Writing the Comedy Pilot Script

A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating an Original TV Series

Manny Basanese

• Éditeur: Routledge
• Année: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781000485059
• Édition: 1
• Sujet: Media & Performing Arts
• Sous-sujet: Film & Video

Navigating through the challenging process of writing a comedy pilot, this book will help screenwriters to create an original script for television. Practical and accessible, the book presents a step-by-step guide focusing on the key elements of the process.

Incorporating both the history of TV comedy as well as its current evolving state in this age of the dramedy and an ever-increasing variety of broadcast and streaming platforms, the book will serve as a guide for the fledgling sitcom scribe. Author Manny Basanese breaks down the comedy pilot writing process from what may be perceived as an overwhelming, time-consuming mission into a series of much more manageable, smaller steps (from logline to outline to 1st, 2nd and polished draft). Utilizing his experience in Hollywood's sitcom trenches, the author offers real-world advice on such topics as building the comedy pilot "world, " creating memorable comic characters, sound sitcom structure, and the importance of crafting an emotional through line in a comedy pilot. Finally, there is also practical career guidance for marketing this just-completed script and breaking into the industry with advice on various topics such as the value of networking as well as gaining representation in the competitive Hollywood jungle.

It is ideal for students of screenwriting and aspiring comedy screenwriters.

Table des matières

• Cover
• Half Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication Page
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction: the serious business of comedy: why laughing matters
• 1 What is a pilot and why write one?
• 2 Getting started: turning your idea into a comic pilot premise
• 3 Single or multi-cam? Workplace or family comedy? Decisions, decisions!
• 4 Rise of the dramedy
• 5 The animated comedy pilot
• 6 The “tween” comedy pilot
• 7 Choose your platform: network, cable or streaming?
• 8 Comic characters: finding the funny
• 9 Finding your pilot story
• 10 Sitcom story structure: it’s no joke!
• 11 Crafting your pilot logline
• 12 Pilot outline: blueprint for success
• 13 Your plot device toolbox
• 14 Your Cold Open: grab us!
• 15 Your pilot’s beginning: setting up your series “world”
• 16 Middle magic: obstacles, complications and escalation
• 17 Your pilot ending: begin where you finish!
• 18 Your 2nd draft: making a good thing better
• 19 A note about notes
• 20 The power of punch-up: mining the laughs
• 21 Your polished pilot draft: is it ready to show?
• 22 Pilot pitch prep!
• 23 Breaking in: marketing your comedy pilot (and yourself !)
• Index