Film School: Writing Pilots

Oliver Thornton, University of Michigan Screen Arts & Cultures Lecturer
Building your own tv show from the ground up is about more than just telling one engaging story. Creating a pilot is all about crafting a new world with a cast of promising characters and storylines that can last for at least five seasons (syndication money, amirite?). Networks and producers want to know that your show has legs and a “pitch bible”—beyond just the pilot script—is how you prove it. This workshop takes you through the process of creating your own pilot presentation, from determining the world that your show will inhabit to creating a cast of memorable characters and crafting a story in the pilot strong enough to keep viewers coming back.