Screenwriting : Pilot to Feature Exercise by Christiane Lange

Christiane Lange

Pilot to Feature Exercise

At the excellent suggestion of @Art Arutyunyan (thank you!), I turned the story of my TV pilot into a feature as well, and I just finished the first draft – finally!

It seemed as if it should be easy, but the structures are very different.

It was an excellent exercise for getting to know my characters better, and some of them ended up doing things I hadn't foreseen. So, if you're stuck for ideas, I recommend this as a writing exercise.

Thuita Wilson

Very lovely, Christiane! Do you mind me asking what your script is about?

Christiane Lange

Thuita Wilson It's a political thriller set in Greece :) But in the feature rewrite, the love story, that is part of it, became more prominent than it is in the pilot.

Thuita Wilson

Sounds exciting. I am also working on a few scripts myself; hit me up if you would like someone to run your ideas by.

Christiane Lange

Thuita Wilson Thanks!

Fuad Omar

A great exercise to do that helps explore the themes, characters and structure of your story. Definitely recommend doing this as an exercise and also, you have 2 scripts ready - a feature and pilot! Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Christiane Lange

Fuad Omar Exactly! The biggest difference, to me, between the two formats is that in a series you absolutely want an open ending (season 2), whereas in a feature you need closure, to the max.

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