The Pilot Script Checklist

[TMC]

http://splitsider.com/2017/01/the-pi...ipt-checklist/

1. Characters

-Are the characters clearly defined? Could a reader describe them like real people?

-Are they defined by actual human characteristics and desires, instead of tics or quirks?

-Where are the characters coming from (emotionally), and what do they want?

-Is diversity written into the script? Gender, racial, socio-economic is a start.

-Are any characters extraneous or overlapping, could any be combined? You really want four to six regulars at most.

-Are the characters introduced one at a time, in a non-confusing way?

-Do we understand what the relationship among all the characters is, how each one feels about each other one? What their collective histories and futures are?

-What can we do to introduce more interesting elements to the interwoven relationships? Foiled romance, family ties, secrets, other intrigue?

2. Premise

-What is this show about? Is the premise of the show established cleanly and clearly? Could I explain it in one sentence?

-Is the tone of the show clear, appealing, and consistent?

-Where does this show live? Are locations clearly established?

-(If based on previous material) Can it stand alone, without familiarity with the IP (good)? or does it lean on a pre-existing audience, confusing anyone who might not be familiar (bad)?

3. Pilot episode specifics

-Not always needed, but do we have an audience surrogate? Do we enter the script through the right person? Who is our audience surrogate?

-Is the pace compelling? Were there any boring parts, or any that went too quickly?

-Is the episode idea (logline) established cleanly and clearly, and early enough on?

-Does this episode idea make use of all of the series regulars, amongst A and B stories (maybe a C)?

-Do at least an A and B story exist, and are they well organized? Do they best showcase the characters’ interactions? Can we get them together in a more organic, interesting way?

-Is this particular episode the right time/place to start this series? Try not to start on day one of anything. You’ll hear the note over and over “Start with episode 2, midstream.”

-Is most of the story/conflict couched in dialogue (show vs. tell)? are all the interesting visuals described instead of shown?

-If the above problem exists, and it reads like a play, which conversation-heavy areas should be inspected? What is the information each scene is trying to get across, and what would be a better way to show it?

-If the script feels overstuffed, what is getting lost in the noise? What could be pruned back, to expose the essentials?

-Does this pilot story make us want to watch the next episode?

-Do we feel this episode lays foundation for a series — does it hint at a season/series arc for each character, and big-picture, plot wise?

4. The “why” of the show

-Is it clear why the show exists and what it means to the writer? What are the themes, and are they addressed?

-If there are no clear themes, what is the missed opportunity? What should they be, what is the writer trying to say?

-Why is now a good time for this show?

This last part is obviously a bit more difficult to convey on a page, but worth mulling over, to add some cohesion and a layer of meaning to your pilot, otherwise you’re just telling a funny story. If you’ve been thorough in workshopping your way through this list, then attacked another draft with the goal of answering the questions, you’re well on your way to a much-improved draft of your pilot. You will probably plug up the holes professional readers would otherwise find in your script, and will have elevated it to a more thoughtful and well-planned piece of writing. After all of that hard work (it should definitely be hard work, this is an intense series of questions), all you’ll need is a little luck, so godspeed!