Screenwriting : How do you know if one of your concepts/ ideas is a series or a feature film? by Christopher Vance

I think it's been made very clear in today's world that a successful movie can be adapted into an equally successful tv series (Fargo, Westworld, etc.). But it's important to note that there are fundamental differences between a series and a film. So I'd say it's possible to prepare both, but it means a lot of hard work.

I see what you're saying. I was just in a thought to see in what way would it be best to start off as and then later adapt it to a different format.

Hey Christopher, just stick to one thing and as an old Irish friend would say to me when I lived in Park SLope, Brooklyn "Get er' done!" "If I have to here anymore about this idea I'm going... Will you get me another drink?" Good luck and just start writing it! Commit mi amigo. Much Love, Ray

Hope everyone got some writing in today! It was hard but I got 2 hours in so far. WIll get another few tonight?

Think FROM DUSK TILL DAWN. Write the movie first.

One component in working toward answering this question is by asking - Is the story's dilemma one that can and should be resolved in one sitting or is it one that's impossible to resolve and requires many episodes to try to resolve? Secondly, if you're hoping to sell to "Hollywood," observe the Series and Feature landscapes to determine which one yields a better chance at a sale for you and for this story.

Come up with a dozen or so working ideas for episodes - eps that you would at least watch, if you didn't write them yourself. You need to have two or three episodes written before you start shopping it, as well as the first season briefly outlined, and ideas for the direction of the second season. If you can't come up with a lot of ideas for episodes, it's best as a feature.

A feature film is 100 minutes. A series, depending on if it succeeds, is much longer. Artistically speaking, with adventurous shows like Fargo and Stranger Things, the creative lines between feature and television are becoming more blurred. Now go forth and write a TV show pilot and a feature.

Bill: You're not a wussy. You're just man enough to admit you have a soft side that appreciates musicals. I was partial to the short lived Cop Rock.

... If the treatment is 50 pages long, you will try to kid yourself it is a series!!

The best way to tell if your idea should be a feature or series is by knowing your ideas longevity. Can your idea be developed into multiple seasons?

TV has two version, the Fargo, American Horror Story model were each year is a contained story. These are like in the case of Fargo sometimes based on films. The difference between TV and Film concepts is a TV concept is a universe and a Film is a single story. Film = man wants to escape from prison, TV = on going life of death row inmates. That's how to sort out concepts. In a TV universe you can tell endless stories.

Personally, as someone who's learning and yet strongly believe that art is feeling, it's just something you feel. If you want it to be a feature and you can visualize it as such, then it is just that.

i know this is shameless and i apologize but im actually teaching a 3 week online class that tackles this very subject. Story Development and Outlining - How to Know if your idea is viable. hit me up uf you want details (i teach this class to the Animation Writers Guild a couple times a year)

Wow thank you all for your responses and input! I thought I was making a big deal out of nothing but this definitely shed some light.

Hey, Christopher! I use Danny's services. He'll spot your weak links and make you stronger. The path to where we're going is exponentially faster with a mentor, coach.