How to Write a TV Show Pilot Script That Sells — TV Writing & Development Course: Ep3

Summary

This video delves into the craft of creating a compelling TV pilot, focusing on the storytelling techniques of Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Using the acclaimed pilot of *Breaking Bad* as a case study, it breaks down the three-act structure, emphasizing the importance of an inciting incident, active drive, climax, and denouement. By analyzing the progression of Walter White's transformation from a high school teacher to a meth manufacturer, the video highlights the pivotal moments that shape the show's narrative. It also encourages viewers to experiment with a screenwriting tool to enhance their own scripts.

Takeaways

• 😀 A well-crafted pilot should follow a logical flow, where each event leads to the next. Trey Parker and Matt Stone's approach is a key example: one event causes another, without any arbitrary jumps.
• 😀 The inciting incident, such as a life-changing event, kick-starts the story. In the case of Breaking Bad, Walt’s cancer diagnosis sets everything in motion.
• 😀 Pilots should establish the main character’s struggles and weaknesses before the inciting incident, such as Walt being a bullied high school chemistry teacher and family man.
• 😀 The moment the inciting incident happens is crucial, as it changes the protagonist’s life forever. In Breaking Bad, Walt’s cancer diagnosis is the turning point.
• 😀 The main character’s active drive should evolve over the course of the pilot. Walt’s decision to cook meth and provide for his family fuels the progression into the second act.
• 😀 A strong second act introduces tension and the need for a partner or ally, as seen when Walt blackmails Jesse Pinkman into helping him cook meth.
• 😀 The climax in act two should present the worst possible scenario for the protagonist, escalating the stakes. In Breaking Bad, this is Walt’s run-in with the DEA.
• 😀 The third act, or Denouement, wraps up the conflict and sets the stage for the rest of the series. Walt undergoes significant change, no longer the same man he was in act 1.
• 😀 A pilot’s Denouement often ends with a cliffhanger, creating anticipation for future episodes. Breaking Bad uses this technique to suggest that the series will explore Walt’s transformation.
• 😀 Good writing hinges on how well the protagonist navigates challenges and shifts through the story, building up to a climax that naturally progresses into the final resolution.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The video script focuses on how to structure a successful pilot episode, specifically using the methods developed by Trey Parker and Matt Stone of 'South Park.' It analyzes the storytelling elements that make pilots engaging and successful, using the example of the pilot episode of 'Breaking Bad.'

What is the key rule that Trey Parker and Matt Stone follow when creating a story?

Trey Parker and Matt Stone apply a simple storytelling rule: 'this happens, therefore this happens.' The rule suggests that each event should logically lead to the next, rather than random or disjointed occurrences.

How does the script analyze the first act of 'Breaking Bad'?

In the first act of 'Breaking Bad,' the script establishes the main character, Walt, as a high school chemistry teacher who is bullied at work and in his personal life. The first act ends with the major turning point, which is Walt's diagnosis of lung cancer.

What is the 'inciting incident' in the 'Breaking Bad' pilot?

The inciting incident in the 'Breaking Bad' pilot is Walt's diagnosis of inoperable lung cancer. This event sets off a chain of actions that change the course of his life and leads him to the decision to cook methamphetamine.

Why is the inciting incident considered an important element of the story?

The inciting incident is crucial because it changes the protagonist's life, providing the catalyst for the rest of the narrative. In this case, Walt's cancer diagnosis pushes him to make drastic decisions, setting up his transformation into the character Heisenberg.

What motivates Walt to start cooking methamphetamine in 'Breaking Bad'?

Walt starts cooking methamphetamine to provide for his family after his death, a decision driven by his cancer diagnosis and the limited time he has left. However, the script emphasizes that he needs an accomplice, leading him to blackmail Jesse Pinkman.

How does Walt secure Jesse's involvement in cooking meth?

Walt blackmails Jesse Pinkman into partnering with him by threatening to turn him in to the authorities. He offers Jesse a deal based on his chemistry knowledge, setting up their partnership in the meth business.

What is the climax of the second act in 'Breaking Bad'?

The climax of the second act occurs when Walt's illegal activities are jeopardized by the presence of Hank, a DEA agent, who is closely monitoring the situation. This creates a life-threatening moment where Walt and Jesse are forced to run to escape capture.

What does the term 'denouement' refer to in the context of the pilot's structure?

The denouement is the final part of the story where the loose ends are tied up. In the 'Breaking Bad' pilot, the denouement involves Walt's complete transformation, where he adopts a new persona and shows that the series will explore this change in the character moving forward.

How does the 'Breaking Bad' pilot use a cliffhanger at the end?

The 'Breaking Bad' pilot uses a cliffhanger by showing Walt's drastic transformation at the end. The denouement sets up a significant change in his character, leaving the audience intrigued about how this transformation will unfold in future episodes.