Screenwriting : Scrapping the First Episode by Jill Godley

What a beautiful update, you are so right about writing is finding the place to start! :-)

Jill you are SO RIGHT! (or "write"? lol) I feel like this is a very common stumbling block, and the way a lot of big IP streaming shows structure their seasons has added to the idea that the show starts at the end of episode one (essentially episode 2), instead of 15 minutes into episode one. More and more I'm seeing execs want to get back to that classic style where you've got to get into the story as fast as possible, even in streaming. What's your story about?

It's a romance/crime drama that follows two sisters. One sister lives in China teaching English. The other a nurse in Boston, gets embroiled in a crime ring on her way to visit. This leads them to meeting a detective and an undercover agent who will eventually be their male leads. The story will follow one couple in China and the other in the USA as the police work together to stop an international criminal. The couples also have to learn how to be blend their lives together and break the geographic, language, cultural and emotional barriers that keep them apart. Whew, I am having so much fun trying to come up with a logline, lol. ;-).

Sounds like a terrific and nuanced character driven story. Keep writing, Jill!

Thank you!!

Jill Godley No joke, a friend decided to test me (and I don't love writing them too) and challenged me to write 15 loglines. Not for projects that I'm for sure writing or have written, but just to throw up new ideas and build the mental muscle for loglines. I actually did end up like a couple of the ideas! But now I'm re-writing the loglines for my actual ideas and it's way easier now. We'll see how long it lasts but if you're struggling, I would try that exercise out!

The thing about produced pilot scripts we study is they are rewritten by a committee. Even if pilots have solo writing credits- there are always uncredited ppl rewriting. We, on the outside, are falling behind from the jump. But it is possible for rookie tv writers. Maybe if you can act and write, do multiple jobs.

A produced pilot to study is POSE. Read the spec pilot by creator Steve Canal and then read the finished pilot by "co-creator/superstar showrunner Ryan Murphy". Both versions are online.

Some great advice and comments here already, Jill, but I'll add that your willingness to be open and receptive to notes and adapt accordingly is refreshing.

LOL, I'm still young enough to adapt, but old enough to know when to listen. Plus, why pay for constructive criticism if you are not willing to take it. My goal is to get my script to RECCOMENDED level.

Ah, but easier said than done for so many writers. Hard to check the ego at the door. Of course, a whole world opens up once you do, not only creatively, but opportunity wise.

Have no doubt that Recommend is right around the corner. Great material always finds a champion.

Jill, What were you working on? Do you have a pilot?

So basically I have about 5 seasons of raw material already written. I cleaned up a pilot, but after a few rounds of drafting and coverage I decided to get rid of my original pilot and merge it with episode 2. So I’m working on the rewrite at the moment. I think this will streamline my concept, character intros etc. - it’s a romance/crime, but the characters are witty so it’s got some laughs as well. It’s the same as the longline/synopsis in my profile. I”lol just need to update it a bit once I’m done with the rewrite.

Continued success editing Jill, I love it when multiple storylines get tangled in suspense. Like the Rabbit Factory by the late Larry Brown, a wealthy social misfit, his much-younger wife, a runaway, and a big-hearted prostitute find their lives intersecting in the wake of quirky gangster activities, strait-laced professors, and fast-and-loose police officers.

Congrats! You already overcame the most difficult part: the blank page!

Thanks, Jill. Inspiring as I try to improve my Pilot/Series

If anyone is interested in doing a script exchange for coverage, just let me know. I still need to polish mine, but I am happy to read first.

"...the liberating thing about writing is you can start wherever you want." You're right, Jill Godley.

Sometimes when I write scripts, I write part of scenes, then I go back to them later. I leave notes throughout my scripts so when I go back to those scenes, I know what was going on.

Hi Jill, I am Laurie. I am a young actress from Paris. I eager to learn and I would love to connect. I am launching regular ‘cold reading’ sessions on Zoom. Every sunday night, we gather with fellow international actors to read scripts from a movie or tv show sent the day before. Let me know if you would be interested in participating, we’d love to read your scripts out loud and create together :)

Just finished my re-write!! Now to edit, edit again, edit again, lol ;-)

Congratulations on finishing the rewrite, Jill!