeowart [http://www.twitter.com/ClaireYeowart] asks:
What are the specific differences in television pilots vs features?
In pilots how do you balance characters and plot without
there being too much going on overall?
These are really good questions which other Bang2writers
[http://www.facebook.com/Bang2writers] have struggled with in the
past, so Ill break down the aspects of features vs. pilots, one by
one as I see them.
STRUCTURE
Features. There are many ways of looking at features in terms of
Cules son las diferencias entre el guin de un piloto para
tv y un guin de cine?
structure, but I think of The Three Acts in a if it aint broke, dont
fix it kind of way and because the industry *tends* to talk of
acts. First Acts usually start off quite well, now scribes have a
handle on the first ten pages being really important. However
frequently features especially genre specs have a problem
with their identity because they dont know who their audience is
[http://www.bang2write.com/2010/10/your-audience-who-is-your-script-
for.html] and more often than not, features feel quite turgid,
especially within Act 2, as they run on the spot
[http://www.bang2write.com/2009/04/climbing-walls.html] . Features
also can have problems with dramatic context and the resolution
being tied up too quickly. Read more about different ways of
looking at structure in The Required Reading List
[http://www.bang2write.com/2007/04/required-reading-best-
screenwriting.html] .
TV pilots. In direct contrast then, scribes frequently get structure
in TV pilots and generally know how to balance their story of the
week with their serial element
[http://www.bang2write.com/2008/05/plot-construction-2-dangling.html] .
Perhaps this is because they watch more television, or because
60 pages seems less daunting than 90? Whatever the case, I
always find it really interesting the same people who get
structure in TV often have issues with The Three Acts in their
features, it rarely seems to happen the other way round And
when it does, its often the feature-writing scribe overthinking
things. More on writing a 60 Minute Returning Drama
[http://www.bang2write.com/2011/02/writing-60-min-tv-pilot-returning-
drama.html] .
CHARACTER
Features. Were generally following an individuals journey more
than most in the feature: theres a goal, s/he wants it and various
people and obstacles get in that persons way. It can be really
overt (as in life or death scenarios) or it can be more
metaphorical (as in psychological drama). Even passive
protagonists must have another character take the reins for
them and generally speaking take them back in the resolution.
Whether a group (as with Horror) or sole protagonist (as with
Thriller, Drama, or comedy), the ensemble cast is generally the
exception, rather than the rule.
TV pilots. In direct contrast then, the ensemble cast is king of TV
world: there are groups everywhere, whatever genre the scribe is
writing. That said, I would argue there is an umbrella character
who edges out over the rest ie. Grissom in the original series of
CSI, Ray Langston in later series, now DB Russell. Even series
about a particular character ie. House have a very strong
selection of supporting characters whose paths were also heavily
invested in. So to answer Claires question here, an umbrella
over 4-5 other characters seems ideal in the case of TV pilots
Check out the likes of Hustle, Spooks, Torchwood et al. They
have their group, plus an antagonist of the week accompanying
their story of the week. Check out this post about your unique
selling point when it comes to hooking audiences on TV
projects [http://www.bang2write.com/2011/11/usp-pt-1-your-
project.html] .
DIALOGUE
Features. Dialogue is probably the least of ALL scripts worries
[http://www.bang2write.com/2007/09/dialogue-is-least-of-my-
problems.html] as Ive said multiple times but least of all in the
feature. Visual is key here; dialogue is your back up. Obviously
there are certain elements that stand out dramas and comedies
tend to be more talky than action adventures, thrillers and horror
but generally speaking, LESS IS MORE, SHOW IT, DONT
TELL IT and all the rest. Screenplay dialogue is MORE than just
words [http://www.bang2write.com/2009/02/more-than-words-
screenplay-dialogue.html] .
TV Pilots. Television is more film-like and high concept than it
was in say, the nineties, but theres still a strong difference
between the *type* of dialogue uttered on television than on the
silver screen. This is mostly to do with stuff like watersheds,
schedules, audience share [http://www.bang2write.com/2011/11/dont-
second-guess-find-your-audience.html] etc but also the fact that
there is just MORE TALK in TV pilots. Thats not to say you can
rattle off reels of dialogue less is still more and all that but
the TV writer has a certain amount more leeway than the film
writer when it comes to dialogue.
ARENA
Features. That fabled feel of the piece
[http://www.bang2write.com/2007/06/arena-part-1.html] , not just the
location. Arena can be really important in a feature or you can
more or less forget about it and concentrate on other things and
hope it forms itself on its own (which it can). It depends on the
story and how youre telling it. Really. Arena can be make or
break to a story, but very often you can get away with it
altogether. Dont believe me? Read two good feature scripts, one
with an obvious arena, the one without. Dont forget lots of
movies change their arenas especially location depending on
where they can get their funding from. Does it change how the
story ends up? If the premise was strong enough, then no.
TV Pilots. In direct contrast then, Arena is everything in the TV
pilot. Very often series are precinct dramas not relating always
to police procedurals, though it can include them but rather, the
SETTING is bigger than the characters themselves very often.
This is why TV series can kill off or change their protagonists and
antagonists at will. (Of course its possible to kill off your
protagonist in your feature, but very few people do Something
to think on in terms of standing out? I think so).
So, thats how *I* see the differences between features and TV
pilots What about you?
ENLACE [http://www.bang2write.com/2012/07/q-what-are-the-differences-between-features-tv-pilotsseries.html]
Lee El Inquilino Guionista [http://elinquilinoguionista.blogspot.mx/]
Publicado 19th February por El inquilino

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