The production of a television series is a very long and complex path that can be affected by dynamics, processes and different factors to consider. That’s why we give you some recommendations and considerations that may be useful before sitting to write.

First steps

• Read. Living in the age of the internet gives us access to information and tools that can help and enrich you as a screenwriter. There are many books, blogs, and material that give you the tools to write, analyze, and better understand how storytelling works. There are also online sites where you can download scripts to be able to see the source material of those movies and series that you admire so much. Reading is a great ally.
• Register your material. Before you send your material to anyone, go through the registry. It is a relatively simple and inexpensive process that, in addition to protecting you and giving an official touch to your work, facilitates the approach to potential stakeholders who prefer to avoid risks.
• Contact with producers. Producers and distributors prefer to avoid situations that may lead to problems. In addition to the legal matter, your project has a much better chance of being considered by a distributor if you take a producer of the hand to endorse it.
• Know the audiovisual landscape. Knowing what works for TV networks (or platforms) that may be interested in your project will be an advantage when it comes to creating stories and characters that fit their profile. It is something that will also benefit you in the sale process. You will be provided with concrete arguments on the genre, the tone, the subject-matter, the schedule of emission, the public’s profile or all the factors that you could assemble to give him commercial value to your work.
• Know the job. It is essential to know how a film or a television series is made; the role of each person involved in the final product, etc. In order to write the script, all these aspects will help you make your project more viable and attractive.
• Look for different points of view. Knowing the point of view of fellow writers, directors or producers will help you analyze the script in a very different way. It’s important to let others read your work, learn from their opinions, and accept constructive criticism.

What do I present?

A common mistake when presenting a series project is preparing a bible that is too extensive. In order to develop a project and present it to a potential investor, it is advisable that the focus is at the basics; what differentiates the project, the most remarkable part of it, what gives it value and what makes your story and characters special.

But don’t forget that a comprehensive and complete development of your project is a work that benefits you as a creator, that will benefit your series and also help you to have clear and argued your ideas when presenting it and answering questions or suggestions.

Other advice

• References. Having references is always good; to read, watch movies and series, analyze them, identify patterns. Nowadays it is difficult (impossible?) to find arguments or characters that are purely original. That is why we must not be afraid of references; to be inspired; to take something and transform it by making it yours.
• Overwrite. We must avoid overwriting and overdescribing. Descriptions are actions and a script is not a novel. Of course, everyone has their own style, but the more concrete you are in the audiovisual language (in descriptions that are transferable to that language) the more the script will speak for itself.
• Format. It’s important that if you deliver a script it fits in a format similar to professional scripts. It’s easy to find templates or word processors that do it for you.

Creating is a unique process for each artist, but the more we know the environment and the tools at our disposal the better we can decide how we want to develop our ideas. Now, go for it!

Translated from Filmlab.