Hey gang -- I'm just finishing a TV pilot (30 min, single-cam) and I'm not sure if I should include act breaks or not. Yes, they add to the page count but they also make a script more network friendly. On the other hand, the script flows better without act breaks and it then leans more toward Netflix, Amazon, HBO, etc. Yes, I can put 2 versions together but for now, sending out to agents & managers, which is generally preferred? Thoughts? Thanks in advance!
Screenwriting : Include Act Breaks In My TV Pilot? by Lyle Weldon
Include Act Breaks In My TV Pilot?
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You need to what network or streaming service it's for. If it's Netflix, then that page count is perfect. Their shows don't have ad breaks. But if it's for network TV, then your script shouldn't be more than 23 pages -- and you need to establish the act breaks where the ads would go. Hope that helps.
Thanks, Carole & John. I was leaning toward no act breaks and I think that's the way I'll go. Down the road, if I can submit to a traditional network, it'll take me 3 minutes to add the act breaks in. Good luck with your writing, everyone.
My writing partner Linda and I had the same issue with our pilot. At the Austin Film Festival writing conference I've heard people say you HAVE to know which it is: cable or network. And that nothing puts off a producer/agent/manager more than that you seem vague about that. But, I'm with you. Linda and I always knew our show could work either way. I like your solution. But you could also go the other way, in that cable can always run everything together, but network won't know where the breaks are. The "act break" version therefore might work for both.
If you're targeting premium cable, you shouldn't feel compelled to write in act breaks. Nevertheless, you want to be sure it's easy for readers to infer your act breaks.
I'm doing the same thing as we speak, adding the Act breaks before submitting to Prodco. I'm finding it a good practice, esp. for a 30 min comedy to structure it with the breaks, the mini-cliffhangers at the end of acts, a teaser and a tag... Before, for my own production of the project as a web series, no breaks are included, but the three-act structure is still the template.
Tagging onto my last question -- since the people who answered are mostly doing what I'm doing -- curious about how much detail you put into the "future episodes" part of your pitch bible. In the past, I've always just included one logline for each future episode, not a breakdown of A, B & C plots. Basically, it's the same listing the TV Guide would feature when that episode airs. Is that about the same amount you all use? Or do you go into slightly further detail?