I found myself with a story that was perfect for TV - where the character growth and plot points need far more than what a film can provide. As my story requires a lot of set up, I wanted a 90 minute pilot but my then manager said they're not done these days so I tried to squeeze it down to 60 pages but the closest I got was 70. And I need help.
It's a fish-out-of water tale of redemption - my protag gets offered the chance to make amends by completing a task and it finishes with him being defeating the villain but discovering the network is still alive. This sets up him staying around and the following episodes and of course is pivotal in tempting viewers to tune in again - or in the screenwriting sense, enable an exec to see its potential and give the green light.
Like I said, it needs a lot of set up and act 1 (in the 3-act sense - even though TV splits that into 5 acts) is 23 pages and has absolutely zero fat. This, obviously, leads to a rushed act 2.
It seems to me, I can either write it as a film - which would allow me to tell the story perfectly (but robs the chance to explore the characters further) or I can continue as a pilot but end it an a crucial point, effectively splitting it over 2 episodes instead of 1. But there's no give on the opening 23 pages.
Thoughts?
It's a fish-out-of water tale of redemption - my protag gets offered the chance to make amends by completing a task and it finishes with him being defeating the villain but discovering the network is still alive. This sets up him staying around and the following episodes and of course is pivotal in tempting viewers to tune in again - or in the screenwriting sense, enable an exec to see its potential and give the green light.
Like I said, it needs a lot of set up and act 1 (in the 3-act sense - even though TV splits that into 5 acts) is 23 pages and has absolutely zero fat. This, obviously, leads to a rushed act 2.
It seems to me, I can either write it as a film - which would allow me to tell the story perfectly (but robs the chance to explore the characters further) or I can continue as a pilot but end it an a crucial point, effectively splitting it over 2 episodes instead of 1. But there's no give on the opening 23 pages.
Thoughts?
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