In March, we had a free webinar William Rabkin, one of the great thinkers about writing television.
In 2011, Rabkin wrote a book that has become a bible for television writers: WRITING THE PILOT. He has now followed that book up with CREATING THE SERIES.
Bill Rabkin on why he wrote Creating the Series:
A lot has changed about the television business since 2011. And when I say “a lot,” I mean everything. The way series are bought. The way series are conceived. The way stories are told. The way series are consumed. The kinds of stories that can be told. The limitations on content at every level. The limitations on form at every level. And maybe most important of all: The restriction on who is allowed to sell a series.
What’s far more confusing about the future is that there are as many changes in the business models for “broadcasters” out there, and no one knows which ones will prevail.
And the changes in the delivery model are actually affecting the way our viewers watch our shows – and that in turn is affecting the shows that are being bought and produced.
And the only thing that’s certain is that everything is going to keep changing. Well – almost everything. Because the one constant in this new television world is the need for great writing. Strong concepts, rich characters, intriguing plots. And more even than great writing: a voice. There’s a desperate hunger out there for a fresh, original vision, something that can cut through the clutter of all those hundreds of other shows out there.
But in order for that voice to be yours, you’ve got to understand how TV writing has changed – and what it may be changing to. This book is about addressing the changes that have overtaken the TV business – and more importantly, have overtaken TV storytelling.
I’m going to be talking about all the changes I listed above, and how they may – how they must – affect your pilot.
