Script, Bible, Deck....the holy trinity of producing.

 

This picture is a slate from the show Shameless. It was a back up used for one of the other cameras and not one of the big digital slates/ clap boards. Someone stepped on it by accident and I grabbed it before the AC could throw it away. It's been a goal of mine to see my name on one of these on a show that I am the showrunner on. 

So how do I go from here to there? 

Script - Bible - Deck

The three most underused things in indie film. Especially in creating a TV show. I can't tell you how many pilots I have heard people pitching and they only have one of these done. It's never a show bible. It's usually a pitch deck if the person is not a writer. The deck is usually pretty bad. If it's a script and a deck that's the most common actually but even that is kind of Meh. 

Ok lets back up. What are these things?

Script: " A movie script is a written document that details all of the narrative and visual elements for a feature-length or short movie. This document includes very specific formatting, namely action paragraphs, character dialogue, and in some cases, visual and sound cues." This definition is taken from https://blog.celtx.com/what-is-a-movie-script/. That's Celtx.com which is the screenwriting software that I use. 

Show Bible: " A show bible is a document that outlines the characters, plots, settings, and themes of a television series. Writers pitch show bibles to network executives and production companies in the hopes that it will procure a production agreement. Once the show is "picked up" and turned into a series, this show bible becomes a living document. It is modified as the series goes with new characters, new information and background details, etc." This quote is from Studio Binder. 

Pitch Deck:  "A TV show pitch deck is a visual presentation that outlines your show's concept, often accompanied by a TV series bible. It's a key tool for persuading networks or producers to invest in your idea, showcasing your vision and potential." Generic definition from a Google search. 

Every idea, every script, every time. This is the habit that all of us SHOULD be cultivating. Everyone that is not in a major film market city, this is what people who ARE getting shows made are doing in LA-NY-ATL-VA are doing. Chicago likes to think of it's self as the 5th film marketplace but I don't think we are. If we learned to do this, if we actually did it and tough it to other film makers in Chicago it would change everything. We would become a pitch market. People would actually take us seriously. 

Whatever, I am doing it. I am gonna prove it, by practicing what I preach. I have an award winning script, short version, feature version, and Pilot version. No excuses, LETS GO!