I have been writing my first TV series, which includes the pilot and 6 additional episodes. I have had a few professional script consultants who read the pilot. State that they want to see more character growth in the script. Here is my dilemma - There is only so much I can squeeze into a 60 page pilot screenplay. I have used the next three episodes to dig deeper into many of the main character's backgrounds, showing both back stories and the conflicts that they are facing. Am I wrong to assume that I can use those future episodes to accomplish that and keep the reader excited about learning more about these characters? Do I short change the pilot if I don't try and cram more character development into it?
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I believe there are two ways forward. You have to pose a number of questions or show problems that can only be solved if the person changes. What is your show, episodic or serialised? This will drive your change arcs.
how much character growth is happening in pilot? If you can, try breaking it up by story beats, and by the end of each beat, your character should reach a point of no return. These beats can be different depending on story/genre, but the end goal should be that we see a clear change in your character from where he started in the pilot beginning as oppose to the end. Backstory and all the other aspects can be delved into in later episodes.
Thank you for getting back to me.
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This is not a feature film so the Script Consultants are wrong. Like you said you don’t have time for a lot of character development in a one-hour pilot. Also writing additional episodes is probably a waste of time because nobody is going to want to read them at this stage.
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One doesn't develop characters in a pilot, one merely invites the audience's curiosity about those characters. Create questions, give few answers.
Remember the second hour of Lost's pilot? What do you remember most? Was it the reveal about Kate's shady past or the Polar Bear?
In television, it's all about baiting the audience. Give them a reason to tune in next week while building just enough trust in them that you'll answer their questions eventually.
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Amazon's "Patriot" has minimal character change in the pilot but the main character is unique and the first season has a ton of character as it moves from episode to episode.
I've gotten similar feedback on pilots, and DanG is right. I don't know what those people expect, but pilots are less like regular episodes and more like establishing shots. Certainly take it into consideration, but if you're confident, don't worry about it.
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John - write tight. If you really tighten your 60 pages down to 40 - you got 'nuther 20 pages of story.
Doug Thanks for getting back to me. It's always a challenge to write tight.
John. When starting out writing economically is a challenge but it gets easy after a while so always work on it because that is the biggest difference between a professional and a nonprofessional screenwriter.
My suggestion would be, maybe in the pilot show emphasizes their need to change. Maybe they are difficult thus alone. Really stress the deficit. Then in your future episode stress the arc. I think in television despite the character's progress that episode, they start the next episode at the deficit. My favorite example is two lonely character's are perfect for each other but despite getting close during the episode, they always end and begin the next one apart. I love Rosewood because of the great chemistry but they are still not together. Took a whole season for them to admit to being best friends. Great pacing. Hope this helped.
Kriss is spot on, if you ask me. I think of the pilot of Supernatural and the boys didn't grow in that first episode. They were presented with a problem that had a cliffhanger of an ending. By the time you're done with that first script, the question shouldn't be, "Did the characters grow?" The question should be, "What the hell happens next????" That's my two pence...