1. WRITING FOR EPISODIC TV
by Keith Kinambuga Ndenga

2. Question to you…
What
is
the
difference
between
series
and
other
types
of
screenplays?
by
Keith
Kinambuga
6/7/14
• Endless
Character
Arcs
• The
long
narrative
• The
collaborative
process

3. Three Types of Episodic TV…
• Anthology
• Series
with
Closure
• Serial
by
Keith
Kinambuga
6/7/14

4. Myths about TV series…
• TV
series
are
short
movies.
• TV
is
cheap.
• TV
is
a
wasteland.
• TV
series
are
all
the
same.
• TV
has
limits.
by
Keith
Kinambuga
6/7/14

5. Three Rules of Episodic TV…
• Keep
within
the
allocated
time
• Meet
deadlines
• Keep
within
your
genre
by
Keith
Kinambuga
6/7/14

6. Quotable
“I
fail
and
I
fail
and
I
live
by
failing
and
trying
to
find
some
grace
in
failure.”
–
David
Milch
(NYPD
Blue,
Deadwood)
by
Keith
Kinambuga
6/7/14

7. The Series Bible
• Logline
• Synopsis
• The
Format
• Audience
• Theme
and
Concept
• Context
(Where,
when
and
why)
• Timeline
• Characters
• Key
Locations
• Treatment
• Look
and
Feel
(Set
design
and
style
of
show)
• Glossary
by
Keith
Kinambuga
6/7/14

8. Let’s Dig into the Synopsis…
• Focus
on
not
more
than
three
characters
• What
is
the
story
about
• Mention
the
inciting
incident
• Show
what
incidents
will
keep
the
show
running
by
Keith
Kinambuga
6/7/14

9. Let’s Dig into the Timeline…
• What
happened
and
when
• Influencing
Events
• Decisions
• Milestones
by
Keith
Kinambuga
6/7/14

10. THE END
Thank
you
for
your
participation
in
the
writers’
room.