Who Needs a Bible?Complications Ensue
Complications Ensue:
The Crafty Screenwriting, TV and Game Writing Blog




Archives

April 2004

May 2004

June 2004

July 2004

August 2004

September 2004

October 2004

November 2004

December 2004

January 2005

February 2005

March 2005

April 2005

May 2005

June 2005

July 2005

August 2005

September 2005

October 2005

November 2005

December 2005

January 2006

February 2006

March 2006

April 2006

May 2006

June 2006

July 2006

August 2006

September 2006

October 2006

November 2006

December 2006

January 2007

February 2007

March 2007

April 2007

May 2007

June 2007

July 2007

August 2007

September 2007

October 2007

November 2007

December 2007

January 2008

February 2008

March 2008

April 2008

May 2008

June 2008

July 2008

August 2008

September 2008

October 2008

November 2008

December 2008

January 2009

February 2009

March 2009

April 2009

May 2009

June 2009

July 2009

August 2009

September 2009

October 2009

November 2009

December 2009

January 2010

February 2010

March 2010

April 2010

May 2010

June 2010

July 2010

August 2010

September 2010

October 2010

November 2010

December 2010

January 2011

February 2011

March 2011

April 2011

May 2011

June 2011

July 2011

August 2011

September 2011

October 2011

November 2011

December 2011

January 2012

February 2012

March 2012

April 2012

May 2012

June 2012

July 2012

August 2012

September 2012

October 2012

November 2012

December 2012

January 2013

February 2013

March 2013

April 2013

May 2013

June 2013

July 2013

August 2013

September 2013

October 2013

November 2013

December 2013

January 2014

February 2014

March 2014

April 2014

May 2014

June 2014

July 2014

August 2014

September 2014

October 2014

November 2014

December 2014

January 2015

February 2015

March 2015

April 2015

May 2015

June 2015

August 2015

September 2015

October 2015

November 2015

December 2015

January 2016

February 2016

March 2016

April 2016

May 2016

June 2016

July 2016

August 2016

September 2016

October 2016

November 2016

December 2016

January 2017

February 2017

March 2017

May 2017

June 2017

July 2017

August 2017

September 2017

October 2017

November 2017

December 2017

January 2018

March 2018

April 2018

June 2018

July 2018

October 2018

November 2018

December 2018

January 2019

February 2019

November 2019

February 2020

March 2020

April 2020

May 2020

August 2020

September 2020

October 2020

December 2020

January 2021

February 2021

March 2021

May 2021

June 2021

November 2021

December 2021

January 2022

February 2022

August 2022

September 2022

November 2022

February 2023

March 2023

April 2023

May 2023

July 2023

September 2023

November 2023

January 2024

February 2024

 

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Q. I've developed a kick-ass (aren't they all?) concept for a Spanish language non-fiction series.

Now my Hollywood lawyer is asking me to cough up a bible so she can shop it around a bit.
So:
A. I'm not sure she's right about that. I thought a simple treatment sufficed at this stage.
B. Not only have I never seen a bible, but can't seem to find an example online.
In non-fiction, I tend to think 6 pages ought to do it. A page or two for the hook. A page or two about who you are and what you're doing. A page or two of sample episodes. The longer things are, the slower they get read. And after 6 pages, they either like your idea or they don't. They're going to want to have their input at that point, I would think, to shape it in the direction they want to go.

In fiction, you pretty much always need at least a spec pilot in the States. (In Canada, I know some "emerging" writers who've got development deals off 6-8 page pitches.)

I'm not sure there are that many bibles online. Does anyone know of any? (Just try Googling "online bible" and see what you get, Punky.) I suspect most people don't want to put theirs up.

The basic format I use for a pitch is:

a. The show in a nutshell -- a page of salesmanship

b. Format -- what happens every episode?

c. Who's the show for?

d. Who's producing the show? Why are they qualified?

e. A whack of episode ideas.

This basic structure works for both fiction and non-fiction, except that in non-fiction "Format" is more literal -- "every episode, we interview a humorous ethnic person, then teach him a circus trick" -- and in fiction it's more story oriented -- "every episode, Earl tries to make it up to someone."

UPDATE: As Book of Don points out in his helpful and insightful comment below, a pitch is not a bible. (Sometimes if you keep tinkering with it, the pitch gets long and becomes sort of a pitch-bible.) The bible is really a document created by the production as researchers bring in research, writers create scripts, etc. You wouldn't really write a bible in advance of setting the show up with a network because you don't know how they'll see your show. Six to eight pages should sink the hook if it's going to be sunk; more can just give them reasons to say "no," while eating up your time.

UPDATE: Piers has a great roundup of online bibles here. Thanks Piers!

Labels:

6 Comments:

A few years ago, I found two bibles online. I'm running out the door, but if you contact me through my blog, I'll be happy to email you what I downloaded.

Plus, the writers of Star Trek sell their bibles online, btw.

By Blogger Ross Pruden, at 3:44 PM  

hey there....if I could respectfully disagree regarding the definition of "bible".

sounds to me what you've described is a TREATMENT not a program bible.

In my experience Bibles come AFTER treatments and once a show has gone through the first round of funded development.

I have written many bibles for Canadian non-fiction TV shows and they generally run 15 to 20 pages and include a complete structural / beat breakdown of how the show will actually work and some script samples too.

It takes time to write a good bible. And so you shouldn't do it for free. It becomes the template from which they show emerges. And as the production team gets hired they read the bible and hopefully see the same "movie" playing in their heads as you do in yours.

A treatment on the other hand is a 5 - 6 pages concept teaser. A sales pitch in writing.

It should be written with that in mind. Good script. Punchy dialogue. And directly on the focus of who the network's audience is. Remember what you are REALLY SELLING are viewers.

Hate to sound like a cynic...but here in Canada at least - this is the way things get made these days.

By Blogger "The Book of Don", at 4:24 PM  

I found a Sheena bible online, when I was looking for them. I have absolutely no idea if this is exactly what you'd want, but it's what I found...
http://www.pondalee.com/Shbible3.htm

By Blogger Tim W., at 6:27 PM  

Thanks for the very interesting information. Obviously this particular question is geared toward nonfiction programming - is the bible template you set out specifically for nonfiction or is it a generic template for both fiction and non?

By Blogger Wool in Sunshine, at 7:00 PM  

All the bibles I could find.

By Blogger Piers, at 9:46 AM  

The MOTHERLOAD.

Thanks Piers, Lee, Book of Don, and Alex.

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:14 AM  

Post a Comment

Back to Complications Ensue main blog page.



This page is powered by Blogger.