“Character drives TV”

A guest post from screenwriter Tom Benedek (Cocoon), co-founder of Screenwriting Master Class:

“Character drives plot.” We say it over and over again in every film script workshop we do.

Same goes in TV writing, naturally. Plot, story are crucial in television, too. But it is all about that family of characters.

Example: I keep watching Homeland for the characters. It is easy to argue that the stories have gotten weird AND over-familiar — but I still enjoy the characters. So I keep watching — anticipate potential shifts in key character relationships as those familiar thriller CIA/terrorist plot tropes unfold.

Job #1 in TV series creation is an engaging family of characters with personal stories, built-in emotional conflicts which can be mined, explored, pushed into new territory incrementally.

Concept, the world of the show is just as important. BUT any world may do if the characters are great, if their attitudes to plot elements are full of life and human truth. That familiar world becomes fresh through the lives of dynamic, engaging characters.

Home screens get larger. More movie talent moves into TV. More channels seek better shows. Feature film evolves — influenced by the impact of the medium.

So — understanding TV, how script structure, plot, character differs from features is valuable. If you are interested in writing a pilot, please consider my upcoming class TV: WRITING THE ORIGINAL PILOT SCRIPT one week class starting Monday, November 3.

Writing an original TV pilot is a great thing to do right now. It is fun. It is challenging. It is a great creative endeavor, writer marketing tool, means to representation and jobs. Manager, agents, producers like to read 30 page or 60 page scripts. Spec pilots sell. They get made into shows. They lead to jobs — in TV and in features.

Please do join me for this fun and exciting class.

For more information on this exciting class, go here.

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