If you want to create and pitch a reality show idea that can sell, its important to first understand what they are, how to conceive of marketable ideas, and how to create a pitch that will show producers the entertainment value and potential of your idea. How to create a tv show pitch bible that sells with free template. Creating pitch packages that will sell your tv and film projects. Theyre not going to read your episode descriptions.
A tv show bible, or series bible, is essentially an outline of your show, or series. In my world, a treatment is no longer than 8 pages and no less than 2. A pilot cant get sold without a series bible but a series bible could get sold without a pilot script and you could get commissioned to write it if your pitch package shows off your ability to express your compelling idea. A pitch document for a series is not really the bible but you better have a detailed bible up your sleeve if theyre interested. What it looks like and what its about, who are the main characters and how it fits in the to current tv marketplace. Its a marketing document aimed to give the buyer an overall feel of your tv series. The talented edwina has created an infographic version of the most popular post on this blog, how to write tv series bibles for us. The pitch and the pitch bible are limited only by your own imagination. The stepbystep process that turns your show concept into a functional pitch presentation and tv show bible. How to make a tv show bible with template and examples tv. Examples of successful tv series bibles carole kirschner. Simple tips and tricks you can use in your animation pitch bible that will make you and your project stand out to animation executives. Industry insider tv pilot proposal how i met your mother 1 series logline through a series of flashbacks, ted mosby tells his children the very long story of how he met their mother and the shenanigans that he and his fou.
Pitch bibles are a key factor in selling your animation during your pitch, so its crucial that your bible reflect everything you want to show off about your animation. Then david gleason, the director, and his wife, producer nathalie lichtenthaeler, shot the film, retitled it, dont go, and became repeat customers for us to create the poster. The animation production pitch bible is the attempt to organize into words and pictures the idea, vision and style of your animation. Tv series bible template and format 40 tv show bible examples to download and study. I know in the us, you view the business of series differently to writers in the uk. The pilot script is the introduction of the story while the connected series bible showcases the longterm potential. How to make a tv show bible free series bible template. There is no hard and fast rule for the structure of a treatment for series based on an idea, but any producer or executive reading it should get a clear understanding of the storyline, setting, and main characters. If you can create a solid series bible, its only a matter of trimming your bible to its essential parts to create a solid series pitch.
Now available online for the first time, this is the series bible that sold amc on the show. Once your tv show is picked up, the series bible becomes a living document for you to track what happens inside every. Learn to write a tv show bible with our show bible template. A bible, also known as a show bible or pitch bible, is a reference document used by screenwriters for information on characters, settings, and other elements of a television or film project. Everything that has happened and will happen in the show is in the series bible you can sort of approach this as though you are writing a tv series outline. When youre pitching a tv show, the bible is part of your pitch packet, along with the pilot and any other materials. Episodic arcs the series arcs run through the life of the show, dealing with longterm stories such as the cyion. A series bible can be an essential tool in pitching a television show. Show bibles are used to present to tv and digital executives in order to get a show. First off, this tv pitch document had to be condensed down to four pagesso no lengthy bible length talk about a.
They come under various guises and can be used as a pitch document, a guide for directors, or additional info to be submitted along with a pilot episode. As television grew, the use of the series bible has evolved. Basically anything where theres more than one episode involved. Is there a suggested and accepted format or do people just do whatever they feel like.
For example, in the united states, most animated series are not. A tv show bible is a 5 to 15page document put together by a writer to help them sell their tv show. Since there are spec tv pilot scripts flying all over the place, your bible needs to stand out from the rest of em. Keep your audiences attention with a church presentation template you can easily customize in a matter of minutes. Before the beginning, after the great celestial war that. Just be sure to keep the essentials in the package and you will have a pitch bible that stands on its own. You need a bible to pitch your tv series, and if the pitch gets picked up.
By the time they get through the character bios, the producer better be able to pitch themselves a series. It should be noted that pitching practices vary all over the world, so not every pitch tip will apply to every pitching situation. Where to find the free template for creating a series bible. A series bible for an existing show is a comprehensive, detailed guide to the show which evolves and grows with it. Breaking down the television series treatment script. How to pitch a reality tv show idea 6 keys to create. Weve collated just about every tv series bible available on the web for you here. Creating pitch packages that will sell your projects. Theres a lot to say about pitching to begin with, but for now id thought id write a brief post about some of the process i undertook to write this latest pitch doc. The tv series bible template isnt going to teach you how to pitch a tv show. A quick orientation to tv series bibles peter bowden. Jan nagel, the entertainment marketing diva, is a consultant involved in the business of animation and visual effects since 1991. But i wanted to show you my template for a tv treatment.
