How to write a One-Hour TV script

Whether your are writing an original spec TV script to a sample script for an existing series that you want to pitch to, here are a few general guidelines for structuring your one-hour dramatic or action TV script.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Start with a teaser that illustrates the premise of the episode. It need to show us this week's central problem and get the viewer to want to keep watching. Make sure it really does tease us by ending on a note of tension.

2. Open Act One with a response to the teaser. It also works best if it too ends with tension. Depending on the kind of series this is, the tension can be personal and involve a series regular, or it can be something that is happening to a guest star.

3. Begin Act Two with the aftermath or resolution of the previous tension and conclude with big trouble for the main hero or a regular. This keeps the reader turning pages.

4. Resolve the previous problem in Act 3 and save the hero, and then end with the hero and his allies putting together all the pieces of whatever puzzle they've been trying to solve. Finish Act Three with a major crisis that leads to the climax of this episode.

5. Go for the Tag in Act Four. The heros come through in the nick of time. If the series has a continuing storyline, you can introduce a hint about next week

Tips & Warnings

• If you are writing a script for an existing series, be sure you know the show inside and out. Virtually every successful TV series has a template, with an underlying structure and a specific way of handling character and narrative action. Understand this and follow their Template in your script.
• Always focus your script on the regulars. The story editor should see that you know the serie's characters and situations. This is the place to be particularly innovative.

Resources

• Find samples of tv scripts here
• Writers Guild website is a good reference

[tassie]

on 7/17/2008 Great article!

[tassie]

on 7/17/2008 Great article!

[karugaj]

on 5/20/2008 Well you are a treasure, I am screenwriter from Kenya and I loved this article.wow I am in awe you are the guy who wrote flash Gordon. Write one on how an unknown writer can get his' script or idea concept to the right producers.Good read