You dont need me to tell you television is a vast and growing market. So you have your treatment, pilot script and logline and youre feeling ready to pitch your. The year was 2007, and no one yet knew what great things lay ahead for breaking bad. This film financing pitch deck secured funding at the cannes film festival just weeks after we finished it. Writing a tv series bible on film school on demand. If you want to leave a positive lasting impression after your pitch, read this cartoon pitch bible guide now. Animation pitch bible instructions animation pitch or production bible modified from an original written by lowell boston, university of the arts what is the animation production bible.
Producers and writers now use the template of a series bible as a. You can use it when approaching potential network partners, or as a physical handout during presentations. Well, for me, thats a nobrainer you write the perfect spec tv series bible and hook the reader. Producers and writers now use the template of a series bible as a selling tool for networks they accompany spec pilot scripts.
The tv writers vault provides this open guide to help you create better concepts and. This is vince gilligans series bible for breaking bad. A tv show bible is a formal document used to track the characters, arcs, episodes, and seasons of a tv show. Likewise, a pitch for a tv series involves more than just writing the pilot. For emerging writers, a series bible is primarily a pitching document designed to help you sell your great idea for a tv series. Loglineelevator pitch pitch document series bible tv pilot script. Having recently become an independent producer, i have been reading a lot of animation pitch bibles as i build my slate. They can be used as a pitch document, a guide for directors, or additional info to be submitted along with a pilot episode. The following is a simple structure content not included of presentation for any project, and is. Once your tv show is picked up, the series bible becomes a living document for you to track what happens inside every season. Once you have all these and have received positive professional feedback on your script, its time to learn how to pitch a tv show to a cable or streaming channel. Show bibles are for writers looking to pitch a tv serial, animated series, or web series.
How to write a tv series bible that sells your pilot off. The pilot script is the introduction of the story while the connected series bible. How to make a tv show bible with template and examples. How to pitch a tv show to netflix, networks and more. Create a tv show pitch bible that sells the tv show pitch bible.
A tv series bible refers to the treatment, or pitch document that accompanies a spec tv pilot when it goes out on submission. What it will do is make doing both of those things much easier. How to craft the perfect pitch for your web series. How to create a tv show pitch bible that sells with free. Series bible for ollies under the bed adventures nickolodean series bible for fanboy and chum chum.
Bibles are updated with information on the characters after the information has been established on screen. See the written pitch on scibd by fred seibert, you can find a lot of other scripts and. A docu series for television in every small town, there are big dreams in washbuckle, missouri the regional theatre holds open casting calls for their annual musical. Show bible template so you have your treatment, pilot script and logline and youre feeling ready to pitch your tv. Rather than pad out a thin pitch to make it interesting, write a full series bible. So before you rush off and spend 3 weeks working up a pitch, you need. Its used as an additional way to explain the tone, look and themes of your.
Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Show bibles are generally broken down into several parts, including. The threetiered structure explained in greater detail on pages 3031 of this bible breaks down as follows. Whether its called a series bible, series pitch or series treatment, if youre writing it on spec in order to get interest in your show, your document. Creator vince gilligan had lightning in a bottlehe just needed to find the network to produce it. Tv treatments what they are and why you need one part 1 of 2 by caren kennedy. Now you may not need to have this to pitch a show, but it certainly can help organize your ideas, further the development of the project, and communicate to those in the industry that youre serious. Written by steve tomkins and eric robles, series created by eric robles. You need to write a guide to go with it in industry circles, this is called the show bible or series bible. Tv treatments what they are and why you need one part 1. This is the key difference between pitching and selling a spec feature script and a tv pilot. Its an incredible glimpse of gilligans original vision for what became a national phenomenon. If they cannot pitch themselves a series from the character bios alone, then you can rest assured theyre not making it any further. For the perfect animation pitch bible, dont forget the.
If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. This template is intended as a highlevel overview of your tv show. Breaking bad, the wire, freaks and geeks, lost and more. The truly creative people in tv series writing and producing want that kind of bible because they need to see into the future a fair bit. If youre writing an original television pilot and developing a pitch for the. The front cover that features an amazing piece of art that shows tone, genre, and personality in one glance. You can start by including the title of the series, followed by the logline. It should include details on your characters, the dramatic arc of the series, and more. I believe if you follow this, you wont go far wrong in constructing and describing your long running series story. An example of a pitch deck for you tv show or film. How to craft the perfect pitch for your web series indiewire. As with the word outline and synopsis, the term bible isnt set in stone and can just as easily be referred to as a treatment or extended pitch. Whether its called a series bible, series pitch or series treatment, if youre writing it on spec in order to get interest in your show, your document is designed above all else to sell your vision of the show.
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